Highlights

  • Monster Hunter Wilds introduces open-world design with changing biomes and larger creatures, hinting at a departure from quest-based structure.
  • The potential shift to an open world in Wilds may overshadow the beloved Palico-cooked meals, leading to new survival mechanics and gameplay features.
  • Expanding cooking mechanics for the player could be the next evolution in Monster Hunter, potentially changing the focus from action to food preparation.

As the next upcoming entry in Capcom’s popular action RPG franchise, Monster Hunter Wilds is set to introduce a new approach to its formula through what many fans are speculating to be a more open-world game design. The reveal trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds featured a changing biome in the landscape ahead of the player alongside a massive herd of creatures larger than what has been featured in the series yet. While these elements alone haven’t confirmed a complete departure from the quest-based structure of Monster Hunter, the shift to an open-world style has important implications regarding a prevalent side mechanic.

As an optional feature that has exemplified the charm of the franchise in practically every release since Freedom, Felynes have been able to prepare meals for the player in the hub town to provide buffs before hunting expeditions. It’s unknown to what extent Palicos and other varieties of Felyne will be featured within Monster Hunter Wilds, but spending more time in an open world of monsters could open up a new opportunity to lean into survival mechanics with the player’s own cooking.

A Palamute and Palico from Monster Hunter Rise over a shot of the trailer from Monster Hunter Wilds
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Monster Hunter Wilds' Potential Open World Design is Likely to Overshadow Palico-Cooked Meals

More Time Roaming Means Less Time Back at Base

The transition into a larger map intended for more long-term traversal would come with some inherent changes to the core Monster Hunter formula, as it’s always been based around restocking and preparing at the hub in between the danger of quests. Depending on how far Capcom may take this concept, the likes of many common town NPCs who perform services like blacksmithing and cooking could find themselves replaced by new gameplay features assigned to the player.

There’s still the potential for a hub town, or multiple, to be scattered throughout an open-world map if it goes all the way with its speculated vision, but its reveal trailer also showcased Monster Hunter Wilds evoking TotK’s imagery via its emphasis on different methods of mobility. It’s just as possible that the game could be more oriented towards a crafting system similar to what the latest Zelda achieved, providing the chance to iterate on systems like Monster Hunter’s cooking and gear-making.

Expanding Cooking Mechanics for the Player Could Be the Next Evolution of Food in Monster Hunter

Going Beyond BBQ Steaks in Monster Hunter Wilds

Regardless of the particular inspiration behind an open-world design for the next game, the Palico chefs of the past few entries are an endearing part of the series which should carry on in some form. If Felynes end up no longer being able to prepare overly elaborate meals which provide varying bonuses, the player should at least be able to do this on their own. Cooking in Monster Hunter as the player has never been more than the proper timing of a steak for maximum stamina, but slaying many of the titular creatures already tends to rack up plenty of possible delicacies as loot. Tears of the Kingdom has proven how engaging it can be to combine ingredients to discover recipes for in-game meals, and Wilds could easily capitalize on this with the same style and flair that the Palico chef cutscenes have become known for.

Some players would probably have fun playing through more food preparation, but a possible reason behind the simplicity of the barbecuing mini-game that has always been present in Monster Hunter is that this has kept cooking from becoming too much of a focus in an otherwise action-heavy experience. If Capcom does elaborate on the food mechanics of Wilds, it might ultimately be wiser to leave it as a more hands-off affair in a similar fashion to the existing Palico kitchens in Monster Hunter. Whether the next game utilizes an open-world structure to elaborate on the player’s cooking ability or not, it’s an area of the franchise that inevitably needs to be addressed if it takes a step away from the design of Rise and World.