A year after celebrating its 20th anniversary, Capcom's iconic monster-hunting franchise is set to thrill fans once again with the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in 2025. This prolific series has spanned multiple generations of gaming platforms, achieving new heights with 2018's Monster Hunter World and 2021's Monster Hunter Rise—both of which are the best-selling games in the series and Capcom's top-selling titles of all time.
With Monster Hunter Wilds slated for release on February 28, we're taking a nostalgic journey through the franchise's history, presenting a curated list of the most significant games, arranged chronologically by their release dates.
How Many Monster Hunter Games Are There?
There are over 25 Monster Hunter games when considering all base games, spinoffs, mobile entries, and enhanced versions. However, for our purposes, we've selected the 12 most pivotal games in the series. This list omits mobile- and arcade-only titles (such as Monster Hunter i and Monster Hunter Spirits), discontinued MMOs (Monster Hunter Frontier and Monster Hunter Online), and the Japan-exclusive, FromSoftware-developed, Animal Crossing-style game Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village.
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Which Monster Hunter Game Should You Play First?
The Monster Hunter series doesn't have a continuous storyline, allowing you the freedom to start with any game. If you're new to the series in 2025, you might want to check out the initial reception of Monster Hunter Wilds, releasing on February 28. For those eager to dive in before Wilds hits the shelves, we recommend Monster Hunter World for its immersive exploration and Monster Hunter Rise for its emphasis on speed and fluid movement.
Out February 28
Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition
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Every Monster Hunter Game in Release Order
Monster Hunter (2004)
Monster Hunter, developed alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak, was part of Capcom's strategy to explore the PS2's online network potential, as Ryozo Tsujimoto shared with Eurogamer in 2014.
This inaugural game established the franchise's core mechanics, where players embark on quests to hunt monsters, utilizing materials from the environment and defeated creatures to craft and upgrade weapons and armor for tackling even more formidable beasts.
An expanded version, Monster Hunter G, was released exclusively in Japan the following year.
Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1
Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)
In 2005, the series found a new home on portable consoles with Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced port of Monster Hunter G tailored for single-player enjoyment on the PSP. This entry kicked off a trend where portable versions outsold their home console counterparts until Monster Hunter World in 2018.
Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1
Monster Hunter 2 (2006)
Capcom revisited the home console with Monster Hunter 2 (also known as Monster Hunter Dos), released exclusively in Japan for the PS2. This sequel introduced a day-night cycle and gems, enhancing the customization of weapons and armor.
Monster Hunter 2Capcom Production Studio 1
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007)
Following up on the success of portable gaming, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 adapted the core elements of MH2 for the PSP, focusing on single-player gameplay. The game saw further expansion with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in 2008, which added new monsters, missions, maps, and the ability to have a Felyne companion join the fight.
Monster Hunter Freedom 2Capcom Production Studio 1
Monster Hunter 3 (2009)
Monster Hunter 3 (also known as Monster Hunter Tri) debuted in Japan in 2009 and internationally in 2010. Originally developed for the PS3, it was released as a Wii exclusive, featuring new monsters, weapons, and locations, along with the series' short-lived underwater combat feature.
The game later expanded to the Wii U and 3DS with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, which included new monsters, an updated single-player experience, enhanced graphics, and a new multiplayer area.
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