Monster Hunter Rise: Length Revealed

It’s finally here! Monster Hunter Wilds has arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Capcom's latest beast-battling adventure follows in the massive footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne expansion. But just how long will it take to conquer? We asked the IGN team to share their playtime experiences, highlighting their priorities and post-game adventures.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 15 hours. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, this is the actual story conclusion, not a midpoint. However, completing the campaign only finishes Low Rank. High Rank awaits, packed with side quests and tougher challenges. The real journey is far from over!

It took another 15 hours to complete nearly all High Rank quests and reach the true endgame. This involved battling every monster, unlocking all crafting systems, and mastering the new Artian weapon system. Thanks to the streamlined grind, I only needed an additional five hours to obtain my desired peak weapons and armor. Of course, there’s always more to strive for with other weapon types and beyond.

I completed Monster Hunter Wilds’ final High Rank story mission around 40 hours, roughly 22 hours after finishing Low Rank. Accuracy is tricky, as I spent considerable time in menus for guide creation. I didn't extensively use Wilds’ intricate systems during Low Rank, focusing on progressing the story. High Rank was similar, but I ventured off to hunt optional monsters and collaborate with friends—a necessity for unlocking story missions.

My path to the final mission involved only one intentional weapon upgrade via an extra Ajarakan hunt. Otherwise, I prioritized completion. Ideally, with more time, I’d have reached 60 hours, crafting more efficient armor and weapons.

I still have endemic life to collect, six remaining side missions, and at least one more optional quest to unlock. But my journey continues! I plan to farm monsters for Talisman upgrades, craft different armor, experiment with Artian weapons, and replay the story with friends. Future title updates and event quests add even more exciting possibilities.

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Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 16 hours, a surprisingly short runtime compared to my World experience. As a relative newcomer, I found many battles surprisingly easy. While some apex predators challenged me, the overall adventure felt breezy. The streamlined gameplay, designed for newcomers, impacts the playtime significantly. Elemental weaknesses, crafting, tracking, and hunting are all scaled back.

The consistent story cutscene/monster battle rhythm contributes to the shorter runtime. It feels less like a pure Monster Hunter experience, leaning more towards a Western cinematic narrative. While I appreciated the swift story conclusion, it might leave some core Monster Hunter elements for the post-game.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

Reaching Monster Hunter Wilds’ initial credits took me about 20 hours. This includes optional and side quests, along with exploring the world, hunting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding optimal camp locations.

Completing all High Rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours. Currently, I’ve spent nearly 70 hours on post-game activities: hunting with friends, farming decorations, and hunting for monster crowns. I look forward to future title updates adding new monsters.

I saw the first credits after approximately 20 hours, mainly focusing on the story with minor detours for armor crafting. Experimenting with various weapons (Switch Axe is awesome!) added to the playtime.

With 65 hours logged, I don’t consider those credits the true ending. Many hunts, monsters, and hats await! The story acts as an extended tutorial, which I appreciate. More monsters to hunt! Except Congalala. Never again.