Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Cooking Mechanics

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to elevate the visual appeal of in-game food to new heights, as revealed by key members of its development team. The game will feature an extensive range of dishes, from meat and fish to vegetables, with a focus on making them look irresistibly delicious. The developers are going beyond mere realism, incorporating exaggerated elements inspired by anime and commercials to enhance the visual allure of the food.

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 these meals has grown, and the variety of dishes has expanded. With Monster Hunter World in 2018, the focus on food intensified, aiming to create dining experiences that players would crave in real life.

Set to launch on February 28, 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds will continue this trend, pushing the boundaries even further. Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda emphasized the importance of making food look appetizing, stating that realism alone isn't sufficient. "Making it look realistic isn't enough to make it look good," Fujioka explained in a recent IGN interview. "You really have to think about what makes something look delicious." This involves a blend of realism and exaggeration, using special lighting effects and enhanced food models.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the freedom to dine anywhere, embracing a camping grill atmosphere rather than a traditional restaurant setting. A preview in December showcased an enticing cheese pull, but the menu promises more. Even a simple dish like roasted cabbage, which posed a significant challenge for Fujioka, can be visually appealing with effects like the cabbage puffing up as the lid is lifted, accompanied by a roasted egg topping.

On the meatier side of the menu, Tokuda, a self-professed meat enthusiast, hinted at a secret "extravagant" meat dish, though he kept the details under wraps. The game aims to offer a diverse array of dishes, capturing the joy and satisfaction of dining around a campfire through exaggerated yet realistic cooking cutscenes.