Monster Hunter
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:04:35 PM Wikipedia source
Monster Hunter (モンスターハンター, Monsutā Hantā) is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fantasy-themed action role-playing video games, beginning with the first installment Monster Hunter for the PlayStation 2, released in 2004. Multiple devices are used to play the series, including personal computers, home consoles, portable consoles, and mobile devices. The series is developed and published by Capcom. The games are primarily action role-playing games. The player takes the role of a Hunter, slaying or trapping large monsters across various landscapes as part of quests given to them by locals, with some quests involving the gathering of a certain item or items, which may put the Hunter at risk of facing various monsters. As part of its core gameplay loop, players use loot gained from slaying monsters, gathering resources, and quest rewards to craft improved weapons, armor, and other items that allow them to face more powerful monsters. All main series titles feature multiplayer (usually up to four players cooperatively), but can also be played single player. Early Monster Hunter games sold well in Japan and other Asian countries, popularized by the series' use of ad hoc multiplayer features on portable consoles, and became a cultural phenomenon. The early games in the series have been critically well received in Western markets, but generally languished in sales, in part due to the games' steep learning curve. However, with Monster Hunter: World (2018), Capcom aimed to attract a global audience using the power of advanced home gaming consoles and computers and released the title simultaneously worldwide. World became the best-selling Monster Hunter game within three days of its release, and became Capcom's single best-selling video game of all time with 21 million sales as of July 5, 2022, including more than 70% outside of Japan. By May 2024, the series has sold more than 100 million units, with nearly half attributed to Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise and their expansions. The 2025 entry, Monster Hunter Wilds, the first in the series to release worldwide and all platforms simultaneously, became the fastest selling Capcom game within three days of release. Games in the Monster Hunter are generally catalogued as either part of the mainline series aimed for console players, and portable versions for hand held consoles. A number of spinoff games featuring different gameplay genres have also been developed for consoles, computers, and mobile devices. In addition to games, the franchise has an anime based on the spinoff game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village, Monster Hunter Stories: Ride On based on the spinoff title Monster Hunter Stories, a manga, Monster Hunter Orage, and a book, Monster Hunter Episode. A feature film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson was released on December 3, 2020. An animated film, subtitled Legends of the Guild, was released on August 12, 2021, on Netflix.
Infobox
Tables
| 2004 | Monster Hunter |
| 2005 | Monster Hunter G |
| Monster Hunter Freedom | |
| 2006 | Monster Hunter 2 |
| 2007 | Monster Hunter Frontier Online |
| Monster Hunter Freedom 2 | |
| 2008 | Monster Hunter Freedom Unite |
| 2009 | Monster Hunter Tri |
| 2010 | Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village |
| Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | |
| 2011 | Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting |
| Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate | |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | Monster Hunter 4 |
| Monster Hunter Frontier G | |
| 2014 | Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate |
| 2015 | Monster Hunter Explore |
| Monster Hunter Generations | |
| 2016 | Monster Hunter Stories |
| Monster Hunter Frontier Z | |
| 2017 | Monster Hunter Generations: Ultimate |
| 2018 | Monster Hunter: World |
| 2019 | Monster Hunter World: Iceborne |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | Monster Hunter Rise |
| Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin | |
| 2022 | Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak |
| 2023 | Monster Hunter Now |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | Monster Hunter Wilds |
| 2026 | Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection |
| Title | Original release date | ||
| Japan | North America | PAL region | |
| Monster Hunter | March 11, 2004 | September 21, 2004 | May 27, 2005 |
| Notes: Released internationally for PlayStation 2. Monster Hunter G, an enhanced version of Monster Hunter, released exclusively in Japan and Korea for PlayStation 2 and Wii. | |||
| Monster Hunter 2 | February 16, 2006 | ||
| Notes: Released exclusively in Japan for PlayStation 2. | |||
| Monster Hunter Tri | August 1, 2009 | April 20, 2010 | April 23, 2010 |
| Notes: Released internationally for Wii. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, an enhanced port of Monster Hunter Tri that incorporated content from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, released internationally for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. | |||
| Monster Hunter 4 | September 14, 2013 | February 13, 2015 | February 13, 2015 |
| Notes: Released exclusively in Japan for Nintendo 3DS. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, an enhanced version of Monster Hunter 4, released internationally for Nintendo 3DS. | |||
| Monster Hunter: World | January 26, 2018 | January 26, 2018 | January 26, 2018 |
| Notes: Released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and first in series to be released worldwide simultaneously. A Microsoft Windows version was released on August 9, 2018. Brought multiple changes to standard gameplay, such as the elimination of loading screens between map zones, and a more approachable design for new players to the series. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, a major story-based expansion, released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2019 and for Windows in January 2020. | |||
| Monster Hunter Wilds | February 28, 2025 | February 28, 2025 | February 28, 2025 |
| Notes: Simultaneous worldwide release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows, including cross-platform play support. Modeled after World, includes regions with weather patterns that affect hunting conditions, ability to switch to a second weapon stored on the player's mount, and Focus mode actions in combat that allow for more precise attacks and defenses. | |||
| Title | Original release date | ||
| Japan | North America | PAL region | |
| Monster Hunter Freedom | December 1, 2005 | May 23, 2006 | May 12, 2006 |
| Notes: Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced port of Monster Hunter G, released internationally for PlayStation Portable. | |||
| Monster Hunter Freedom 2 | February 22, 2007 | August 28, 2007 | September 7, 2007 |
| Notes: A new game retaining the core content of Monster Hunter 2 and adding upon it, released internationally for PlayStation Portable. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, an enhanced version of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, released internationally for PlayStation Portable and iOS. | |||
| Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | December 1, 2010 | ||
| Notes: A new game retaining the core content of Monster Hunter Tri and adding upon it, released exclusively in Japan and Korea for PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. | |||
| Monster Hunter Generations | November 28, 2015 | July 15, 2016 | July 15, 2016 |
| Notes: Released internationally for Nintendo 3DS. Known as Monster Hunter X (cross-) in Japan. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, an enhanced version of Monster Hunter Generations, released internationally for Nintendo Switch on August 28, 2018. Known as Monster Hunter XX in Japan, where it was released August 2017 on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. Plays with more emphasis on action and customization. | |||
| Monster Hunter Rise | March 26, 2021 | March 26, 2021 | March 26, 2021 |
| Notes: Released worldwide on the Nintendo Switch. A Microsoft Windows version was released on January 12, 2022. Versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S were released on January 20, 2023. Cross-compatibility features with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, a massive story-based expansion, released internationally on June 30, 2022 for Switch and Windows versions. Sunbreak released on the other consoles on April 28th, 2023. | |||
| Game | Details |
| Monster Hunter i Original release date(s):.mw- JP: February 6, 2006 | Release years by system:2006 – Supported DoCoMo phones |
| Notes: It is a port of Monster Hunter G for the cellphone. | |
| Monster Hunter FrontierOriginal release date(s):JP: June 21, 2007 | Release years by system:2007 – Microsoft Windows2010 – Xbox 3602013 – An updated version called Monster Hunter Frontier G was released on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U2014 – PlayStation Vita2016 – Another updated version called Monster Hunter Frontier Z was released on Wii U, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Xbox 360 |
| Notes: The first full-fledged MMORPG spin-off. Released only in Japan. Shut down on December 18, 2019. | |
| Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou VillageOriginal release date(s):JP: August 26, 2010 | Release years by system:2010 – Released on PlayStation Portable 2011 – An expanded version called Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village G was released on PlayStation Portable 2015 – An enhanced port called Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village DX was released on Nintendo 3DS |
| Notes: A game based on the series' catlike "Felyne" creatures, known as the Airou (アイルー, Airū) in the Japanese language games. The subtitle of the game can be translated into English as "Warm Felyne Village". The game has only been released in Japan. | |
| Monster Hunter Dynamic HuntingOriginal release date(s):WW: June 1, 2011 | Release years by system:2011 – iOS |
| Notes: First game in the series to be on iOS. A fighting game spin-off. | |
| Monster Hunter Online Original release date(s):CHN: August 18, 2013 | Release years by system:2013 – Microsoft Windows |
| Notes: Second Monster Hunter MMORPG as a collaboration between Tencent and Capcom. Uses Crytek's CryEngine 3. Free-to-play business model. Beta in Cancini began on July 6, 2013. Planned to be released only for Windows. Shut down on December 31, 2019. Though developed primarily for Chinese players, and solely uses the Chinese language, the game is not region locked, and only limited by the language limitations. Tencent has approved the distribution of an English-language patch created by a fan group in May 2016. | |
| Monster Hunter Spirits Original release date(s):JP: June 5, 2015 | Release years by system:2015 – Arcade |
| Notes: A spin-off card game co-developed with Marvelous. | |
| Monster Hunter ExploreOriginal release date(s):JP: September 3, 2015 | Release years by system:2015 – iOS2015 – Android |
| Notes: Name was changed from Monster Hunter Smart. Shut down on November 27, 2020. | |
| Monster Hunter StoriesOriginal release date(s):JP: October 8, 2016NA: September 8, 2017EU: September 8, 2017AU: September 9, 2017 | Release years by system:2016 – Nintendo 3DS2024 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows |
| Notes: Plays more as a traditional role-playing game with less focus on action elements. Has turn-based combat. Much larger emphasis on story than mainline entries. Has the player take control of various monsters from throughout the series and use them as pets/partners called Monsties. Remastered version for modern systems released in 2024. | |
| Monster Hunter Riders Original release date(s):JP: February 29, 2020 | Release years by system:2020 - iOS, Android |
| Notes: Plays more as a traditional role-playing game with less focus on action elements and turn-based combat. | |
| Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of RuinOriginal release date(s):WW: July 9, 2021 | Release years by system:2021 - Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch |
| Notes: Expands upon the previous game with new mechanics for battle, and monster build types also a much larger roster of monsters; much like Monster Hunter Rise, many returning monsters are from Monster Hunter World. Has co-op multiplayer. Cross-compatibility features with Monster Hunter Rise. | |
| Monster Hunter NowOriginal release date(s):WW: September 14, 2023 | Release years by system:2023 - Android and iOS |
| Notes: An augmented reality game developed by Capcom and Niantic, Inc. | |
| Monster Hunter OutlandersOriginal release date(s):WW: TBD | Release years by system:TBD - Android and iOS |
| Notes: A mobile game developed in the more traditional style of Monster Hunter with additional survival game elements. Co-developed by TiMi Studio Group and Capcom. | |
| Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted ReflectionOriginal release date(s):2026 | Release years by system:Nintendo Switch 2, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Notes: Includes monsters from "Monster Hunter Rise" and "Monster Hunter Wilds" |
| Title | Sales (millions of units)As of December 31, 2024 |
| Monster Hunter World | 21.30 |
| Monster Hunter Rise | 16.70 |
| Monster Hunter World: Iceborne | 14.90 |
| Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak | 9.40 |
| Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | 4.90 |
| Monster Hunter XX/Generations Ultimate | 4.90 |
| Monster Hunter X/Generations | 4.30 |
| Monster Hunter 4G/4 Ultimate | 4.20 |
| Monster Hunter 4 | 4.10 |
| Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G/Freedom Unite | 3.80 |
| Monster Hunter 3G/3 Ultimate | 2.60 |
| Monster Hunter Portable 2nd/Freedom 2 | 2.40 |
| Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin | 2.00 |
| Monster Hunter 3/Tri | 1.90 |
| Monster Hunter Portable/Freedom | 1.30 |
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