This may not be a game for everyone but I really enjoyed hunting down the monsters again and again and again.

- Edit0 TL;DR:
Still a masterpiece, min-maxing endgame for hardcore/longtime enthusiasts. Fashion hunter dreams come true!
I recommend buying Iceborne for (more) multiplayer chances as this game is older now.
Take your time :)
-

A gorgeous world, various weapons with different playstyles and a ton of costumisation options for your armor(-which can look good if you are a lucky fella-) await!
And let's not forget about the monsters even a noob like me can overthrow (most of the times at least).
Since I never seriously picked up an older game of this franchise I can not compare but I heard, that this game is rather easy. There are a few monsters I'd consider a challenge but I am not the person that should judge their strength for you. There are way more fit people for this task out there.

I spend a decent amount of time in the New World and do not regret the joy I felt while exploring it.

But remember: If you are not into grinding, that sometimes feels like a ridiculous gamble, the endgame will be a real pain for you (at least now without too many updates/additions).



Edit1 about the game:
With Iceborne (or some update?), you can now be the greatest fashion hunter of all time! No luck (except for the ingredients) needed!
I am in love!

The endgame grind I am talking about above is min-maxing.
It's the hardcore endgame, to clarify. It has gotten better (Deco Quests always available) but also worse (more Decos in the pool) to obtain the exact things you are looking for. It's still a rough road until you can have a 100% optimized meta set (if that is your preferred playstyle. Otherwise: Do not be afraid to deviate from the meta path and mix and match along the way).
Should this be your only reason to not buy this game, still buy it!



Edit2 for new buyers:
It has been some years and I am currently revisiting this game. It's still a strong recommendation, however I would advocate you to buy Iceborne as well if you are looking for the multiplayer experience (with random friends), as many people try to get to the (Iceborne) endgame as fast as possible.
This game is somewhat "old" now (but still really pretty and fantastic), hence there are less people playing( - it is not a dead game, just not comparable to release). To increase the chance of meeting someone (of your level), you would need the World lategame or the Iceborne experience.
Capcom provides you with a "cheating" armor (incredibly high stats) in World, to rush through the base game.

NEVERTHELESS, I do not endorse to rush through the basegame with said armor, as you discover the New World which is big part of what makes this game so fascinating. It's a journey you can sink many hours into, but I guess that depends on your goals. If you have a mate to play with or do not mind some more solo action, definitely take your time to discover this masterpiece!

This may not be a game for everyone but I really enjoyed hunting down the monsters again and again and again. - Edit0 TL;DR: Still a masterpiece, min-maxing endgame for hardcore/longtime enthusiasts. Fashion hunter dreams come true! I recommend buying Iceborne for (more) multiplayer chances as this game is older now. Take your time :) - A gorgeous world, various weapons with different playstyles and a ton of costumisation options for your armor(-which can look good if you are a lucky fella-) await! And let's not forget about the monsters even a noob like me can overthrow (most of the times at least). Since I never seriously picked up an older game of this franchise I can not compare but I heard, that this game is rather easy. There are a few monsters I'd consider a challenge but I am not the person that should judge their strength for you. There are way more fit people for this task out there. I spend a decent amount of time in the New World and do not regret the joy I felt while exploring it. But remember: If you are not into grinding, that sometimes feels like a ridiculous gamble, the endgame will be a real pain for you (at least now without too many updates/additions). Edit1 about the game: With Iceborne (or some update?), you can now be the greatest fashion hunter of all time! No luck (except for the ingredients) needed! I am in love! The endgame grind I am talking about above is min-maxing. It's the hardcore endgame, to clarify. It has gotten better (Deco Quests always available) but also worse (more Decos in the pool) to obtain the exact things you are looking for. It's still a rough road until you can have a 100% optimized meta set (if that is your preferred playstyle. Otherwise: Do not be afraid to deviate from the meta path and mix and match along the way). Should this be your only reason to not buy this game, still buy it! Edit2 for new buyers: It has been some years and I am currently revisiting this game. It's still a strong recommendation, however I would advocate you to buy Iceborne as well if you are looking for the multiplayer experience (with random friends), as many people try to get to the (Iceborne) endgame as fast as possible. This game is somewhat "old" now (but still really pretty and fantastic), hence there are less people playing( - it is not a dead game, just not comparable to release). To increase the chance of meeting someone (of your level), you would need the World lategame or the Iceborne experience. Capcom provides you with a "cheating" armor (incredibly high stats) in World, to rush through the base game. NEVERTHELESS, I do not endorse to rush through the basegame with said armor, as you discover the New World which is big part of what makes this game so fascinating. It's a journey you can sink many hours into, but I guess that depends on your goals. If you have a mate to play with or do not mind some more solo action, definitely take your time to discover this masterpiece!