A New Contender Enters the Hunt
I didn’t have Wild Hearts S on my radar. Like a lot of people, I missed the original release back in 2023, it arrived with big promises, got a short burst of attention, then quickly faded from the spotlight. Chalk it up to the “next big thing” effect that so many new games fall victim to. But this time feels different… Wild Hearts S isn’t just a rerelease. It’s a rebuilt version for Switch 2, complete with all the post-launch content and Karakuri Edition extras baked in from the start. It also ditches the EA login hurdles and tightens up the experience for Nintendo’s hardware. After spending time with the demo, I’m genuinely excited and more than a little hopeful that this could be the monster-hunting fix Switch 2 has been waiting for. Yes, let’s talk about the Rathalos in the room: Wild Hearts S absolutely takes inspiration from Monster Hunter. But after a few hours with the demo, it’s clear this game does its own thing. The combat is fast and technical, the world is vibrant, and the unique building system, something like throwing Fortnite structures into a boss fight, gives it a unique approach to monster hunting.
Combat, Crafting, and Control
I went into the demo not knowing what to expect, thankfully, it started with something familiar: a katana-style weapon that felt like the longsword in Monster Hunter. Combat was immediately more fluid than I expected. Movement is quick and responsive, attacks land with a satisfying weight, and the whole system just feels… intuitive. If you’ve spent years with Monster Hunter, it’s not a replacement, but it might be a great entry point for newcomers. Where Capcom’s classic rewards precision and patience, Wild Hearts feels more accessible without sacrificing depth and that balance could really work in its favour.
The big question mark going in was the karakuri system, which is the game’s signature building mechanic. At first I didn’t like it, because the early tutorial leans heavily on traversal, and it felt like a weird mashup of platforms and pop-up towers. Once I got into my first real hunt, a frantic battle against a massive rat-like creature, something clicked. Springboards let me dash out of danger or launch into aerial attacks, and stacked crates gave me just enough height to pull off big aerial attacks that looked impressive and deal some damage. Outside of combat, you can build tower-like structures to track monsters, place camps for closer respawns, or even upgrade your tools by conjuring a forge. During battle it becomes essential. In one later fight, I was squaring off against a massive charging boar and by that point I’d unlocked the ability to craft massive bulwarks, walls that could block its attack, stun it, and give me a crucial opening. It gets you thinking strategically while also forcing you to respond rapidly, and it makes every hunt feel more dynamic. Controls overall were responsive, though there’s definitely a learning curve. The demo introduces a lot in a short span, especially around how the building system works, so it took a little time to wrap my head around it all. I played docked using the Pro Controller, which felt like the right choice for the kind of precision some builds demand.
Visually, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There were some bland textures, occasional pop-in, and the snow effects reminded me of the early days of the GTA Trilogy launch. That said, there were also moments of real beauty. Some areas feel properly immersive, and I’m hopeful the final build gives us a few graphical options, maybe a performance mode and a visual mode, to balance things out. The monster designs do look incredible, a fusion of nature and beast, with trees and branches growing out of their backs, moss tangled in their fur, and glowing plant life pulsing across their bodies.
Performance on Switch 2 (Demo Build)
I kept a close eye on how Wild Hearts S handles itself, and for the most part, it’s off to a promising start. During regular exploration and most fights, the frame rate hovered around the 45 fps mark, sometimes climbing higher in open areas, sometimes dipping when things got hectic. That said, I never saw it drop below 30, and even when it dipped, the gameplay stayed smooth and responsive. It doesn’t feel like a game that stutters or struggles, which is reassuring for something still in demo form. There’s definitely some LOD pop-in, especially in foliage and far-off geometry, and a few textures looked washed out, almost like low-res placeholders. It’s the kind of thing that can stand out in snowy areas or when lighting changes fast. Still, none of it took away from how the game felt to play. Controls remained tight, movement was fluid, and the action never slowed to a crawl, even during the busier fights. Right now, there’s no option for a performance or visual mode, though that could change by launch. Hopefully the final version sharpens up the presentation a bit, because the foundation here feels solid.
What This Could Mean for Switch 2’s Action-RPG Lineup
We’re still waiting to see what Capcom does with Monster Hunter Wilds, and whether a Switch 2 version is even on the cards, but in the meantime, Wild Hearts S might just step in to fill that gap. What makes this one stand out isn’t just the big monsters or gear grind, it’s the karakuri system, which brings a totally different rhythm to each encounter. Building a bulwark just in time to block a charging beast feels incredible, it’s the kind of moment that turns a hunt into a highlight reel. Between springboards, towers, traps, and on-the-fly crafting, it brings a level of creativity and surprise that most games in the genre don’t explore.
The Switch 2 also feels like the right home for it. You’ve got stronger hardware, smoother input response, and, if the community shows up, a great ecosystem for online play. With all the original game’s post-launch content already baked in, Wild Hearts S is launching in a much stronger position than it did two years ago. Whether it catches on will come down to player interest. If there’s a healthy multiplayer community and solid word of mouth, I think this one has serious staying power. It’s shaping up to be a real contender, not just as a technical showcase for the new system, but as a genuinely fun, fresh take on the hunting genre.
Try the Demo Yourself
Wild Hearts S wasn’t even on my radar a few weeks ago, but after playing the demo, I’m genuinely interested to see where this goes. The combat feels sharp and responsive, the building system adds real strategic depth, and the monster designs are striking with tangled roots and snarling jaws, like nature decided to fight back. There’s still plenty I want to see, like how deep the endgame goes, how co-op holds up over time, and whether performance stays consistent in the final build, but what I’ve played so far makes a strong case. With the right support and a steady player base, this could be one of the early standouts on Switch 2.
The public demo for Wild Hearts S is available now on the Nintendo eShop. If you’ve been craving a new monster-hunting adventure, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Already tried it? I’d love to hear what you think.
