Monster Hunterhas a legacy that traces far back before 2022’sMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. The array of games that predateMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakmay encompass a long history across multiple localizations, but only some games are worth seriously digging into.
There may have been several spin-offs over the years, but the mainline games and their respective portable entries have always defined the core ofMonster Hunteras a series. Games like the MMO entryMonster Hunter: Frontierdeserve honorable mentions regardless of changes to the formula, but there have been several key entries across each of the five generations of the franchise.
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S Tier
Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate(2011) -Monster Hunter 3: Ultimatefeatured some of the best iterations of huge aspects of the series. The spectacle of the Jhen Mohran siege and other icons of the franchise like Brachydios and Dire Miralis make this game extremely memorable despite the console it belongs to.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite(2008) -The end ofMonster Hunter’s second generation,Freedom Uniteis essentially the G-Rank expansion toFreedom 2. Despite its lack of accessibility,Freedom Uniteis nothing short of a legendary entry in the series that saw the first appearance ofNargacuga.
Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate(2014) -One of the most narratively rewarding experiences,Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate’s unfortunate status as a 3DS exclusive doesn’t stop it from occupying the top tier. If this game ever were to receive a remaster on modern consoles, it could easily climb even higher.
Monster Hunter Generations: Ultimate(2017) -Also known asXX(“Double Cross”), what this game lacks in conciseness it makes up for with its sheer quantity of content. AsGenerations: Ultimateis on Nintendo Switch, this game holds the distinction of being the only title in S Tier that is actually readily available for purchase right now.
A Tier
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak(2022) -The most recent entry in the franchise,Sunbreakbrings the current era ofMonster Huntercloser to the standard of its best games. While the base game ofRisemay have ended up relying on several title updates to feel truly complete, its G-Rank expansion’s introduction of monsters such as Garangolm andthe flagship Malzenomake it a heavy hitter even among the classics.
Monster Hunter 2(2006) -The best of the franchise to many hardcore fans of the original entries,Monster Hunter 2, also known asMonster Hunter Dos, has the most depth to its survival mechanics. It may not appeal to some newer players, but those who appreciate the slow-paced, simulation side ofMonster Hunterwill find this to be the most satisfying entry by far.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd(2010) -Between the introduction of the iconic Yukumo Village hub world andZinogre,Portable 3rdis remembered fondly by fans of the series’ third generation. Despite the quality of its presentation at the time, its status as a Japan-exclusive that only goes up to High Rank also ultimately holds it back.
Monster Hunter 4(2013) -The first story-focused game in the series, the narrative centered on Gore Magala’s Frenzy virus completely changed the style of the games moving forward. Succeeded by its G-Rank update that also provided a global release,Monster Hunter 4is forever exclusive to both Japan and the 3DS.
Monster Hunter Tri(2009) -Trimade a lot of controversial changes including a brand-new cast of monsters to replace most of the older ones at the time. It may have had some unwelcome changes, but it also primed the franchise for a deeper narrative focus.
Monster Hunter Rise(2021)- Blending the older style of the series with the new, fifth-generation take on the formula,Monster Hunter: Riseredeems itselffrom some of the pitfalls that affectedWorld.Risestill holds up despite being relatively easy to play through its addition of innovative concepts like the Palamutes and Wirebug movement mechanics.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2(2007) -A solid entry, it brought the second generation to an English translation while it introduced the iconic monster Tigrex and hub world Pokke Village. While it may be succeeded by the update ofFreedom Unite, the second entry for many old fans is still a strong part of history.
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B Tier
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne(2019) -The G-Rank expansion ofWorld,Iceborneimproves upon its base release in every manner. Between the far better hub world of Seliana and the addition of several classic series icons like Fatalis, this update to the first fifth-generation title creates a far more promising vision of the series’ future.
Monster Hunter: World(2018) -Worldbrought the franchise into the modern era by compromising many of the less casual-friendly aspects that had previously defined the series. A necessary step into the future, longtime fans have not been quick to forget whatthe massively successfulMonster Hunter Worldleft behind in its rise to more of a mainstream status.
Monster Hunter Generations(2015) -With a huge amount of content and unique monsters like Narkarkos,Generationsfelt like it was approaching the peak of the older style ofMonster Hunterwhile still lacking G-Rank. Without the additions present in its eventual update, however,Generationsis in a weird place as an exclusive to the 3DS.
C Tier
Monster Hunter Freedom(2005) -Essentially the PSP version ofMonster Hunter G,Freedomis also known asPortablein Japan. While it added even more features on top of the update that wasG, there wasn’t much more that could have expanded the first generation at this point. The introduction of farming would be major for the future of the series, but a somewhat silly monster like Yian Garuga is hardly a strong selling point.
Monster Hunter G(2005) -The largely forgotten follow-up to the original game,Monster Hunter Gwas the first introduction of G-Rank. While it may seem a bit bare-bones in a modern context,G’s addition of several new challenging subspecies made it a great Japan-exclusive PS2 title.
Monster Hunter(2004) -The original’s place as arguably one of the worst in the franchise is a great sign of the series’ growth since this game is by no means awful. Capcom’s first foray into what would become its own genre,the firstMonster Hunteris just quite simple when compared to the likes ofWorldand evenDos.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakis available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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