Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, Capcom's celebrated monster-hunting franchise roars back in 2025 with Monster Hunter Wilds. This prolific series has conquered generations of consoles, reaching new heights with 2018's Monster Hunter World and 2021's Monster Hunter Rise – the franchise's, and Capcom's, two best-selling games ever.
With Monster Hunter Wilds launching February 28th, let's journey through the franchise's history, exploring its most impactful titles in chronological order.
The Monster Hunter universe boasts over 25 games, encompassing main entries, spin-offs, mobile adventures, and enhanced editions. This list focuses on the 12 most significant titles, excluding mobile and arcade exclusives (Monster Hunter i, Monster Hunter Spirits, etc.), discontinued MMOs (Monster Hunter Frontier, Monster Hunter Online), and the Japan-exclusive, Animal Crossing-esque title, Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village developed by FromSoftware.
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The Monster Hunter series lacks a continuous narrative, offering flexibility in your starting point. Newcomers in 2025 might prefer to await reviews of Monster Hunter Wilds (February 28th release). However, if you're eager to begin your hunt, Monster Hunter World or Monster Hunter Rise are excellent choices. World excels in exploration and immersion, while Rise prioritizes speed and fluidity.
Monster Hunter, alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak, was part of a three-game strategy to gauge the PS2 online network's potential, as Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto revealed to Eurogamer in 2014. This foundational title introduced core series mechanics: players, solo or online, undertake hunts, using harvested materials to craft and upgrade equipment for increasingly challenging battles.
An expanded version, Monster Hunter G, followed exclusively in Japan.
The series found its portable footing in 2005 with Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced Monster Hunter G port optimized for PSP's single-player experience. This million-selling title initiated a trend where portable versions outsold console counterparts, a pattern that persisted until Monster Hunter World's 2018 breakthrough.
Capcom's return to home consoles with Monster Hunter 2 (Monster Hunter Dos) was a PS2 exclusive in Japan. This entry introduced a day-night cycle and gems, enhancing weapon and armor customization.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2, the second handheld installment, built upon its console counterpart (MH2) with new content and a single-player focus. Further expanded in 2008's Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, it added monsters, missions, maps, and a Felyne combat companion.
Monster Hunter 3 (Monster Hunter Tri) debuted in Japan in 2009, with an international release in 2010. Initially planned for PS3, it became a Wii exclusive. New monsters, weapons, locations, and the short-lived underwater combat were introduced. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U and 3DS) later expanded the game with new content, refined single-player, enhanced visuals, and a new multiplayer area.
Monster Hunter 3's PSP adaptation, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, also saw a PS3 release as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. Despite its Western absence, it's the best-selling Capcom handheld-exclusive Monster Hunter title, with 4.9 million copies sold.
Initially a Japan-exclusive 3DS release, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) was the global launch title for the New Nintendo 3DS. This generation enhanced traversal with increased verticality and fluid movement, improving the single-player experience with a richer story and more NPCs.
Monster Hunter Generations (Monster Hunter X in Japan), another 3DS exclusive, blended old and new mechanics from the franchise's history, featuring Hunting Styles and Arts for customization and combat. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (the enhanced edition) became the first Monster Hunter game on Nintendo Switch.
Monster Hunter Stories, a spin-off RPG, traded real-time action for turn-based combat, emphasizing story and exploration. Initially a 3DS title, it later appeared on PS4, Switch, PC, and mobile.
Monster Hunter World, a critical and commercial triumph, is the series' best-selling game (27 million copies sold) and boasts a Metascore of 90. Capcom shifted primary development back to home consoles (PS4 and Xbox One), aiming for wider Western appeal with a seamless open world, streamlined systems, global online play, and simultaneous regional releases. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, a substantial expansion, followed, adding new monsters, mechanics, and a large story campaign.
Monster Hunter Rise, second only to World in sales and Metascore, emphasizes verticality through the Wirebug mechanic, enabling wall-climbing and fluid traversal. It builds upon Generations Ultimate and World, retaining streamlined elements from World and incorporating features like separate Village and Hub questlines from older titles.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, the expansion, added a new storyline, monsters, and locations.
Following Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (co-developed by Marvelous Inc.) expanded on the 2016 RPG. Utilizing familiar JRPG elements like turn-based combat, character customization, and a strong narrative, it lets players fight alongside Monsties, creating a party system reminiscent of Pokémon games.
Launching February 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Monster Hunter Wilds builds on World and Rise, featuring dynamic environments and enhanced action and immersion. It aims to blend the accessibility of Rise with the grand scale of World.
Beyond Wilds, Capcom and TiMi Studio Group (Call of Duty Mobile, Pokémon Unite) are developing Monster Hunter Outlanders, a free-to-play mobile game with multiplayer hunting in a massive open world. A release date is yet to be announced.
Further details on Monster Hunter Wilds can be found in our IGN First coverage:
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