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 showcase an extensive range of dishes, from succulent meat and fresh fish to vibrant vegetable plates. The developers are dedicated to making these meals look irresistibly delicious, employing a technique of exaggerated realism that goes beyond mere visual accuracy.

Since its inception in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has included cooking as a core mechanic, allowing players to enjoy meals crafted from the monsters they've defeated. This feature has evolved significantly over time, with food becoming a central element in Monster Hunter World in 2018, where the focus was on creating realistic and appetizing dining experiences.

Scheduled for release on February 28, 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds aims to further enhance this aspect. Executive Director/Art Director Kaname Fujioka and Director Yuya Tokuda emphasize the importance of making food look appetizing, noting that realism alone isn't sufficient. Fujioka explained in a video interview with IGN that inspiration for their approach comes from anime and food commercials, utilizing special lighting effects and exaggerated food models to achieve a mouth-watering effect.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will enjoy the freedom to dine anywhere, embracing a camping grill atmosphere rather than a traditional restaurant setting. A preview in December showcased a tantalizing cheese pull, but the menu extends beyond such highlights. Even a simple dish like roasted cabbage poses a challenge for Fujioka, yet it's transformed into an appealing meal with realistic effects, such as puffing up when the lid is removed from the pan, and is further enhanced with a roasted egg on top.

On the meatier side of the menu, Tokuda, with his passion for meat both in-game and in real life, hinted at a secret "extravagant" meat dish. While keeping the details under wraps, the promise of this special addition adds to the excitement. The game's focus on a diverse array of dishes and the joyful expressions of characters dining around a cooking fire aims to deliver an exaggerated yet realistic sense of food-related bliss in its cooking cutscenes.