Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Cooking Mechanics

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to elevate the visual appeal of in-game food to new heights, as confirmed by key members of its development team. The game will feature an extensive selection of dishes, including meat, fish, and vegetables, all crafted with a focus on making them look irresistibly delicious. The developers have gone beyond mere realism, embracing exaggerated techniques to enhance the visual allure of these meals, drawing inspiration from food presentations in anime and commercials.

Since its inception in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has included cooking as a core mechanic, allowing players to enjoy meals made from the monsters they've defeated. Over the years, the importance of food and the variety of dishes have grown significantly. With Monster Hunter World in 2018, the series began to emphasize realistic and appealing dining experiences. Monster Hunter Wilds, scheduled for release on February 28, 2025, aims to push this trend even further.

Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda have emphasized the importance of making food look appetizing, stating that realism alone isn't sufficient. They've incorporated special lighting effects and exaggerated food models to achieve this. In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the flexibility to dine anywhere, fostering a camping grill atmosphere rather than a traditional restaurant setting.

A preview in December showcased an enticing cheese pull, capturing fans' attention. Even simple dishes like roasted cabbage have been transformed into visually appealing meals. Fujioka highlighted the challenge of making roasted cabbage look appealing, with the game showing it puffing up realistically as the lid is lifted, and accompanied by a roasted egg on top.

On the meatier side of the menu, Tokuda, known for his love of meat both in-game and in real life, teased a secret "extravagant" meat dish that promises to add excitement to the culinary experience. Monster Hunter Wilds will not only offer a diverse array of dishes but also capture the joy and expressions of characters dining around a campfire, enhancing the overall food-related bliss in its cooking scenes.