Monster Hunter Wilds Protag Isn't Trying to Just Hunt Monsters to Extinction, Even If You Are

The Monster Hunter franchise, renowned for its thrilling monster hunts, is shifting its focus in Monster Hunter Wilds. Capcom aims to highlight the series' core theme: the intricate relationship between hunters and the natural world. This article delves into the exciting changes coming to Monster Hunter Wilds.

Redefining the Hunter's Role: A Deeper Narrative

Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds) will emphasize the interconnectedness of nature, humanity, and monsters. The game's narrative will explore the hunter's role within this complex ecosystem. Game director Yuya Tokuda stated in a PC Gamer interview, "The relationship between people, nature, and monsters, and what exactly is a hunter's role in a world like that…We wanted to illustrate that not just through the gameplay, but a very deep story."

To achieve this, MH Wilds will feature significantly more dialogue, allowing for richer character development and player expression. Tokuda highlighted the diverse perspectives of the world's inhabitants, using the characters Nata and Olivia as examples of individuals with differing approaches to the monster situation. This marks a departure from the series' tradition of silent protagonists.

This narrative expansion won't compromise the core gameplay. Tokuda assures players prioritizing combat that the increased dialogue won't diminish the hunting experience: "There may be players who prefer to skip all that and just go keep on hunting the next monster—that's possible too. The volume of the text that's available in the game will not affect the number of monsters available, so we can satisfy everybody."

This enhanced narrative is just the beginning. Tokuda hints at future plans further exploring the central theme of the human-nature bond. For a deeper dive into the underlying themes of the Monster Hunter series, consult Game8's article on the true meaning of Monster Hunter.