Way of the Hunter
| Developer | Nine Rocks Games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | THQ Nordic |
| Release | 2022-08-16 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam/GOG/Epic), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Price model | Paid |
| Listed price (USD) | 29.99 |
| Modes | Single-player; online co-op |
| Status | Active |
| Setting | Pacific Northwest (Nez Perce Valley) and Transylvania |
| Maps | 2 base reserves, 144 km² each; DLC reserves: Aurora Shores, Tikamoon Plains, Matariki Park, Lintukoto Reserve, Elkcrest Island |
Nine Rocks Games and THQ Nordic released Way of the Hunter on 16 Aug 2022 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series; the current US Steam listing used here is $29.99. It is the co-op sim people compare with Call of the Wild, and it is now the cheaper sibling of Way of the Hunter 2.
Reserves I can name
The base game is two reserves, Nez Perce Valley in the Pacific Northwest and a Transylvania reserve, each described as 144 km². Paid reserves after launch: Aurora Shores (23 Feb 2023), Tikamoon Plains (11 Aug 2023), Matariki Park (6 Feb 2024), Lintukoto (2 Aug 2024), and Elkcrest Island (17 Dec 2025). That last date is the newest reserve name on the Steam DLC list I used. Animal totals are not a single published count, so the species cell stays descriptive.
Who it still fits
The pitch is a hunting lodge, herd genetics, and a bullet camera you can rewind. Online co-op is listed. If you want the 2026 African map and two-player sequel, go to Way of the Hunter 2. If you want a dog and a solo loop at the same newer price, read Hunting Simulator 3. If you want the widest old reserve catalog, Call of the Wild is the other shelf. I would spend $29.99 here when co-op matters and the sequel’s $39.99 does not. I would not tell a Classic refugee to start here first, because the publisher of Classic pointed at Call of the Wild.
Platform context is on PC hunting games and the ranked list is best hunting games.
FAQ
Is Way of the Hunter worth it after the sequel?
The first game is $29.99 with co-op and five named DLC reserves. Way of the Hunter 2 is $39.99 and a different map set. Buy the first if the price matters more than the 2026 regions.
How many animals are there?
The publisher does not print one species total. I am not guessing a number.
Does it have co-op?
Yes. The store page lists single-player and online co-op.
Sources
- Official site — checked 2026-11-13
- Steam — checked 2026-11-13
- Metacritic — checked 2026-11-13
Updated 2026-11-13. Questions: [email protected].