How to Play the Monster Hunter Games in Order

A year after celebrating its 20th anniversary, Capcom's iconic monster-hunting franchise is set to make a thrilling comeback with Monster Hunter Wilds in 2025. The series has thrived across multiple generations of home and portable consoles, achieving new heights with Monster Hunter World in 2018 and Monster Hunter Rise in 2021. These titles not only became the best-selling games in the franchise but also stand as Capcom's top-selling games ever.

As we eagerly anticipate the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, it's a perfect time to reflect on the franchise's rich history. Below, we present a chronological list of the most pivotal games in the Monster Hunter series.

How Many Monster Hunter Games Are There?

The Monster Hunter universe encompasses over 25 titles, including base games, spinoffs, mobile versions, and enhanced editions. For this overview, we've curated a list of the 12 most significant Monster Hunter games. Note that we've excluded mobile-only and arcade-exclusive titles (such as Monster Hunter i and Monster Hunter Spirits), discontinued MMOs (Monster Hunter Frontier and Monster Hunter Online), and the Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village, developed by FromSoftware and reminiscent of Animal Crossing.

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Which Monster Hunter Game Should You Play First?

With no overarching narrative connecting the Monster Hunter games, you have the freedom to start with any title. If you're planning to dive into the series in 2025, consider waiting for the community feedback on Monster Hunter Wilds, set to launch on February 28. For those eager to experience the series before then, we recommend starting with either Monster Hunter World or Monster Hunter Rise. World is ideal for players who enjoy deep exploration and immersive gameplay, while Rise caters to those who prefer speed and fluidity.

Out February 28

Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition

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Every Monster Hunter Game in Release Order

Monster Hunter (2004)

Monster Hunter, alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak, was part of Capcom's strategic push to explore the PS2's online capabilities, as shared by Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto in a 2014 interview with Eurogamer. This inaugural title set the groundwork for the series, introducing core mechanics like quest-based monster hunting and crafting weapons and armor from harvested materials.

An expanded version, Monster Hunter G, was later released exclusively in Japan.

Monster Hunter

Capcom Production Studio 1

Mar 11, 2004

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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)

The series found a new home on portable consoles with Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced port of Monster Hunter G optimized for solo play on the PSP. This marked the beginning of a trend where portable versions significantly outsold their home console counterparts—a trend that lasted until Monster Hunter World's massive success in 2018.

Monster Hunter Freedom

Capcom Production Studio 1

Dec 1, 2005

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Monster Hunter 2 (2006)

Capcom returned to home consoles for Monster Hunter 2 (also known as Monster Hunter Dos), exclusively released in Japan for the PS2. This installment introduced a day-night cycle and gems, enriching the customization of weapons and armor.

Monster Hunter 2

Capcom Production Studio 1

Feb 16, 2006

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Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007)

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 continued the series' success on handheld devices, enhancing the core gameplay of Monster Hunter 2 with new content and a focus on single-player experience. It was further expanded with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in 2008, adding new monsters, missions, maps, and the option to team up with a Felyne fighter.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Capcom Production Studio 1

Feb 22, 2007

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Monster Hunter 3 (2009)

Monster Hunter 3 (also known as Monster Hunter Tri) debuted in Japan in 2009, with an international release following in 2010. Initially planned for the PS3, it was ultimately released as a Wii exclusive. This game brought new monsters, weapons, and locations, as well as introducing underwater combat, a feature that didn't last long in the series.

Later, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was released for Wii U and 3DS, featuring new monsters, a revamped single-player experience, updated graphics, and a new multiplayer area.

Monster Hunter Tri

Capcom Production Studio 1

Aug 1, 2009

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Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010)

Monster Hunter 3 was adapted for the PSP as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, and later released on PS3 as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. Despite not being available in the West, it became the best-selling handheld-exclusive Monster Hunter game, with 4.9 million copies sold.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

Capcom Production Studio 1

Dec 1, 2010

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