Every Monster Hunter Video Game Sorted

For over twenty years, the popular series Monster Hunter has been running. Players fight strong creatures in order to gather resources and improve their equipment. Though the gameplay loop seems straightforward on paper, the series has undergone several revisions and enhancements, transforming it into a complex experience that makes players want to play more. It might be challenging to choose which game to play first because of all the differences between them. Players should check at every Monster Hunter game rated according to enhancements, content, accessibility, and overall fun factor to get a sense of what they're searching for.

Mobile titles like Monster Hunter Explore and its spinoffs, Monster Hunter Stories, will not be included due to differences in gameplay and accessibility.

All Monster Hunter games are ranked.

12. Monster Hunter G, Monster Hunter Freedom, and Monster Hunter

Picture credit: Capcom

Monster Hunter on the PlayStation 2 marked the beginning of the Monster Hunter franchise. Many ideas that players would recognize today were introduced by the game, such carving and capturing vanquished wyverns for parts. Even though it wasn't a horrible game at the time, it's interesting to see how much the series has improved over the years when you look back on it. Much of Monster Hunter's early development was marred by clumsy controls and confusing menus, and it may be difficult for contemporary players to adjust to the current generation's lack of quality-of-life elements.

With a few more creatures and challenging levels, Monster Hunter G and Monster Hunter Freedom serve as different iterations of the original game's expansion. Future releases will have almost all of the material present in these games. Although it's an amazing turning point in the franchise's history, Monster Hunter has become a little bit unnecessary over time.

11. Monster Hunter 2 (Dos)

One of the rare Monster Hunter games without an expansion is Monster Hunter 2, sometimes referred to as Monster Hunter Dos. With the addition of additional weapon classes, day/night cycles, and Elder Dragons—which would essentially become series mainstays—it expanded the franchise's content. It was also quite tough; even now, series veterans still dread creatures like Rajang and Kushala Daora. Compared to the original Monster Hunter, it offers a lot more, but it still has a lot of antiquated features, such the control stick attack. Though it would be difficult for Dos to surpass all previous Monster Hunter games in terms of ranking, it is still worth checking out to observe the notable and long-lasting innovations it made.

10. Monster Hunter 3 (Tri)

The first game in the series to be released on a Nintendo system is Monster Hunter 3 (also known as Monster Hunter Tri). In addition to the introduction of underwater fighting, which would not be present in games of a later generation, the game has a large number of new enemies. It's notable for attempting so many novel things, yet many of these additions were expensive. The game suffered from the loss of whole weapon classes, and there were only 18 monsters in all, the fewest since the original Monster Hunter. Although ranking the core Monster Hunter games with their expansions makes sense, Tri is so incomplete that it hardly stands alone.

9. Inand Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite are discussed.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is the pinnacle of Monster Hunter games, and its expansion, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, is perhaps the best Monster Hunter game ever. With the exception of Frontier, every creature from earlier editions returns, along with new locations, weaponry, and an enormous amount of tasks to complete. Freedom 2 was the first second-generation game to be transferred to the west, even though it lacked a lot of the material from Freedom Unite. With these games, a lot of gamers were able to enjoy new features like decorations and exclusive weapon classes. It makes sense that Freedom 2 and Freedom Unite are regarded so highly now, what with their additions and beloved monsters like Tigrex and Nargacuga.It should be noted that even in comparison to subsequent Monster Hunter games that kept the loading screens and potion-flex animations, these titles provide a significantly slower manner of hunting. This fighting style is still preferred by many gamers over the high-mobility contemporary combat seen in titles like World and Rise. Nevertheless, with their peculiar control systems and subpar presentation of opponent hitboxes, these two Freedom games still seem a lot older than modern releases. In addition, many monsters share attacks with one another, even if they aren't classified as subspecies or variations. Though these problems don't take away from the enjoyment of these games, newcomers may find it worth considering if they want to see the pinnacle of traditional Monster Hunter gameplay8. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

The image is of Capcom.

Instead of being a Monster Hunter Tri expansion, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is a third-generation game with fresh and original content. Underwater combat was eliminated, but many of the weapons and creatures from Tri were reinstated, along with several new ones. To accommodate these modifications, Portable 3rd revamped a lot of locations and weapon movesets. It even included special features in its hamlet, including a hot spring. Although most of Portable 3rd's material, including the town and final boss, later made it onto translated entries like 3 Ultimate and Generations, players coming from newer games may find greater fun in Portable 3rd than earlier titles on this list7. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

One of the biggest updates ever for a Monster Hunter game is Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. It included new features and gameplay, as well as improving the quality of life, and almost increased Tri's monster roster. Additionally, online multiplayer is still active almost ten years later on the Wii U version. Monsters like Dire Miralis that were first introduced in this game have not yet been seen in any other core release. Monster Hunter Tri gave a more distinct gaming experience than any other game, but 3 Ultimate delivers the same experience with an abundance of originality and material not seen in any other Monster Hunter game6. Monster Hunter Frontier and its add-ons

The image is of Capcom.

It's difficult to rank Monster Hunter Frontier on any list that includes all of the main Monster Hunter games since it's an MMO offshoot. However, Frontier barely makes it into the list, even with its recent recognition as part of Monster Hunter Rise's expansion and overall popularity. This game has more new monsters than any other in the series thanks to years of updates and expansions, along with unique weaponry and weapon types that fundamentally altered the way hunters engaged in combat. Some find its content a tad overly extravagant, with monsters capable of one-shotting several hunters and having very powerful moves that may span a large area. However, the quantity of stuff that users get from Frontier is astounding on its own.Playing it is now very restricted at best due to Frontier's servers being down. But now that Espinas has been included in Sunbreak, gamers may be able to encounter more unusual creatures from this game in the future, maybe even weaponry.5. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Monster Hunter 4

The first Monster Hunter game to fully immerse the player in the narrative is Monster Hunter 4. Players battle the deadly Frenzy virus spread by the unidentified creature Gore Magala while traveling in a caravan. This game is among the easiest to play Monster Hunter titles since it introduces players to both new and old concepts via its narrative. In addition, long-absent enemies like Rajang and Yian Kut-Ku reappear after a generation, and new weapon classes are introduced for the last time in the core series.A straightforward addition to Monster Hunter 4, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate brings even more creatures and features, including the Apex state. Put simply, players now face more variation and difficulty in the game. Furthermore, only this version of the game has been translated into English for Western audiences. 4 Ultimate is unquestionably the greatest option for gamers who want to skip over World or Rise as their first Monster Hunter game while still having access to a large number of the weapons and features that are present in the series today.4. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate and Monster Hunter Generations

Monster Hunter Generations is a celebration of the Monster Hunter series, as the name suggests. The biggest monster roster of any mainstream game can be found in its expansion, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. While many of these creatures are brought back from earlier entries, the games also have whole new designs and artwork that significantly change how a hunter plays. Even devoted series fans may find it difficult to complete every quest due to the sheer volume of information. However, this game really has something for everyone, particularly with the return of iconic enemies like Lao-Shan Lung and the inclusion of Deviants.The greatest "classic" games for new players to start with are probably Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. However, as Generations Ultimate is a compilation of all previous offerings, it's ideal for those who want to see almost all that previous generations have to offer. Out of all the Monster Hunter games listed here, this one stands out above the others simply because of its enormous amount of material.3. Monster Hunter World

Picture credit: Capcom

Up till now, Monster Hunter World has perhaps been the most pivotal title in the series. This game gave up loading screens in favor of more immersive settings when it made the switch to 4K-capable systems. It also aimed to greatly enhance player abilities and monster AI, creating very dynamic and intense hunts. Because the games that came before and after it lacked its feel and accessibility, it is evident why World is one of Capcom's all-time best-selling games..Despite all of its accomplishments, this entry still has a few obvious problems. Arguments about the series being "casualized" and missing out on more complex systems than simply monster hunting are common, but World also boasts a fairly weak roster of monsters. Aside from a few standout characters, crossover monsters like Ancient Leshen and Behemoth depend more on challenging game mechanics than on interesting and diverse attack types, while forgettable inclusions like Great Girros leave a lot to be desired. Some people find the locations to be too immersive at times, which makes it very difficult to even navigate across expansive places like the Ancient Forest.While Monster Hunter World isn't a flawless game, it is perhaps the greatest game for beginners to start with due to its advancements over its predecessors. certain players may think that the remainder of the series is too simple in certain ways after they get over the hardest difficulties in the world. Whether this is accurate or not will depend on what those fans consider to be the real "difficulty" of a fight. Instead, it serves as evidence of how well World prepares hunters for their exploration of both the series' classic and modern games.2. Rise of Monster HunterAs a sequel to World, Monster Hunter Rise has generated debate. It doesn't have the same immersive detail and graphical quality as its predecessor since it was made for lower-power devices. Some players have also expressed alienation from the game because to its fast-paced fighting; World first-timers have even gone so far as to say that it is too simple. The separation between Key Quests and Hub Quests, among other modifications that bring Rise's mechanics closer to those of previous generations, is partly to blame for this, but the main reason is that Rise is just a different kind of game.Wirebugs are a recent addition to Rise. The settings of the game are built around them, which enable aerial movements at any moment. Additionally, they broaden the range of moves available to different weapons, often enabling many of them to easily dodge assaults and flee dangerous situations. The fact that some monitoring functions have been eliminated highlights Rise's "portable" design, which allows players to pick up and put the game down whenever they want. Rise is essentially an additional option for a player's preferred contemporary Monster Hunter game, since it builds upon World's enhancements over the frameworks from previous games.Rise, in some aspects, immediately enhances the adjustments made by World. Aside from a few early-game opponents, the monster roster is significantly more amazing and captivating, with hardly no gimmicky encounters. Simple traversal is also much more enjoyable because to the many possibilities for movement, which prevents players from becoming bored while traveling to their destination. When it comes to actually taking on the monsters—which is the main purpose of Monster Hunter in the first place—these minor enhancements enable Rise to compete with and even outperform World. Rise is worth a deeper examination for anybody who regards themselves as a fan of the series rather than simply one game.1. Both Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak and Monster Hunter World: IceborneIt's simple to consider expansions to be whole different games when all Monster Hunter games are rated. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is, in a sense, the ideal version of World. In addition to the additional locations and challenging gameplay, Iceborne significantly enhances World's underwhelming roster. With more diverse attacks and improved AI than ever before, returning monsters in Iceborne are perhaps at their finest. "Variant" monsters are among the most difficult but entertaining battles in the game, and new subspecies are able to provide confrontations that are remarkably different from those of their contemporaries. Its tale even manages to include a few thrilling turns, which elevates it well above that of the main game.The most often voiced complaint about Iceborne is the Clutch Claw. The new feature encourages players to tenderize creatures and crush them against walls periodically throughout hunts, which significantly alters the tempo of the hunts. The Clutch Claw will also be imposed on Iceborne owners in the main game, which may discourage some players from partaking in a more conventional Monster Hunter experience. However, during the most of the game and its expansion, the claw isn't really required—if at all. It's just another option to expedite hunts by a few minutes, much as Spiribirds or Wirebug attacks in Rise.There are a few more instances of gimmicky battles in Iceborne, where a lot of the newly introduced creatures have time restrictions or need multiplayer. But the many wonderful improvements this update gives well exceed these experiences. Few things are more satisfying than defeating the toughest creatures in Iceborne, and every fan of Monster Hunter should at least once have the opportunity to accomplish such feats.Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Review Related:

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While Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak doesn't give as much as Iceborne in terms of modifications, it does offer almost all upgrades. The new enemies continue to keep players on their toes throughout every battle, and the ability to shift between in-quest skills simply gives players more choices during combat. Anomaly missions give tasks that are even harder than the most challenging encounters from World and Iceborne, delivering the catastrophic difficulties that are absent from the standard game.The grind of Sunbreak is the only drawback that may be found. Gamers may now choose from a wider variety of armor and weapon combinations than before. Regretfully, RNG also affects these choices; augments and talismans prevent you from making the optimal optimization decisions. In addition to being grind-focused, anomaly missions include hundreds of battles to unlock the most uncommon encounters. Though Sunbreak's grind may still be a little less engaging than Iceborne's Guiding Lands, anybody who even somewhat enjoyed Rise will still like what Sunbreak has to offer.There is only one thing, and that is Iceborne and Sunbreak. While the other delivers fast-paced action and a wide variety of encounters, the first offers deep realism and grounded but furious fighting. In fact, Sunbreak offers more creatures to battle than Iceborne, and it doesn't have any restrictions on single-player or multiplayer gameplay. It also allows AI-controlled party members to participate in hunts, giving lone hunters an alternative way to engage together. Sunbreak really deserves to be positioned next to Iceborne at the pinnacle of Monster Hunter glory since it meets up to the high standards established by the game.Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Switch Review Related:Some gamers may just like earlier Monster Hunter games above the most recent releases, and vice versa, even if every game is rated. Perhaps devoted followers might not remember Freedom Unite's meticulous planning and procedures. While Rise players may even feel that World isn't moving as quickly as it should, World players may find the older games to be too sluggish to appreciate. Fans' judgments will always be subjective, and there are good reasons to like certain games over others.Every installment in the series has seen a lot of changes, and the next installment will probably see even more of them. It's reasonable to anticipate something that expands the franchise's horizons even farther than the last several games, regardless of whether fans get something more akin to a World 2, a Rise 2, or even a Generations 2. Every Monster Hunter game improves upon the previous one, and the next one has an equal chance of ranking among the best. Fans will still have a lot to look forward to as the series approaches its 20th anniversary, regardless of their own tastes.