"Master the Sequence: Playing Monster Hunter Games in Order"

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Capcom’s renowned Monster Hunter franchise is set to thrill fans once again with the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in 2025. The series, which has evolved across various generations of home and portable consoles, hit its stride with 2018’s Monster Hunter World and 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise, both of which are not only the top-selling games in the series but also Capcom’s best-selling titles ever.

As we eagerly await Monster Hunter Wilds, slated for release on February 28, 2025, let's take a nostalgic journey through the franchise's history by exploring the 12 most significant Monster Hunter games, arranged chronologically by release date.

How Many Monster Hunter Games Are There?

There are over 25 Monster Hunter games in total, including base games, spinoffs, mobile entries, and enhanced versions. For this list, we've narrowed it down to the 12 most pivotal Monster Hunter games. Note that this selection excludes mobile- and arcade-exclusive titles (like Monster Hunter i and Monster Hunter Spirits), discontinued MMOs (such as Monster Hunter Frontier and Monster Hunter Online), and the unique Japan-exclusive, FromSoftware-developed game, Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village.

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Which Monster Hunter Game Should You Play First?

The Monster Hunter series does not follow a continuous storyline, allowing you the freedom to start with any game. If you're considering diving into the franchise in 2025, you might want to wait for the buzz around Monster Hunter Wilds, set to launch on February 28. However, if you can't wait, we recommend starting with either Monster Hunter World or Monster Hunter Rise. Monster Hunter World is ideal for those who enjoy deep exploration and immersive experiences, while Monster Hunter Rise offers a faster-paced, more fluid gameplay.

Out February 28

Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition

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Every Monster Hunter Game in Release Order

Monster Hunter (2004)

The inaugural Monster Hunter game set the stage for the franchise, introducing core mechanics and systems. Players could embark on quests to hunt monsters, using materials from the environment and defeated creatures to craft and upgrade weapons and armor. An enhanced version, Monster Hunter G, was released exclusively in Japan the following year.

Monster Hunter
Capcom Production Studio 1
Mar 11, 2004
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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)

Monster Hunter Freedom marked the series' transition to portable consoles, specifically the PSP, with an enhanced port of Monster Hunter G optimized for solo play. It became a sales phenomenon, setting a trend where portable versions of Monster Hunter games outsold their home console counterparts until the success of Monster Hunter World in 2018.

Monster Hunter Freedom
Capcom Production Studio 1
Dec 1, 2005
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Monster Hunter 2 (2006)

Returning to home consoles, Monster Hunter 2, also known as Monster Hunter Dos, was released exclusively in Japan for the PS2. It introduced innovative features like 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)

The second portable installment, Monster Hunter Freedom 2, built on the foundation of Monster Hunter 2, enhancing it with new content tailored for single-player. Its expansion, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, released in 2008, introduced new monsters, missions, maps, and the option to have a Felyne fighter accompany the player in battle.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Capcom Production Studio 1
Feb 22, 2007
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Monster Hunter 3 (2009)

Originally developed for the PS3 but released as a Wii exclusive, Monster Hunter 3 (also known as Monster Hunter Tri) introduced underwater combat alongside new monsters, weapons, and locations. It later expanded to Wii U and 3DS with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, which featured new monsters, updated graphics, and an enhanced multiplayer area.

Monster Hunter Tri
Capcom Production Studio 1
Aug 1, 2009
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Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010)

Monster Hunter 3's portable adaptation, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, was released for the PSP and later for the 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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