8.5 /10 15

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin reimagines the Monster Hunter franchise through turn-based RPG mechanics, replacing action combat with strategic team-building and monster recruitment systems. Releasing July 2021 simultaneously on Nintendo Switch and Steam with an 82 Metacritic score, the game established mainstream recognition for Monster Hunter’s narrative potential. This review examines why Monster Hunter Stories 2 appeals to JRPG enthusiasts, Pokemon players seeking alternatives, and Monster Hunter franchise newcomers through accessible mechanics and engaging storytelling.

How to Play Monster Hunter Stories 2

Monster Hunter Stories 2 centers on recruiting and training Monsties (monster creatures) while progressing through narrative-driven story missions. Players assemble three-member squads using rock-paper-scissors attack mechanics (power, technique, speed) to exploit enemy weaknesses while managing health and kinship meters.

1. Controls – Nintendo Switch Joy-Con or Steam mouse-keyboard controls navigate menus, select attack patterns, and manage inventory. Steam version supports multiple input methods including controller support, learning curve remains shallow with integrated tutorials.
2. Progression – Players advance through six story regions completing 40-50 main narrative chapters. Completing story chapters unlocks multiplayer expeditions, co-op quests, and post-game High Rank content scaling difficulty for veteran players.
3. Combat Mechanics – Turn-based battles feature attack type selection (power beats technique, technique beats speed, speed beats power) mirroring Pokemon type advantages. Kinship meter increases through turn rotation, enabling special rider moves and Monstie abilities.
4. Tips – Diversify Monstie types avoiding overreliance on single attack pattern; maintain egg variety through expedition runs; utilize co-op battles for rare monster egg drops unavailable solo.

Who Should Play Monster Hunter Stories 2

Monster Hunter Stories 2 targets Monster Hunter franchise fans seeking story-driven experience, Pokemon enthusiasts exploring narrative-heavier monster-collecting alternatives, and JRPG players wanting accessible turn-based strategy with substantial post-game content.

• Monster Hunter Fans – Players familiar with Monster Hunter Rise gain narrative context for familiar monster ecology while experiencing series lore from grassroots Rider perspective rather than professional hunter worldview.
• Pokemon Players Seeking Alternatives – Narrative depth, challenging post-game battles, and competitive multiplayer battles provide engaging alternatives to recent Pokémon releases criticized for reduced difficulty.
• JRPG Enthusiasts – Story campaigns spanning 36-40 hours with optional multiplayer content, monster breeding optimization, and High Rank postgame challenges satisfy narrative-driven RPG audiences.
• Skip If – Those demanding action-based Monster Hunter combat, real-time multiplayer battles, or hardcore permadeath roguelike mechanics should explore Monster Hunter Rise instead of Stories narrative spin-off.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Platform Performance

Monster Hunter Stories 2 maintains performance parity across Switch and PC platforms, delivering consistent 30fps gameplay without graphical degradation between hardware. Switch handheld mode downscales resolution while maintaining frame stability; Steam version supports unlocked resolution scaling for high-end PC hardware, though optimization remains baseline 1080p/30fps experience.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 System Requirements

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Steam version supports Windows 10 64-bit exclusively. Minimum specifications enable 1080p/30fps gameplay on 2014-era mobile GPUs; recommended specs target 1080p/60fps stable performance on mid-range 2018 hardware. The game occupies 28GB storage requiring SSD installation for acceptable load times.

Similar Games to Monster Hunter Stories 2

Monster Hunter Stories 2 bridges Monster Hunter franchise and monster-collecting genres. Comparable titles offer turn-based tactical combat, creature recruitment systems, and comparable 40-50 hour story campaigns with substantial post-game engagement.

• Pokémon Scarlet/Violet – Monster-collecting franchise with gym-challenge progression, creature evolution systems, and multiplayer battles; offers more flexible narrative structure but less challenging postgame content.
• Temtem – Competitive alternative to Pokémon featuring turn-based battles, creature training systems, and cross-platform multiplayer co-op (2024 content additions).
• Nexo Knights – Adventure turn-based tactics game with creature recruitment and fusion mechanics alongside more complex grid-based battle systems.
• Monster Hunter Rise – Action-focused Monster Hunter title offering 40-50 hour campaign with Sunbreak expansion; shares monster ecology but implements real-time combat rather than turn-based tactical systems.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 vs Competitors

Monster Hunter Stories 2 balances competitive pricing against gameplay depth. The comparison table reveals distinct positioning: Stories 2 undercuts Pokémon Scarlet/Violet pricing while offering more challenging post-game content than recent Nintendo monster-collecting titles, though less branching narrative structure than triangle-strategy contemporaries.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Story and World

Monster Hunter Stories 2 follows a young Rider attempting to uncover the mystery surrounding a Rathalos spreading destructive influence across Kamura village and allied territories. The narrative deemphasizes typical Monster Hunter’s professional hunter worldview, instead exploring Rider culture where humans form spiritual partnerships with monsters (Monsties). Story-telling embraces humor through accompanying Felyne comedic relief character while exploring genuine emotional arcs across main cast. Regional exploration reveals Monster Hunter ecosystem details—why specific monsters inhabit regions, their territorial behaviors, and their historical significance to human settlements. The game maintains narrative accessibility for Monster Hunter newcomers while rewarding franchise veterans through established lore callbacks and monster behavior expectations.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Multiplayer and Online

Monster Hunter Stories 2 implements optional multiplayer mechanics unlockable mid-story through quest board systems. Online connectivity supports cross-platform play between Switch and Steam versions, enabling friends to engage co-op expeditions and competitive battles regardless of platform ownership.

• Co-op Expeditions – Two-player teams complete monster hunts across procedurally-varied map areas, collecting rare Monstie eggs unavailable in solo content; four egg drops per successful expedition incentivize regular multiplayer engagement
• Versus Battles – Up to four-player competitive tournaments pit Monstie squads against rivals; automatic level scaling (Level 50 matchmaking) ensures fairness between casual and veteran players
• Match ID System – Players join specific multiplayer sessions through ID codes enabling asynchronous play against players outside direct friend lists
• Cross-Platform Play – Steam and Switch players connect seamlessly; no platform restrictions limit multiplayer matchmaking
• Local Multiplayer – Same-console split-screen unavailable; local play requires multiple Switch units and game copies

Monster Hunter Stories 2 DLC and Expansions

Monster Hunter Stories 2 received substantial post-launch support through monthly free content updates from July 2021 through October 2021. DLC strategy prioritized free additions over paid content, introducing new High Rank monster encounters, post-game story quests, and limited-time event missions encouraging recurring player engagement.

• July Update – New High Rank monsters, post-story quests, multiplayer expeditions introduction
• August Update – Additional High Rank encounters, elder dragon introduction, competitive battle balancing
• September Update – Rare Monstie eggs distribution, story quest extensions, seasonal event bosses
• October Update – Final content wave including super-powerful post-game encounters, cosmetic rider equipment
• No Paid DLC – All post-launch content released free; cosmetic cosmetic purchases never introduced
• 2024-2025 Support – Community reports ongoing stability patches; no new content roadmap announced post-October 2021

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Community and Support

Monster Hunter Stories 2 maintains active player communities on Steam (peak: 35k concurrent players July 2021) and Nintendo platforms. Capcom committed to regular balance patches throughout 2021-2022, addressing multiplayer matchmaking issues and monster difficulty tuning based on player feedback.

• Official Capcom Forums – Monster Hunter Communities Hub hosts developer updates, strategy discussion, and multiplayer room coordination
• Reddit Community – r/MonsterHunterStories subreddit reaches 50k+ members sharing Monstie builds, egg hunting guides, multiplayer event coordination
• Discord Servers – Dedicated Monster Hunter Stories 2 Discord communities exceed 15k active members coordinating multiplayer sessions, breeding optimization strategies
• Patch Support – Regular balance updates through 2022 addressed multiplayer desync issues, difficulty tuning, competitive matchmaking improvements
• No Mod Support – Official modding systems unavailable; Switch version locked from ROM modification