Summary
Monster Hunter Wilds, along with a sizable list of other big titles, is undoubtedly one of 2025’s most anticipated video games thanks to what it is bringing to the longstandingMonster Hunterseries. While it is breaking plenty ofMonster Huntertraditions, many of these are in good taste and may be more than enough to open up the franchise to an even larger demographic thanMonster Hunter: Worldwas capable of doing. Whether it’s the game’s presumed narrative-driven direction, the voiced protagonist, or the unique gameplay mechanics designed to make it more accessible,Monster Hunter Wildsalready has a lot going for it.
By now, it’s no secret that February 2025 is primed to be one of the biggest months in gaming history, with an incredible lineup of big titles slated to launch that month. WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas recently been delayed to March, effectively moving it out of February, the month still includesMonster Hunter Wilds, as well as other highly anticipated titles likeKingdom Come: Deliverance 2,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,Avowed, andCivilization 7. As such, one would thinkMonster Hunter Wildsmight find it a bit challenging to find a competitive edge in such a stacked release window. However, it still has a few tricks up its sleeve that could bring it soaring to the priority position of players' backlogs.
Monster Hunter Wilds May Come Out on Top in February 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds' Second Open Beta Test Is in February
The first and likely most valuable thing working in favor ofMonster Hunter Wildsis its second open beta test, which will begin within the first week of February. The first round ofMonster Hunter Wilds' second open beta test will take place from February 6 at 7 PM PST to February 9 at 6:59 PM PST, which is just a couple of days after thelaunch ofKingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The second round of the open beta test, on the other hand, will begin on February 13 at 7 PM PST and conclude on February 16 at 6:59 PM PST, putting it just after the release ofCivilization 7and during the launch ofDate Everything!andThe Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2.
In the end, the dates and times forMonster Hunter Wilds' second open beta test give it a bit of an advantage over at least two ofFebruary 2025’s biggest games, as it could potentially pull players away from said games and back into the world ofMonster Hunter Wildsfor a brief period. While this doesn’t necessarily meanMonster Hunter Wildswill take over the entire month, it does mean that it won’t be forgotten.
The only real thing that could work againstMonster Hunter Wildshere is the fact that its second open beta test won’t benefit from the technical improvements Capcom has been making to the game after the somewhat negative reception of the first open beta test.
Monster Hunter Wilds Will Get the Last Word in February
Apart from the spotlight thatMonster Hunter Wilds' second beta testwill put on the game, the fact that it will be launching on February 28 makes it the last of the month’s biggest titles to be released. More than likely, those who have been awaiting the release ofMonster Hunter Wildswill, on February 28, put down any other games they may be playing at present in exchange for some quality time with the next installment in theMonster Hunterseries. Considering March is very shallow as far as major game releases go (apart fromAssassin’s Creed Shadowsand perhapsTales of the Shire), this ultimately allowsMonster Hunter Wildsto have the last word in February and to allot players more time with it than the month’s other games are able to on account of the tight spaces between their release dates.
Monster Hunter Wildsis clearly positioning itself as a standout title in an already monumental month for gaming. By leveraging its second open beta test and its status as its launch month’s final major release, the game better ensures that it will stay fresh in players’ minds despite thecompetitive lineup in February 2025. This is, of course, assuming its second open beta test goes well, and it doesn’t leave a stain onMonster Hunter Wilds' increasingly positive reputation.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
