How to Play the Monster Hunter Games in Order

Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, roars back in 2025 with Monster Hunter Wilds. This acclaimed series, spanning generations of consoles, achieved new heights with Monster Hunter World (2018) and Monster Hunter Rise (2021), Capcom's two best-selling games ever.

Launching February 28th, Monster Hunter Wilds prompts a retrospective look at the franchise's key titles.

The Monster Hunter Universe:

While over 25 Monster Hunter games exist (including spin-offs, mobile titles, and enhanced versions), this list focuses on the 12 most significant, excluding mobile, arcade, and discontinued MMO entries, along with the Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village.

IGN's Monster Hunter Reviews

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Starting Your Monster Hunter Journey:

The Monster Hunter series lacks a continuous narrative, allowing players to choose their entry point. Newcomers in 2025 might prefer waiting for Monster Hunter Wilds reviews. Otherwise, Monster Hunter World (exploration-focused) or Monster Hunter Rise (faster-paced) are excellent starting points.

Out February 28### Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition

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Monster Hunter Games: A Chronological Overview

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 equipment, and tackle increasingly challenging hunts, solo or cooperatively. Monster Hunter G, an expanded version, followed exclusively in Japan.

Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1Mar 11, 2004

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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)

This enhanced PSP port of Monster Hunter G marked the series' successful transition to handheld consoles, selling over a million copies and establishing a trend of portable versions outselling console counterparts—a trend that persisted until Monster Hunter World.

Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1Dec 1, 2005

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