Opinion: You're Missing Out If You Haven't Played Monster Hunter

Explaining the phenomenon of Monster Hunter to those who have never played the series can be quite challenging. Trailers and gameplay demonstrations might even deter some potential fans rather than attract them — someone might see a boss fight lasting a whole hour and wonder how that could possibly be fun. That’s exactly why, with the upcoming release of Monster Hunter Wilds, it’s worth breaking down the secret formula of the series and explaining why this game and its predecessors deserve the attention of as many gamers as possible.

Yes, in Monster Hunter, hunting a particularly formidable foe can take quite a long time. However, in practice, there’s never a dull moment.

After all, we’re talking about fights with some of the most complex and engaging bosses in video game history. In Monster Hunter: World, for example, there are more than 90 (!) monsters, each radically different in appearance, animations, attack sets, secret moves, and even personality and behavior. A hunt against the flying ice dragon Velkhana feels completely different from a battle with the smaller but much more aggressive and nimble Zinogre, who uses lightning as a means of self-defense.

Preparation is key before facing each monster — you need to choose the best build and stock up on resources. During the fight, patience and attentiveness are crucial: recognizing the beast’s most dangerous attacks and identifying its weak spots can make all the difference.

Even if you fight the same monster repeatedly, the gameplay remains fresh for a long time. Initially, it’s fascinating to learn all the tricks a 20-meter-tall beast has up its sleeve, but later, the real joy comes from the complete shift in dynamics when you finally dominate what once seemed like an unbeatable boss.

Another thing to note is that Monster Hunter’s hunts aren’t just endless hack-and-slash encounters where you mindlessly wail on a creature and dodge its attacks. There are moments of respite when a wounded monster flees across the entire map, forcing you to track it down. Even during battles, unexpected events can occur — another monster might suddenly appear out of nowhere, leading to a spectacular clash between the two giant creatures, momentarily forgetting about the tiny humans in their midst.

In the average Monster Hunter game, you’ll find around 15 weapon types. That might not sound like much for a game with hundreds of hours of content, right? However, each weapon in this seemingly modest arsenal possesses impressive gameplay depth. Mastering any of them can take weeks of real-time play, if not longer. Essentially, choosing a weapon determines your hunter’s class and role in future cooperative battles.

What’s more, switching weapons can make the game feel like an entirely different genre. If you take a Light Bowgun on a mission, Monster Hunter turns into a third-person shooter where you need to aim for monster weak spots, time your reloads safely, and choose from 20 different types of ammunition. Opting for a slow, two-handed Greatsword makes the game feel more like a methodical souls-like experience, akin to Dark Souls. Meanwhile, taking an Insect Glaive or Dual Blades allows for aerial acrobatics reminiscent of Dante in Devil May Cry 5.

In Monster Hunter, your character doesn’t grow stronger on their own; power comes from crafting better gear. Each monster type allows you to craft a unique armor set with specific perks, and pieces from different sets can be mixed and matched to create countless builds.

In this sense, Monster Hunter is similar to the Diablo series, where a character’s power largely depends on their equipment. And just like in Diablo, you’ll need to farm rare materials. However, in Monster Hunter, the process is far more enjoyable.

First, you always know exactly which monsters you need to farm for a desired item. Second, as mentioned earlier, hunting is inherently thrilling, rarely feeling repetitive. Players return not just for potential rewards but for the adrenaline rush of battle and the desire to further refine their weapon skills. Loot is simply a nice bonus.

Despite being a hardcore game that punishes even minor mistakes, Monster Hunter offsets its difficulty with an unexpectedly warm and inviting atmosphere.

This is far from the grim, serious tone of Dark Souls. Here, hunters track massive creatures across lush jungles or sun-drenched deserts, accompanied by adorable humanoid cats. Some of the game’s humorous animations, like cooking meals, feel straight out of a Disney movie. As a result, Monster Hunter’s world is enjoyable to inhabit — even when a giant fire-breathing dinosaur is smacking you in the head with its tail twenty times in a row.

One of Monster Hunter’s biggest challenges is that it’s hard to quickly form a full opinion on the series and determine if it’s right for you. On one hand, a logical starting point for newcomers is the demo version of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, available on Steam. On the other hand, a demo won’t let you fully experience the chaos and excitement of high-rank hunts or appreciate the progression system. That’s why it’s better to grab the full version of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak or Monster Hunter World: Iceborne during a sale.

Of course, you could also jump straight into the new game. And you don’t even have to spend money to do so — today, the open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds begins and will run until February 9. A second beta phase will follow from February 13 to 16. That should be plenty of time to at least get a taste of the combat system. However, as mentioned earlier, Monster Hunter’s true charm only reveals itself when you commit to playing in-depth.

Have you tried the series? Did you enjoy it or not? Share your thoughts in the comments.