Playing Monster Hunter Wilds in multiplayer is a confusing mess, but in defiance of Capcom I've jury-rigged a co-op campaign that actually works

Monster Hunter Wilds.

I'm gonna let you in on a secret, reader. We didn't publish a whole guide on how to set up Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer for no reason. This stuff is needlessly complicated and a lot of people are looking up how the heck it works, because after more than 20 years, Capcom still hasn't figured out how multiplayer hunting lobbies are supposed to go. I'll give the company a hint: not like this.

This bird's nest of an online system didn't really come up in the pre-release environment of our Monster Hunter Wilds review. While I stand by the score I gave it – the game, after all, is fun – now that I'm playing with my own friends and negotiating matchmaking hurdles like an obstacle course, my gob is smacked and my gast is flabbered. This is ridiculous.