Way of the Hunter

Way of the Hunter is a hunting simulation set in vast natural areas of North America and Europe. You take over a hunting lodge, track wildlife and make decisions about equipment, hunting methods and how you manage animal populations.

The open game world can be explored freely. A story about a family business ties the outings together, while the free hunt mode leaves room for your own goals.

Way of the Hunter was released on Aug 16, 2022 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Nine Rocks Games developed the hunting simulation and THQ Nordic published it.

The three platform versions were released at the same time. A separate PS4 or Xbox One version is not part of this game.

Way of the Hunter is available natively for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The PC version offers full controller support and Steam Cloud, among other things.

You can hunt alone or online with up to three other people. On PlayStation, the online mode requires a matching PlayStation Plus membership.

You explore forests, mountains and valleys on foot or by vehicle, track animals and observe their behaviour. After a shot, blood trails, hit analysis and a replayable bullet camera help you follow how the hunt unfolded.

Harvested game can be used. The proceeds fund equipment, hunting licenses and mounts for the hunting lodge.

The map expansions add new natural areas to Way of the Hunter. Map Pack 1 includes Aurora Shores and Tikamoon Plains, among others. Map Pack 2 brings Matariki Park, a region in New Zealand, and Lintukoto Reserve, a hunting area in Finland.

On Dec 17, 2025, Elkcrest Island was released as a free additional map. There are also weapon and equipment packs sold separately.

On Windows 10 64-bit, Way of the Hunter requires at least 8 GB RAM, 19 GB free storage and a GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 380. The developer lists a Ryzen 3 3100 or Core i3-8100 as processors.

Recommended: 16 GB RAM, an Intel quad-core processor from the i7 series and a GeForce RTX 2070 Super with 8 GB.

Wildlife moves in herds and reacts to noises, smells and the player's proximity. Wind, weather and a day-night cycle change the conditions while stalking.

A trophy system takes into account, among other things, the age and fitness of an animal. This means the value of an antler does not depend on chance alone.

Way of the Hunter simulates ballistics and hit effects. Different calibers and weapon types require a suitable distance and shot placement.

Hunter's Sense highlights important tracks and clues. It can be turned off if you want to play without additional markers.

The base game includes the Pacific Northwest of North America and a region in Transylvania. The two open areas each cover about 144 square kilometers.

Additional maps include Alaska, Africa, New Zealand and Finland, among others. Each region brings its own landscapes and wildlife species.

Way of the Hunter supports joint hunting trips of up to four people over the internet. The group can explore large areas and observe wildlife.

The game can also be played entirely alone. A mandatory multiplayer mode is not needed for the story.

The starting point is a family hunting business. The campaign tells of the difficulties and relationships of the people connected to the hunting lodge.

Outside the story, the lodge serves as a hub for equipment and displayed hunting trophies.

The PC version offers German on-screen text and subtitles. According to Steam, full voice acting is available in English.