Table of Contents
Which Monster Hunter is the best of all time? In a series where half of the names end with “Ultimate,” it can be hard to answer this question. We’re not afraid of hard choices, though, so we’ve decided to rank every Best Monster Hunter Games (yes, even the ones that aren’t made by Nintendo, which is a change from our usual programming) to see which is the best. We only included the western versions because, well, we haven’t played the others. We’ve been lucky to have some really great names around here, though.
Even for fans, it can be hard to tell the Monster Hunters apart. Hopefully, the list below will help refresh your memory and bring you up to speed on the main Monster Hunters and spin-offs we’ve gotten in the West. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin and Monster Hunter Rise, the latest games in the series, will come out in 2021 for Nintendo’s Switch platform. Both games are part of the series, but Monster Hunter Rise is exclusive to that system.
Best Monster Hunter Games Comparison Table
Game Title | Release Year | Platform | Metascore |
---|---|---|---|
Monster Hunter | 2004 | PS2 | N/A |
Monster Hunter Freedom | 2006 | PSP | 85 |
Monster Hunter Tri | 2009 | Wii | 84 |
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate | 2011 | Wii U, 3DS | 85 |
Monster Hunter Stories | 2016 | 3DS | 79 |
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne | 2019 | PS4, Xbox One, PC | 89 |
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin | 2021 | Switch, PS4, PC | 81 |
Monster Hunter (PS2, 2004)
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64-bit) | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64-bit) |
Intel Core i5-4460 3.20 GHz or AMD FX-6300 | Intel Core i7-3770 3.4 GHz or Intel Core i3-8350 4.0 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 570 (4 GB) |
8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
20 GB available space | 20 GB available space |
The first iteration of Monster Hunter was available initially on the PlayStation 2 (PS2) platform and was released in the year 2004. The foundation it set was maintained in a major part until Monster Hunter: World came along and shook things up. Despite the fact that it may not have aged nearly as well as later entries in the genre, it was nonetheless very influential.
The Good
- System of fighting that is complex and fun
- Gorgeous environments
- Lots of different monsters to hunt
- The crafting and loot systems are very fun
The Bad
- Some players may not want to play because it is hard to learn.
- Online multiplayer games can sometimes be shaky.
Monster Hunter Freedom
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
PlayStation Portable | PlayStation Portable |
32 MB RAM | 32 MB RAM |
180 MB available space | 180 MB available space |
Monster Hunter Freedom, or Monster Hunter Portable in Japan, is a port of the first game to the PSP with a few small changes. However, this game is important enough to deserve its own entry because of what it did for the series. In short, Capcom’s bet to bring Monster Hunter to portable devices was a success, at least in Japan. The ad-hoc portable multiplayer feature of the PSP made Monster Hunter Portable the first game in the series to make it popular in Japan.
Monster Hunter Freedom, on the other hand, didn’t do as well in the west, where most people had to play the game alone. In some ways, the handheld version of Freedom was even harder to play than the PS2 version. This was especially true for the “Monster Hunter claw” control system and the long load times. Even if you played Monster Hunter Freedom by yourself, you could still enjoy it.
The Good
- Great place for newcomers to the series to start.
- Streamlined the way the game works
- There are still many monsters to hunt.
- Playable on portable devices
The Bad
- Graphics and performance aren’t as good as in later games in the series.
- It’s not as big as other Monster Hunter games.
Monster Hunter Stories (3DS) – 79
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
OS: Windows 7 or newer | OS: Windows 7 or newer |
Processor: Intel Core i3 8350 or equivalent | Processor: Intel Core i7 3770 or equivalent |
Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 570 |
DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
Storage: 20 GB available space | Storage: 20 GB available space |
Even though it’s called Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter Stories for the 3DS plays very differently from the major games in the series. Instead of just hunting monsters, the player can make friends with them. The game is played by taking turns, which is another big change from the ARPG fighting that has always been a part of the series.
Players can also use the game to hatch monster eggs and change the way their monster looks. Even though this is a little strange, Monster Hunter Stories is a cute spin-off, and the 8.2 user score on Metacritic shows how simple the game’s draw is for Monster Hunter fans who want a lighter experience in the same world.
The Good
- Added ways to fight underwater to the series.
- There are many new monsters to hunt.
- Focus on multiplayer makes it easy to play again and again.
The Bad
- Compared to other Monster Hunter games, there aren’t as many weapon types.
- There is no local multiplayer option.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
OS: Windows 7 or newer | OS: Windows 7 or newer |
Processor: Intel Core i3 8350 or equivalent | Processor: Intel Core i7 3770 or equivalent |
Memory: 4 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 570 |
DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
Storage: 20 GB available space | Storage: 20 GB available space |
Monster Hunter 3, also called Monster Hunter Tri, came out in 2010 for the Wii. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, a version with more features, came out for Wii U and 3DS in 2013. This book did well in both reviews and sales, so it is called a success.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate had underwater fighting, which was a feature that fans seemed to have mixed feelings about. Compared to the first Monster Hunter 3, the game also had a lot of changes and new features.
The Good
- Large amount of content and game mechanics
- Cross-play lets games from different systems work together.
- Can be played on portable and home consoles.
- There are a lot of weapons and armour to find and make.
The Bad
- For newcomers, a steep learning curve may be scary.
- Some quests can become repetitive
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
OS: Android 5.0 or iOS 11.0 or newer | OS: Android 5.0 or iOS 11.0 or newer |
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 or equivalent | Processor: Apple A11 or equivalent |
Memory: 3 GB RAM | Memory: 4 GB RAM |
Graphics: Adreno 512 or equivalent | Apple GPU (three-core graphics) or equivalent |
Storage: 4 GB available space | 4 GB available space |
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, the follow-up to the first spin-off Monster Hunter Stories game, came out just last year for Switch and PC. Here, the player is a rider whose job is to protect the Rathalos egg. Even though it looks different than the main Monster Hunter games, the experience it gives is very natural.
In Wings of Ruin, the monsters are shown in a more vivid way. Just like its predecessor, it has characters that look more like cartoons or anime. This makes Monster Hunter more colourful than ever. In January of this year, Capcom said that the game had already been shipped to 1.4 million people around the world. This shows that a spinoff of a big brand can also be this big.
The Good
- Different way to fight that takes turns
- Style of art is charming and colourful
- Mostly about how the player and the monster get along.
- Offers a new way to look at the Monster Hunter series
The Bad
- Compared to other Monster Hunter games, it doesn’t have as many ways to play.
- Gameplay mechanics that are easier to understand may not appeal to all players.
Monster Hunter Tri – Metascore: 84
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
OS: Windows 7 or newer | OS: Windows 7 or newer |
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD FX-6300 or equivalent | Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or equivalent |
Memory: 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x or equivalent | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 570 or equivalent |
DirectX: Version 11 | Version 11 |
Storage: 48 GB available space | 48 GB available space |
In a lot of ways, Tri is kind of a big deal. It was not only the first Monster Hunter game for the Nintendo Wii, but it also added a lot of new gameplay features. Some of these tools, like the ability to use Wii Speak, are no longer available, but it was the first Monster Hunter game to have them, which is cool.
This game really shined when it came to online and offline gameplay, which is why it’s thought to be one of the best Monster Hunter games. In both cooperative games, up to four players could join a group of hunters. If players don’t want to hunt with other people, they can hunt alone with Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner.
The Good
- Graphics and visual effects that are stunning
- Better game mechanics and features that make life easier
- There’s a lot to do and a lot of monsters to hunt.
- It lets you play alone or with other people.
The Bad
- Access may be limited by high system requirements.
- Some players might not like having to work hard to get rare items.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Minimum | Recommended |
---|---|
Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64-bit) | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (64-bit) |
Intel Core i5-4460 3.20 GHz or AMD FX-6300 | Intel Core i7-3770 3.4 GHz or Intel Core i3-8350 4.0 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 570X (8 GB) |
8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
48 GB available space | 48 GB available space |
Monster Hunter World was the first game in the long-running series to be made for computer. It marked the beginning of a new era in the series. Gone are the zones that were broken up into small pieces and had a lot of waiting screens. In their place are a few biomes that are shown as huge maps. In older games, hunters had to throw paint balls to find out where monsters went. In World and its add-on, Iceborne, fireflies look at monster tracks and corpses to figure out where a monster first appeared.
As a result, you now have one of the most fun games you can play with other people. There are a lot of monsters to hunt, from new ones based on dinosaurs to fan favourites from the whole series. This is one of the biggest Monster Hunter games to date because it gets new updates all the time and has the Iceborne expansion.
The Good
- The unique turn-based battle system from the first Monster Hunter Stories game is made even better.
- Graphics and visual effects that are beautiful and impressive
- You can collect and ride a lot of different monsters.
- Adds new features like online battles and co-op multiplayer.
The Bad
- Compared to other Monster Hunter games, the story may not be as good for some players.
- Not all players may like games with repetitive play.
FAQs
Monster Hunter is a series of video games made by Capcom. In these games, players take on the role of a hunter who goes on quests to find and kill different monsters.
Everyone has their own opinion about what the best Monster Hunter games are. Monster Hunter: World, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and Monster Hunter Generations are some of the most famous games in the series.
Monster Hunter games are available on PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.