9 /10 21

Monster Hunter Rise stands as a critical and commercial triumph, revitalizing the franchise with a fresh take on the established formula. Unlike Monster Hunter World’s grounded approach, Rise embraces verticality and introduces the Wirebug mechanic, a dynamic rope-based movement system that transforms combat and exploration. Originally exclusive to Nintendo Switch before expanding to PC and consoles, this action RPG has shipped over 8 million units globally and maintains a Metacritic score of 88. This review explores what makes Rise essential, how it plays across platforms, and whether it represents the ultimate Monster Hunter experience or simply the best bridge toward Monster Hunter Wilds.

How to Play Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise places you in Kamura Village, where hunts follow a clear loop: accept quests, prepare gear, hunt monsters, carve materials, craft improvements, repeat. The game opens gradually, introducing mechanics through Village quests before unlocking the Hub for multiplayer High Rank hunts. Combat feels immediate and reward-driven, with 14 weapons offering wildly different playstyles.

1. Controls – Intuitive on Switch and console, though PC players should use a controller. The Wirebug adds a new dimension: press button to launch into the air, scout terrain, or gain positioning advantage against monsters. Learning curve is gentle but skill ceiling remains high.
2. Progression – Start with Low Rank Village quests to unlock facilities and learn fundamentals. After reaching High Rank, the Hub opens for multiplayer scaling. Sunbreak expansion adds Master Rank hunts with new challenges and monsters.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Lock onto monsters, manage stamina, dodge roll, and unleash Wirebug moves for style and damage. Switch Skills let you swap moves mid-hunt without changing weapons. The Palico companion and new Palamute rideable creature assist in hunts.
4. Tips – Spend time in the training area before ranking up. Craft armor sets matching monster weaknesses. Don’t rush High Rank; learn patterns in Low Rank. Use Wirebug positioning to counter large monster attacks, especially against flying threats.

Who Should Play Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise targets players seeking deep gameplay loops with aesthetic appeal and meaningful progression. Its Nintendo Switch roots ensure accessibility, yet the game scales to hardcore players who spent 100+ hours optimizing builds. Both franchise newcomers and veterans find value here, though commitment matters.

• Action RPG Devotees – If you loved Dark Souls’ challenge but want different pacing, Rise delivers 50-100 hours of engaging combat without souls-style punishment. Each hunt feels purposeful.
• Completionists – Build all armor sets, master all 14 weapons, hunt every monster variant. The grind is satisfying, not tedious.
• Multiplayer Hunters – The Hub supports up to 4-player co-op. Hunts scale dynamically, making group play accessible yet rewarding.
• Skip If – Avoid this if you hate gear grind, dislike repetitive boss encounters, or need narrative-heavy storytelling. The story is minimal; hunting is the story.

Monster Hunter Rise Platform Performance

Monster Hunter Rise runs across multiple platforms with dramatically different specs. Nintendo Switch delivered surprising visuals at 30fps in 1344×756 resolution. The PC port introduced 4K at 60fps, while PS5 and Xbox Series X offer configurable performance modes targeting 60fps at 4K or 120fps at 1440p. Most players should prioritize the 60fps default mode for combat precision, though high-end PCs can push beyond.

Monster Hunter Rise System Requirements

The PC version maintains modest requirements, allowing older hardware to run it. Minimum specs target 1080p60 on budget GPUs, while recommended specs push 4K60. Storage demands 23GB, but the game compresses assets efficiently with no additional bloat or launchers beyond Steam.

Similar Games to Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise occupies a unique space, but several titles share its addictive loop or challenging bosses. These alternatives each emphasize different aspects: Monster Hunter World offers darker aesthetics, Dark Souls provides souls-like difficulty without hunt structure, Dauntless delivers free-to-play hunting, and Granblue Fantasy Relink pairs hunts with anime charm.

• Monster Hunter: World – Darker tone, more realistic environments, and the Iceborne expansion. Plays similarly but emphasizes environmental traversal over verticality. Better narrative setup.
• Dark Souls Remastered – Challenging combat and progression but without the gear grind or hunt structure. Smaller, more interconnected world design.
• Dauntless – Free-to-play hunt-based combat. Streamlined progression but lacks the depth and polish of Rise.
• Granblue Fantasy Relink – Boss hunts with anime flair and four-player co-op. Shorter hunt times appeal to casual players.

Monster Hunter Rise vs Competitors

Monster Hunter Rise dominates its niche by combining accessibility with depth. World offers more story but demands more time. Dauntless is free but feels hollow by comparison. When measured against action RPGs broadly, Rise balances solo discovery with multiplayer engagement better than most rivals, justifying its critical consensus.

Monster Hunter Rise Story and World

Monster Hunter Rise is set 50 years after a catastrophic Rampage event. You arrive at Kamura Village as a newly appointed hunter during a new calamity’s emergence. The narrative serves gameplay; story cutscenes are minimal compared to World. Instead, world-building happens through environmental detail, village NPCs, and the Magistrate leader guiding you toward investigating the Elder Dragon Malzeno (Sunbreak expansion). The ninja-inspired aesthetic of Kamura Village and its lush ecosystems create a lived-in world without overwhelming cutscenes. Sunbreak deepens this with new story beats and Master Rank monsters.

Monster Hunter Rise Multiplayer and Online

Monster Hunter Rise separates solo and multiplayer progression smartly. Village quests are single-player content where you learn. The Hub supports up to four-player hunts with dynamic scaling: monsters grow stronger but more rewarding in groups. Cross-platform play is not supported (Switch players cannot hunt with PC players), but the community remains active across each platform. Seasonal events and collaborations (Amiibo costumes, event quests) keep content fresh.

• Hub Hunts – Up to 4-player co-op scaling for all High Rank and Master Rank content. Join public lobbies or create private sessions.
• Rampage Mode – Unique wave-based hunts where towers and traps aid your defense against multiple large monsters simultaneously. Solo or co-op.
• Seasonal Events – Monthly event quests with exclusive armor and weapons tied to collaborations (Monster Hunter Wilds crossover, Resident Evil, Street Fighter).
• Cross-Play – Not supported between Switch, PC, or console versions. Communities are platform-specific but robust.

Monster Hunter Rise DLC and Expansions

Sunbreak is the flagship expansion, released June 30, 2022. It’s a substantial $39.99 premium expansion adding 10+ new monsters, Master Rank difficulty tier (higher than High Rank), new hunting areas, and fresh story content. The bundle includes all post-launch free content from base Rise, making the $59.99 bundle (or current sales around $14.99-$19.99) exceptional value. Free monthly event quests continue post-launch with no battle pass or mandatory spending.

• Sunbreak Expansion – $39.99 standalone or $59.99 bundled with base game. Adds Master Rank hunts, Elder Dragon Malzeno, and 10+ returning monsters with new movesets.
• Cosmetic DLC – Armor layered skins ($2-$5 each) for fashion-hunting. No pay-to-win mechanics.
• Season Pass – Included in Sunbreak purchase; no additional battle pass required.
• Free Updates – Monthly event quests, monster additions, and balancing patches released until Monster Hunter Wilds launch in February 2025.

Monster Hunter Rise Community and Support

Monster Hunter Rise boasts one of gaming’s most welcoming communities. Official forums, Discord servers, and subreddits (r/MonsterHunter) remain hyperactive despite Wilds’ emergence. Mod support exists on PC through Steam Workshop, though base game is complete without mods. Capcom maintains a development roadmap visible to players, ensuring transparency about seasonal content and balance changes. The community wiki (Fextralife) provides exhaustive weapon guides, monster strategies, and armor builds updated regularly.

• Official Forums – Capcom hosts active forums with moderators and developers occasionally answering balance questions.
• Reddit/Discord – r/MonsterHunter (600k+ members) and the official Discord server coordinate hunts, share builds, and provide beginner guidance at scale.
• Mod Support – PC version supports cosmetic and gameplay mods via Steam Workshop (no impact on multiplayer stability).
• Updates – Patches roll monthly; roadmap updated quarterly ensuring players know content pipelines years ahead.