This game is still one of the most hilarious games ive played in a generally long time,
i had to depart during the bot crisis of covid, eugh... never look back
but coming back to it after so long? well, its easy to say that it still retains its magic,
i do enjoy the chaos that ensues in casual matches, soundboard spam, conversations that lead into nowhere, the ramblings of our local demomen, and of course, the COD style communications you occasionally get from friendlies, nothing makes me smile more than listening to someone in their thirties rage because of a bunch of pixels. and this game STILL captures that magic well,
things i wish this game would do?
Update more often... give us something new, new contracts, new weapons, make it exciting valve, you are a dragon sleeping on a pile of gold, wake up and go get more!

overall? ∞/10

THERE IS NO JAGRAS, ZERO STARS!

but no genuinely, this game is absolutely amazing, no complaints
The updated combat system is amazing, being able to carry 2 weapons at once makes it much more enjoyable to make builds
Metas do exist, but they aren't NEARLY as deeply dug as they were in World/Iceborne, Armor attributes to defensive perks, Weapons attribute to offensive perks, and you can only use defensive gems on armor and offensive gems on weapons.
The wounding system is great, removing the clutch claw was a very good idea, and mounting has more of a purpose now than knocking the monster over.
my current complaint? People, but you cant get around it. people breaking wounds that i need for myself, or that i make for someone else just so that they can see the MASSIVE number once, which has actually cost us tempered hunts in the past.
solution? There is none, play alone or with a party you know.

The new cooking system is absolutely amazing too, so very much better than world, i wont even spoil it, just find out for yourself, the one thing i will say is you can eat while ON hunts now. and that's very good given wilds is open world, your expedition can become a hunt, then return to an expedition right after. very, very good stuff.

Layered armor is also now accessible early game too, Hunters rejoice! no more farming guiding lands!
9/10 game, will up when servers stabilize