Summary

• Monster Hunter Wilds enhances the visual appeal of in-game food with exaggerated realism.
• Players can enjoy meals anywhere in the game, embracing a camping grill ambiance over a traditional restaurant setting.
• The game will offer a diverse range of dishes, including a mysterious "extravagant" meat dish, to heighten the food experience.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to elevate the standard for appetizing in-game cuisine, as shared by key members of its development team. The game will feature an extensive selection of dishes, including meat, fish, and vegetables, all crafted with meticulous attention to their visual appeal. The developers are pushing the boundaries of realism to ensure these dishes look irresistibly delicious, often going beyond what's typically achievable.

Since its inception in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has incorporated cooking as a core element, allowing players to feast on the spoils of their hunts. This mechanic has evolved significantly over the years, with the variety of meals and their importance growing. However, Monster Hunter World marked a turning point in 2018 by emphasizing more realistic and desirable dining experiences.

With Monster Hunter Wilds, set to launch on February 28, 2025, the focus on delectable food is set to intensify. Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda believe that few games capture the allure of food as effectively as they aim to. Fujioka emphasized in a recent IGN interview that making food look realistic isn't enough; it must also appear tempting. This involves blending realism with exaggeration, drawing inspiration from anime and food commercials, including special lighting and enhanced food models.

Monster Hunter Wilds Uses Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the freedom to dine anywhere, fostering a camping grill atmosphere rather than a conventional restaurant setting. A preview in December showcased an impressive cheese pull, delighting fans, but there's more to the menu. Even a dish as simple as roasted cabbage posed a challenge for Fujioka, yet it became appealing through effects like the cabbage puffing up as the lid is lifted, accompanied by a visually pleasing roasted egg topping.

On the other hand, Tokuda, with his passion for meat both in the game and real life, hinted at the introduction of a secretive "extravagant" meat dish. The game aims to showcase a broad spectrum of culinary options, capturing the joy and satisfaction of dining around a campfire through exaggerated yet realistic cooking cutscenes.