These days it feels like we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to monster hunting games, and it’s time to jump back in. KOEI TECMO and Omega Force have just released a Wild Hearts S demo on the Nintendo Switch 2, giving players a taste of the upcoming fantasy hunting game before it officially lands on 25 July.
If you played the original Wild Hearts on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox back in 2023 like we did, you’ll remember it as a bold and creative spin on the monster hunting genre. It was packed with stylish creature design and those inventive Karakuri contraptions. We loved the flair, but couldn’t help getting sick of the repetitive loops and those not-so-smooth performance hiccups.
This time around, Wild Hearts S is a Switch 2 exclusive, and the new demo lets you play through the opening sections up to the city of Minato. For lone wolves or those rolling with a full crew of four via online or local co-op, there’s plenty of beast-slaying to get stuck into. Expect to clash with monsters like the giant boar-like Kingtusk, the gnarly Ragetail, and the gooey menace Sapscourge. You’ll also get your hands on Karakuri, the deployable gadgets that reshape the battlefield and make Wild Hearts stand out from Monster Hunter.
Fans are especially curious to see how Wild Hearts S holds up on the new-gen Nintendo Switch 2. With two years of hindsight and a fresh piece of hardware, this version promises to be optimised specifically for the platform and we’re hopeful it finally delivers the smooth and dynamic hunting experience we wanted from the start.
The Wild Hearts S demo is out now, and it’s completely free on the Nintendo eShop. Your progress in the demo will carry over to the full game so you won’t lose a second when the full title drops later this month.
