Monster Hunter Wilds invites players into a sprawling adventure divided into six chapters, where the first half unfolds a gripping main story and the latter half plunges hunters into the intense challenge of High Rank quests. While the main campaign can be completed in roughly 14 to 25 hours, the true depth of the game lies beyond the credits, with post-story content and grinding extending playtime well beyond 100 hours for those eager to master every monster and upgrade.
In this Monster Hunter Wilds guide, we’ll walk you through how long it takes to beat (according to our various playtime estimates) and how many chapters there are to help give you a framework to work towards.
How long is Monster Hunter Wilds?
Monster Hunter Wilds features a main story spread across six chapters, with the first three chapters forming the Low Rank section and the latter three chapters introducing High Rank content. Completing the entire story, including all six chapters, typically takes between 20 to 40 hours depending on playstyle and experience. The credits roll after Chapter 3, which usually takes about 20 to 30 hours, but the game continues with additional story content and tougher monsters in the High Rank chapters 4 to 6, extending gameplay further. Players often spend extra time on side quests and grinding Hunter Rank to access later missions, which can significantly increase total playtime. For completionists aiming to unlock all achievements and crowns, the game can take upwards of 75 to 100 hours.
The first part of the story in Monster Hunter Wilds – reaching the credits and unlocking High Rank – is anywhere between 12 to 20 hours, but that number can vary wildly (even outside of our wide estimation) based on your skill level and familiarity with the franchise.
To complete every chapter and see the entire story to its conclusion, then that’s between 30 and 40 hours total to hunt through the main campaign, climb the Hunter Ranks in High Rank, and stop getting new story quests.
To give you some wider context on how it can vary, if you’re consistently clearing hunts in 15 minutes or so, without failing or fainting, you’ll come in pretty close to the 15-hour mark to see those initial credits – if you’re just focusing on story content. If you find yourself struggling a bit more, or you’re taking your time with exploration, or with familiarizing yourself with some of the game’s more archaic systems, you’ll likely find yourself brushing against or past that 20-hour mark.
The High Rank structure is looser, which we’ll explain more of in the next section.
How many chapters is Monster Hunter Wilds?
Monster Hunter Wilds consists of six chapters in total, divided into two main parts. The first three chapters focus on the main story campaign set in Low Rank, while chapters four through six transition into the High Rank content, which introduces tougher monsters and more challenging quests. Each chapter contains multiple missions, with the entire campaign comprising 46 missions spread across 21 parts. The story concludes at the end of Chapter 3, but the game continues with High Rank chapters that significantly extend the gameplay experience. This structure allows players to progress through the story relatively quickly while offering extensive post-story content for those who want to delve deeper into hunting and upgrading their gear.
There are six chapters in Monster Hunter Wilds, but know each chapter’s progress isn’t weighted the same. That’s because after seeing the credits upon completing Chapter 3 and entering High Rank,Wilds takes on a less story-focused format, and is more about familiarizing yourself with the grind.
As such, this is where you’re going to spend the bulk of your playtime. Each main story quest will unlock a new monster or type of monster (like Tempered or Frenzied), but you’ll need to grind your hunter rank several levels in order to unlock each new story quest after you see the credits.
At this point, you can and will go multiple hours between story missions and new monster sightings, so make sure to complete side quests as you go, as they’ll give you a boost to your hunter rank and unlock some new features like layered armor, Palico upgrades, and Artian weapons.
How does the length of Monster Hunter Wilds compare to previous entries in the series
Monster Hunter Wilds is significantly shorter than many of its predecessors in the franchise. While Wilds’ main campaign lasts around 15 to 20 hours, and completing High Rank missions extends playtime to about 35 to 40 hours, earlier entries like the original Monster Hunter (2004) had main campaigns exceeding 40 hours and could reach over 300 hours for 100% completion. Monster Hunter World, for comparison, features a main campaign of roughly 45 hours and over 400 hours for full completion including its Iceborne expansion. This makes Wilds’ campaign less than half the length of World’s and notably shorter than most previous titles, reflecting a more streamlined experience but with potential for future content additions.
Why is Monster Hunter Wilds significantly shorter than earlier series entries
Monster Hunter Wilds is significantly shorter than earlier series entries primarily because it offers a more streamlined and focused experience. Unlike previous games such as Monster Hunter World, which include many filler quests, extensive gathering, and lengthy scouting missions, Wilds emphasizes direct monster battles in almost every mission, cutting down on downtime and unnecessary tasks. This design choice results in a main story that can be completed in about 15 to 20 hours, compared to World’s 45-hour campaign.
Additionally, Wilds has fewer large monsters at launch than earlier titles, which reduces the variety and length of hunts players undertake during the main story. The game also features a lower difficulty level, making it easier and faster to progress through the low-rank hunts without repeated attempts or grinding. While this shorter length disappointed some fans expecting a more epic journey, it reflects a deliberate shift toward a more accessible and narrative-driven experience, with the expectation that post-launch updates and expansions will add further content over time.
