TheMonster Hunterseries began with segmented zones all numbered which helped with navigation. Hints of monsters appearing in certain zones helped players out but the constant load times were a pain on the PS2 in 2004. While some of these zones got bigger as theMonster Hunterserieswent on, the franchise didn’t become open-world untilMonster Hunter: Worldin 2018.
Even then, there was a separation between the various biomes. That has changed inMonster Hunter Wildsas players can go from the beginning area of the game to the last on foot or with their new Chocobo-like mounts called Seikrets. There are five biomes in total, so let’s rank them based on visuals, how easy they are to navigate, and what monsters are housed there.
5Ruins Of Wyveria
It’s A Long Way Down
The Ruins of Wyveria is the last location in the game and it feels more like a dungeon than a biome. Players will make their camp within the last city belonging to Nata’s people, The Keepers, and then descend from there. There are a series of ramps and shortcuts players can take using theirSeikret inMonster Hunter Wildswhich is easy. Going straight down anywhere is usually simple but going up or navigating within this labyrinth to find a particular monster is where the problem lies.
This is where players will encounter the cover star of the show, Arkveld, or to be more precise, Guardian Arkveld. There are various Guardian versions of past monsters in the series too including Guardian Rathalos and some non-Guardian monsters like Xu Wu. There are some good fights to be had in here, but as a biome, it’s lacking that punch the rest have in spades.
4Oilwell Basin
A Fiery Trip To Hell
The Oilwell Basin is the third location players will stumble upon in the game and like the name implies, it’s filled with oil initially. Eventually, with the changing of seasons, the oil will ignite, turning this area into more of a volcano. Both versions are interesting, the latter of which requires items so that players don’t overheat in the game. Depending on the season, there are good fights to be had here like Rompopolo who looks like a scary bipedal mosquito who will rise out of the oily muck.
There is also the fiery ape Ajarakan who will smash unsuspecting players to pieces. The city here, Azur, is packed with people, opening up a lot of gameplay opportunities like crafting accessories calledTalismans inMonster Hunter Wilds. The Oilwell Basin isn’t pretty visually, but there’s a lot to see and it’s easy to navigate.
3Iceshard Cliffs
A Chilly Series Of Caverns
The Iceshard Cliffs are the complete opposite of the Oilwell Basin and follow it as the fourth area. The biome is like a series of icy caverns, some narrow, and some open. Like the Ruins of Wyveria, it can be tricky to navigate due to cramped spaces, and sometimes the layout is confusing. However, it’s mostly unobtrusive and the chilly gimmick is enough to make it more interesting to explore on top of offering some truly “wow” moments.
For example, players will meet a Wudwud NPC here, Rove, who is about to be eaten by a Nerscylla, a giant spider. Its nest is something to behold and Rove, as a character, is a fun little addition to the game looking likea mage straight out ofFinal Fantasy. Another standout is the showdown with Jin Dahaad which is nothing less than cinematic as this colossal dragon tears through the icy wilds.
2Windward Plains
The Start Of New Beginnings
The Windward Plains is the opening area of the game and the perfect place to ease players in. The base camp is well laid out between the blacksmith for upgrading gear to the little Ration cafe manned by Palicos. It’s easy to get out and explore whether that is on foot or on the back of a Seikret. It’s mostly a dusty basin with little vegetation out there but there are large packs of monsters roaming around which makes it feel lively.
The desert to the east of the base camp offers interesting sandy terrain that is not easy to traipse through, making boss fights with monsters likeBalahara difficult inMonster Hunter Wilds. Taking on Quematrice in the flatter areas is less challenging but still fun and discovering the lightning-infused nest of Rey Dau can be jaw-dropping. The Windward Plains has an African feel to it almost like a darker version of Pride Rock fromThe Lion King. It’s the only area that feels truly open thanks to no canopy blocking out the sky.
1Scarlet Forest
A Lush Next-Gen Biome
Even though the Scarlet Forest has most of the sky hidden by its aforementioned canopy unlike the Windward Plains, it’s still open enough to be explored without much hindrance. Plus there are opportunities to climb to the top and see just how dense the forest is from above and some of these climbing sequences, including scaling a giant waterfall, are mesmerizing. At the top of said waterfall is an epic battle with a water salamander called Uth Duna which is unforgettable.
Another notable fight more on the ground inMonster Hunter Wildsis with Lala Barina, another giant spider but this one is different than Nerscylla in the Iceshard Cliffs. Lala Barina has a beauty all its own which may be a bit of a spoiler with the intro scene. Spoilers aside, what makes the Scarlet Forest the best biome in the game is that it has a good balance between fun and challenging monsters, it changes a lot between seasons, and it is gorgeous whether players are engaging with it on consoles or PC. This is the area that will show off the next-gen capabilities ofMonster Hunter Wilds.
