theHunter: Call of the Wild™ - Scotland Hunting Reserve Review — Misty Highlands, Calm Hunting
A scenic DLC that nails atmosphere: misty Highlands, Gaelic music and iconic critters. Great for relaxed hunting sims, but repetitive missions and sparse wildlife at times hold it back.
Scotland Hunting Reserve tries to sell you the myth of the Highlands — and for the most part it works. If you love wide vistas, lochs and a slow-paced hunting loop (binoculars mandatory), this DLC is a postcard come to life; if you want deep progression or varied quest design, prepare for some disappointment.
Core gameplay is the familiar theHunter loop: spot animals from ridges, stalk quietly, pick the right caliber and hope the shot and wind cooperate. The reserve shines in visual and audio design — Gaelic-inspired music, looming castles, mist over lochs and varied biomes make exploration genuinely pleasant. You get around 8 main missions and 10 side missions, plus roughly 17–18 iconic Scottish animals that range from placid to surprisingly fleet-footed. New bits feel mostly like content-rich map additions rather than mechanical overhauls: animals, lookouts and environmental storytelling (whispering stones, standing stones) add flavor but don't change how you play. The hunting dog remains a useful companion for tracking wounded game, and some encounters are properly tense when a fast species spooks at the wrong moment. Frustrations from the community pop up here too: odd animal population spikes near certain areas (big loch, no animals; then suddenly dozens) and a lack of meaningful rewards or RPG-like progression leaves long-term motivation thin. Overall this DLC is a gorgeous, relaxed hunting playground — best enjoyed as a slow, atmospheric sim rather than a competitive or deeply-rewarding RPG.
Scotland Hunting Reserve is a gorgeous, atmospheric expansion that nails mood and exploration but stops short of offering deeper gameplay systems. Pick it up if you want to wander misty Highlands and enjoy methodical hunts; skip it if you need long-term progression or varied quest design.
Pros
- Stunning Scottish vistas and immersive audio that sell the atmosphere.
- Solid, relaxing hunting loop — good for players who enjoy methodical pacing.
- Varied roster of iconic animals and neat environmental touches (standing/whispering stones).
Cons
- Repetitive missions and a thin progression/reward structure limits long-term appeal.
- Occasional odd animal spawns and empty zones (big loch with no wildlife) break immersion.
Player Opinion
Players praise the map's beauty and the calm, atmospheric vibe — the scenery, sound and moments of real tension when a hunt goes sideways are often highlighted. Criticisms focus on repetitive DLC patterns, lack of meaningful rewards or RPG elements, and odd animal distributions (empty beaches or sudden herds). If you like slow-paced sims like a realistic hunting sandbox or Postal-quiet exploration à la Firewatch's calm moments, you'll probably enjoy this; if you want strong goals and progression, look elsewhere.