Monster Hunter Wilds Unveils Cooking Mechanics

Monster Hunter Wilds: Elevating In-Game Dining to New Heights

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to revolutionize the in-game dining experience by focusing on making food look irresistibly appetizing through a technique the developers call "exaggerated realism." According to executive director and art director Kaname Fujioka and director Yuya Tokuda, the game will feature an extensive range of dishes, from succulent meats and fresh fish to vibrant vegetable creations, all designed to tantalize the player's visual senses.

The tradition of cooking in the Monster Hunter series, which began with the original game in 2004, has evolved significantly. Initially, players could only cook basic monster meat, but over time, the culinary aspect of the game has grown in both variety and importance. With Monster Hunter World in 2018, the focus on realistic and appealing food increased, setting a new standard for the franchise. Now, Monster Hunter Wilds aims to push this boundary even further upon its release on February 28, 2025.

Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

Fujioka emphasized in a recent IGN interview that simply making food look realistic isn't sufficient; it needs to look delicious. This approach involves blending realism with exaggeration, drawing inspiration from food presentations in anime and commercials. Techniques such as special lighting effects and the dramatic portrayal of food models are employed to enhance the visual appeal of the dishes.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, the dining experience will take on a more casual, camping grill atmosphere, allowing players to enjoy their meals anywhere in the game world. A standout moment from a December preview was the tantalizing cheese pull, which has already captured fans' attention. Even simple dishes like roasted cabbage are given a gourmet twist, with Fujioka highlighting how the cabbage puffs up realistically as the lid is lifted, accompanied by a roasted egg to elevate its visual allure.

On the other end of the spectrum, Tokuda, a self-proclaimed meat enthusiast both in-game and in real life, hinted at the introduction of a secret "extravagant" meat dish. While keeping the details under wraps, he promised that this addition would enhance the overall food-related bliss players experience in the game. The focus on a wide variety of dishes, combined with the expressive reactions of characters dining around a cooking fire, aims to create an immersive and exaggerated sense of culinary delight in Monster Hunter Wilds.