Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, roars back in 2025 with Monster Hunter Wilds. This prolific series, spanning generations of consoles, reached new heights with Monster Hunter World (2018) and Monster Hunter Rise (2021), Capcom's two best-selling games ever.
With Monster Hunter Wilds launching February 28th, let's explore the franchise's history through its most significant titles.
The Extensive Monster Hunter Universe:
While over 25 Monster Hunter games exist, including spin-offs and mobile titles, this list focuses on the 12 most impactful, excluding mobile, arcade, and discontinued MMO entries. Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village (a Japan-exclusive FromSoftware title) is also omitted.
IGN's Monster Hunter Reviews
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Your Monster Hunter Starting Point:
The series lacks a continuous narrative; choose your entry point. Newcomers in 2025 might await Monster Hunter Wilds reviews. Otherwise, Monster Hunter World (emphasizing exploration) or Monster Hunter Rise (prioritizing speed and fluidity) are excellent starting points.
Out February 28### Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition
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Monster Hunter Games: A Chronological Journey:
Monster Hunter (2004)
Initially conceived to test the PS2's online capabilities alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak, the original Monster Hunter established core gameplay: players hunt monsters, gather materials, craft gear, and tackle progressively challenging hunts, solo or cooperatively. Monster Hunter G, an expanded version, followed exclusively in Japan.
Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1
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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)
This enhanced PSP port of Monster Hunter G marked the franchise's successful transition to portable consoles, selling over a million copies and establishing a trend of handheld titles outselling console counterparts (until Monster Hunter World).
Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1
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(Subsequent entries will follow a similar format, condensing descriptions for brevity while maintaining key details and image placement.)
Monster Hunter 2 (2006)
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007) and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (2008)
Monster Hunter 3 (2009) and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (2013)
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010)
Monster Hunter 4 (2013) and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (2015)
Monster Hunter Generations (2015) and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (2017)
Monster Hunter Stories (2016)
Monster Hunter World (2018) and Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (2019)
Monster Hunter Rise (2021) and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (2022)
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (2021)
Monster Hunter Wilds (2025)
The Future of Monster Hunting:
Beyond Monster Hunter Wilds (releasing February 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Capcom and TiMi Studio Group are developing Monster Hunter Outlanders, a free-to-play mobile game featuring multiplayer hunts and a vast open world. A release date remains unannounced. Further details on Monster Hunter Wilds can be found via IGN First coverage.
