It sounds crazy that the series has been around for two decades now.
Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter Nowmay have only launched on iOS and Android on September 14, 2023.
However, it still remains high-ranking among the bestMonster Huntergames.
EmulatingPokemon Go, you essentially walk around your neighborhood running into monsters to take down.
You still hunt down monsters solo or with friends, enjoying the series signature visuals.
Yet the strategy and depth could have used a little more care and love.
Monster Hunter
Monster Hunteris the original entry that launched on PlayStation 2.
However, Capcoms first hack at the series didnt quite land favorably with the masses.
It was a different gameplay system than players were used to.
Lots of mechanics needed dusting, like the cumbersome resource management and lackluster combat.
Over time, though,Capcomrefined and fine-tuned these systems so that they became the pillar of the series.
Monster Hunter Freedom
Moving on,Monster Hunter Freedomlanded on the PSP.
The venture into handheld consoles lay the foundation for the thrilling multiplayer quests the series is known for.
When hunting a colossal beast, you need all the help you’ve got the option to get.
It emphasized the art of teamwork and synergy in co-op mode and created room for multiple runs with friends.
Yet it still wasnt at the epitome of all the series is capable of.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
TheMonster Hunter Stories2: Wings of Ruinspin-off is a must-play.
Besides the added feature to name your beasties, it introduced traditional, turn-based RPG mechanics to the mix.
Rather than hunt down monsters, you become a rider who can bond with them.
Named Monsties, the game uses an anime aesthetic to bring out a charming universe.
It added more monsters alongside a new side story.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Next up on the bestMonster Huntergames isMonster Hunter Generations Ultimate.
This went overboard with the monster types, at your pleasure, of course.
With 93 old and new monsters picked from across the series, gamers were spoilt for choice.
The title was a joy for veterans, having plentifulMonster Huntergoodies in one package.
Newcomers, though, might have felt the immense content drowning.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Ultimate has been theMonster Hunterseries' way of revamping old games.
This journey started withMonster Hunter 3 Ultimate,which transitioned from the Wii to the handheld 3DS.
Besides most of the core gameplay remains the same, Ultimate still added new monsters and mechanics.
Players venture out into the deep seas, exploring new swimming mechanics underwater.
The world takes veterans into an aquatic-inspired world.
For all its innovations, though, the underwater gameplay just didnt stick.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
At the time,Monster Hunter Freedom Unitemade big strides.
It introduced Felyne helpers to accompany you on your hunting journey.
It came much appreciated because the grind still persisted.
Also, there were more monsters to discover, some of which have stayed on in later entries.
It adds more traversal and combat abilities.
Plus, the map expands, adding story-driven quests and verticality.
As a result, monster hunting became more fun.
Monster Hunter Rise
As the most recentMonster Hunterentry,Monster Hunter Risemade fans proud.
Granted, it enjoys the benefit of inheriting many of the quality-of-life changes made in its predecessor, World.
The latter has four hunters defend a fortress from a monster invasion.
Youll enjoy a more seamless playthrough that has refined its pacing and combat system.
Monster Hunter World
Finally among the bestMonster Huntergames isMonster Hunter World.
It ranks high for scaling the series monster-hunting universe.
First, Capcom rebuilt the core gameplay from the ground up for current-gen consoles.
Then, the developer brought big design ideas and executed them flawlessly.
Capcom didnt just scale up but also added intricate detail to a thriving flora and fauna space.
Gameplay-wise, they got rid of the annoying loading screens and launched the smoothestMonster Huntergame yet.
And with the Iceborn DLC, the developer knocked it out of the park.
Evans I. Karanja is a freelance writer who loves to write about anything technology.
When not writing, he can be found playing video games or watching F1.
