Monster Hunter World: Wildspire Waste Unboxed
Diablos, Barroth, and a Switch Axe? Now we’re talking! It’s time to dive into Monster Hunter World: Wildspire Waste from Steamforged Games.
So before I got into this box my main experience with Monster Hunter comes from the Xbox version of Monster Hunter Worlds. Considering this board game was based off of that particular game I was pretty pumped to get my hands on this one. So thanks to Steamforged Games for sending me a copy to check out. Wildspire Wastes isn’t exactly a new product either. But what’s really impressive is that this is the THIRD print run. So Steamforged must be doing something right. And now that I’ve cracked the box I can see exactly what that is.
Can I just start by saying this box is massive? I mean, I had seen the Monster Hunter World: The Board Game before…but I hadn’t really interacted with it. But yeah…it’s big. I had to forgo my typical photo-shooting area because of the size of this one. But let’s get into the box!
Monster Hunter World: Wildspire Waste – Unboxed
When you first crack this box you’re greeted with a sheet that you’re going to want to hang on to. This is the “Organizer” sheet. And if you’ve played any board games with a campaign then you know how important this is. Just figured I’d mention it.
Next up you’re in for some MONSTERS! This box contains Barroth, Pukei-Pukei, Jyuratodus, and Diablos. There’s cards for each monster and even the dreaded Black Diablos (which is an upgraded and much meaner version of Diablos). If you’ve played Monster Hunter Worlds then you encountered these monsters before. And don’t worry, we’ll be taking a closer look at them down below.
Now we’re getting into the heart of the game components. And there’s a LOT. All in, there’s over 650 cards, the rulebook, Quest book, and all the tokens/dials/boards you need to play. This tray even holds your Monster Hunters. In this box, you’ll get Hunters with the Insect Glaive, Charge Blade, Heavy Bowgun, or Switch Axe as weapons. Personally, I was always a Hammer main. But I was a fan of the Switch Axe, too. We’ll take a closer look at these minis down below as well.
Oh and if you’re wondering about the other weapons, there’s a few in the other core set and also the Arsenal Expansion. If you find yourself enjoying this one you might want to consider checking those out next. But back to the Wildspire Waste!
Boards of the Wildspire Waste
This box comes with a double-sided board feature a pair of sections you might recognize from the video game. If you’re wondering what those circles are, those are nodes. They are used for movement and to determine ranges for things. Now, I’m not going to dive into the rules in this unboxing. But keep an eye out for a future review of the gameplay itself. I also want to say the photos aren’t doing these board the justice they deserve — my bad on that part. Again, I couldn’t use my regular lighting setup for this one so I apologize about the glare.
Monster Hunter Miniatures
Okay, now it’s time to really get into the part I know you’re excited about: The miniatures!
These designs are basically ripped right from the video game and I’m here for that! I really wanted to slap these guys with a quick wash to darken them up but that would be cheating. These are right out of the box and my lighting wasn’t doing them any favors. They actually do have quite a bit of details and that wash would have made them pop more. However, if you’ve used or seen any of the other miniatures from the SFG board games or Epic Encounters, then you know you’re in good hands. I also like that the Switch Axe is wearing the Barroth armor set. It seems fitting for this box.
Each of these Hunters and weapons have different upgrade options in the form of cards. Now, I didn’t take photos of all those. I might show some of them off in a later review. There’s just a LOT of them. And really, that’s why you’d want to get this product…that and the monsters. Speaking of…
The Monsters of the Wildspire Waste
The first monster here is Jyuratodus. This muck-covered Monsters is the one you fight in that wet/tar lands area in the video game. It’s the second board. It moves through the muck and pops-up to attack (and get BONKED). I like that the sculpt captured that same muddy gunk look.
Pukei-Pukei and Barroth are next up. And don’t let the image size fool you. These are on the same size base as the Jyuratodus. I believe that means they are all on 100mm bases. Of the lot, my personal favorite is the Barroth miniature. I have fond memories of BONKIN’ his nogging with my Hammer. Good times. I’m looking forward to recreating that same exciting hunt in this board game, too. As for Pukei-Pukei, I like the miniature but I hated that fight. Bro had too much poison going on. But I did learn his pattern and was landing the hits on this dome, too.
The final miniature in the box is the MASSIVE Diablos. Again, this monster is on a bigger base than the others. It’s a 120mm base. Diablos also comes in three parts! The main body plus two wings. I figured you would want a look at it from both sides. And yeah…it’s impressive.
I’m debating on if I want to glue the wings in place or not. I think I might not do it just so I can Diablos back in the box. The again, if I did paint this up, I’d probably want it on my shelf to show off. It’s a great miniature!
Into the Wildspire Waste
That’s everything in the box. I did manage to repack everything back inside and it all fits great thanks to the dividers inside. I’m currently working on digesting the rules. It doesn’t seem overly complex but there’s multiple phases to the game. This isn’t just a “go kill the monster” type of game. There’s some questing, gathering, and forging to be done as well. But in terms of components I think SFG knocked it out of the park with this one. It a great looking game and as a Core Set it’s got all the stuff you need to play for 1-4 players.
It’s really hard not to be drawn into the Monster Hunter “world” when you see these components all setup, too. If you’re a fan of the video game series this is one you don’t want to skip on. Also, if you’re just in the mood for a board game that’s got a bit more under the hood in terms of campaign play this is worth a look. As I mentioned, there’s more to it than just a simple combat simulation vs a monster. That’s a BIG part of it, but the questing and other parts of the game give this one some legs and replay value. Plus you can combine this with the other Monster Hunter Worlds products. And that sounds pretty epic to me!
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Wildspire Wastes is currently available. You can get it direct from SFG or you may also be able to pick this one up from your FLGS. So get out there and hunt some monsters because the Fifth Fleet needs you!
