Monster Hunter Rise

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 26,828 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Monster Hunter Rise Game Cover
An excellent port that presents a solid, complete experience. Super fast load times, improved performance and a ton of content make Monster Hunter Rise on PC the definitive version.
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"Monster Hunter Rise" is a fantasy hack and slash game with excellent visuals, soundtrack, and inventive gameplay. Up to 2-player multiplayer or single-player with a variety of weapons are available to hunt down unique monsters. The high replayability and emotional storyline make it a marvelous experience, despite some heavy advertisement.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 26,828 reviews
gameplay870 positive mentions
grinding660 negative mentions
  • gameplay2,675 mentions

    The gameplay in "Monster Hunter Rise" has been widely praised for its fast-paced and fluid mechanics, particularly with the introduction of the wirebug system, which enhances mobility and combat options. While some players appreciate the streamlined experience and accessibility for newcomers, others feel that it sacrifices depth and challenge compared to previous entries like "Monster Hunter World." Overall, the game maintains the core monster-hunting loop while incorporating new mechanics that keep the experience engaging and enjoyable.

    • “The wirebug mechanic adds a whole new level of depth to the game and I'm loving every moment of it.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple yet addictive, making it a joy to hunt monsters and craft better gear.”
    • “The new wirebug mechanics make the combat faster, more reaction-driven, and give the player the possibility to customize their combat experience further than the 14 weapon types already do.”
    • “The gameplay is such a downgrade from both World and previous generations; the combat is floaty, it feels like inputs are delayed, and there is almost no feedback. When I hit a monster with a fully charged greatsword hit, it should feel like I really hit something with a lot of force, but instead, it feels like I'm batting the monster with a foam sword.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple; fight big monsters. However, the new mechanics, like running up walls and surfaces, wirebug, and mounts are all really fun, but the new gameplay changes, like running up walls and surfaces, wirebug, and mounts are all really fun, and the new monsters are great too.”
    • “The gameplay is a lot better than World, the fights are faster which is a good thing considering some early fights in World could take you a very long time (30+ minutes) if you don't have the right gear.”
  • story2,552 mentions

    The story in "Monster Hunter Rise" is generally considered minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, with many players noting that it lacks the depth and engagement found in "Monster Hunter: World." While the game features a basic narrative involving the defense of a village against rampaging monsters, it is often overshadowed by the focus on combat and hunting mechanics. Additionally, the separation of village quests (single-player) and hub quests (multiplayer) has drawn criticism for limiting cooperative play during the main story progression. Overall, players recommend the game for its gameplay rather than its story, which is seen as a secondary element.

    • “The story is fairly lackluster but the gameplay more than makes up for that fact.”
    • “The story is pretty decent, but tbh who plays monster hunter for the story imo.”
    • “The story feels alright, the combat feels great, and generally whether you have played monster hunter in the past, or you are brand new to the series, this feels like a game worth playing.”
    • “The story is an absolute joke (or what I have experienced so far until the end credits).”
    • “The story is barely even existent until halfway through rank 3 mandatory quests, and then it turns out that the main story quests are just a tower defense game mode, that even though you defeat and kill a ton of monsters you get basically none of their parts.”
    • “Rampage quests are the worst thing that ever happened to a Monster Hunter game.”
  • graphics1,655 mentions

    The graphics of "Monster Hunter Rise" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant downgrade compared to "Monster Hunter World." While the game retains a charming art style and vibrant aesthetics, it is often described as lacking the graphical fidelity and immersive environments of its predecessor, primarily due to its origins as a Nintendo Switch title. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the game's unique visual appeal and improved performance on PC, emphasizing that gameplay remains the primary focus of the series.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant, lush environments that make you feel like you're actually out in the wilderness.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the settings show you a preview of how the game will look as you tweak the different graphical settings, as well as showing you how much memory you have available and how much it's using.”
    • “The graphics may not blow your mind, and that's ok.”
    • “It's a downgrade practically in all aspects compared to Monster Hunter World: worse visuals, worse exploration, and less epic large monster fights.”
    • “I haven't touched this for a while and thought I would give it another go and went back to Monster Hunter World; the graphics are poor, which means this is literally a Switch port of the actual game. If you want a much more graphical and a much better Monster Hunter experience, please go for Monster Hunter World.”
    • “The graphics are a huge step down from Monster Hunter World, and I miss the realistic aesthetic.”
  • grinding685 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Monster Hunter Rise" has received mixed feedback from players. While many acknowledge that grinding is a core element of the series, with some finding it enjoyable and rewarding, others criticize it as tedious and overly repetitive, especially in the late game. Quality of life improvements have made some aspects of grinding less burdensome compared to previous titles, but the reliance on RNG for materials and talismans can still lead to frustration for players. Overall, the game is considered grindy, but the fun combat and multiplayer experience can make the grind feel worthwhile for those who enjoy it.

    • “No farming for decos is heaven; there is still grind for talismans, but they are not crucial as decos. You can still complete your build by using basic talismans.”
    • “Base game took me 40 hours to complete, and that is with the defender set and just playing the majority of the storyline without grinding for other gear.”
    • “There's no grinding lands; no place you go to that passively spawns monsters and unique materials for post-game content that lets you just mess around and kill some enemies to level up the region.”
    • “The endgame progression was tedious and not something I could find myself enjoying.”
    • “The post game loop of grinding is horrid.”
    • “The only downside is how grindy the endgame is, the grind to get to level 300 anomaly is insane and I genuinely hope they won't bring the same system in future titles.”
  • optimization508 mentions

    The optimization of "Monster Hunter Rise" has been significantly impacted by the recent addition of Enigma DRM, which has led to widespread performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops of 10-15 FPS. Many users report that this intrusive DRM not only hampers performance but also breaks modding capabilities and compatibility with platforms like the Steam Deck, rendering the game unplayable for some. While the game initially performed well, the retroactive implementation of this DRM has caused frustration among players, leading to negative reviews focused on these optimization setbacks.

    • “Performance is actually amazing.”
    • “Very well optimized.”
    • “The performance is amazing, it runs a lot better than mh:w (expect roughly twice the fps of mh:w).”
    • “Capcom added intrusive DRM which negatively affects performance of the game and mods.”
    • “The DRM made it impossible to play on my Steam Deck and broke all the quality of life mods that I had on PC, not to mention a damn Switch game should not be stuttering on an RTX 3060 Ti.”
    • “Capcom is retroactively adding Enigma DRM to all of their games, breaking modding, preventing cheat engine, and reducing FPS by 10-15 from stuttering.”
  • music440 mentions

    The music in "Monster Hunter Rise" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and immersive soundtracks, with many players praising the orchestral compositions that enhance the gameplay experience. While some fans miss the complexity of previous titles' music systems, the overall quality and thematic consistency of the soundtrack are highlighted as standout features. However, a few critiques mention repetitiveness and a lack of variety compared to "Monster Hunter World," with some tracks feeling less impactful during intense battles.

    • “The music is fantastic, wirebugs offer a new and unique way to traverse the maps as well as add new silkbind moves for each weapon.”
    • “The soundtrack is also amazing.”
    • “The music is a delight to listen to and you will be humming it during your many hunts.”
    • “Gone are the days of actually thinking about how to play the musical mace and what notes you need to hit.”
    • “The gutting of the music tree for an even simpler version has led me to drop the weapon entirely, and I will most likely never touch the weapon again if it remains in this state moving forward.”
    • “The music looped so much while fighting the large monster, it gave me a headache.”
  • humor128 mentions

    The humor in Monster Hunter games is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the quirky antics of monsters, amusing character interactions, and the chaotic moments that arise during hunts. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create funny situations, especially when playing with friends, leading to laughter over both successes and failures. The blend of silly designs, comedic elements, and lighthearted gameplay contributes to a fun and entertaining experience that resonates with players.

    • “The characters, the hilariously charming goofiness of some of it (and the flat out dark menace of the actual monsters you fight the rest of it).”
    • “We have had fun demolishing a monster, and there have been many times where we die laughing when we fail the mission in under 5 minutes.”
    • “Bonk monsters on the head, steal their bones, make a funny little hat or boots in order to bonk monsters on the head better to steal their bones faster to make even better funny little hats.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringe-worthy than funny.”
    • “The jokes are unoriginal and fail to land, leaving me feeling disappointed.”
    • “The attempts at humor are awkward and miss the mark completely.”
  • stability109 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and bugs, particularly related to DRM and save file issues. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay on various hardware, others have faced significant performance problems, especially on the Steam Deck and during multiplayer sessions. Overall, the game runs well for some, but the prevalence of bugs and crashes has led to frustration among many players, undermining their overall experience.

    • “The game runs great on my 1070ti at 2k resolution, getting steady frame rates on the best graphics settings, and I've only had 1 crash in 70 hours, which was a result of me alt-tabbing very awkwardly.”
    • “My early impressions of the port are that it runs great and seems really optimized; the game ran fantastic on Switch, so overall if your PC can handle those types of games, you should 100% be fine here.”
    • “In all, plays great, runs great, looks great.”
    • “The game does not launch anymore on Steam Deck and freezes my PC. Adding DRM ruined the game for many; reverse this discussion or you lose customer trust, Capcom.”
    • “This buggy game made me lose hours of progress, and it's been like this a couple of times. I've never encountered this save file bug in MHW & Iceborne.”
    • “I wanted to enjoy this game, but it is too buggy. It freezes and crashes at random constantly.”
  • replayability60 mentions

    Monster Hunter Rise offers a mix of high replayability due to its diverse weapon choices and cooperative gameplay, allowing for hundreds of hours of enjoyment. However, some players feel it lacks the endgame content and replay features found in previous titles, which may limit long-term engagement. Overall, while many find it fun and replayable, others suggest that expansions like Sunbreak are necessary for a more fulfilling experience.

    • “Monster Hunter Rise was a fantastic game with great gameplay, a fun story, and expansive replayability.”
    • “Switch skills make every weapon have a wide selection of abilities and builds to choose from, which can lead to near limitless experimentation and replayability.”
    • “The camaraderie and teamwork required to take down formidable monsters together add a social element to the game that enhances its replayability and longevity.”
    • “However, where Rise falls short is its endgame; it lacks the same constant replayability by having no similar feature like the Guiding Lands or the big gathering hub siege battles like Safi'jiiva and Kulve Taroth.”
    • “The sad reality is all the new stuff added in Rise and Sunbreak are gimmicks, which don't improve the game or make it more replayable.”
    • “Finally, this game does not have any replay values for me that would drive me to continue playing it after finishing it.”
  • monetization57 mentions

    The monetization strategy in this game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over the aggressive implementation of microtransactions, particularly for cosmetic items that were previously unlockable through gameplay. Many reviewers feel that the presence of these microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, labeling it as a cash grab and expressing concern about the future of the franchise's commitment to player satisfaction and modding support. While some acknowledge that the game itself remains enjoyable, the pervasive monetization practices have led to a generally negative reception.

    • “They've released amazing titles like Resident Evil 7 and 8, the Resident Evil remakes, and many more, despite having these shady microtransactions.”
    • “The grind is there, but it's minimal compared to other games that do it to force you into paying microtransactions to keep up.”
    • “Gameplay is as good as ever even if the side/event quest rewards suck now due to monetization, fantastic fit for the Steam Deck.”
    • “Capcom has already taken an incredibly anti-modding stance, but combined with the aggressive microtransactions, it's hard to recommend this or any Capcom game.”
    • “This game has over $630 in microtransactions for content that prior games got for free. They are also charging players $3 every time they want to change the look or voice of their character and now they have the nerve of adding malware and anti-modding software without players or Steam's consent.”
    • “Monster Hunter has started to go down the route of having microtransactions and shoving them down people's throats.”
  • atmosphere50 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant downgrade compared to "Monster Hunter World." While some appreciate the vibrant colors, lively settings, and charming character designs, others feel that the environments are sparse and lack the immersive depth found in previous titles. Overall, the game is seen as fun and visually appealing, but it struggles to create a cohesive and engaging atmosphere that resonates with all players.

    • “The vibrant colors and breathtaking landscapes create an immersive atmosphere that draws you in from the moment you step foot in this awe-inspiring world.”
    • “The attention to detail in the monster designs, the lush environments, and the atmospheric soundtrack all contribute to creating a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The atmosphere hits a certain mood that's hard to describe but easy to love, especially with all the quality background themes.”
    • “While I fell in love with World's atmosphere and sense of realism, I felt it was lost in Rise.”
    • “World's atmosphere did not carry over to this game, unfortunately.”
    • “One major change between the games is the focus on world building and atmosphere (or lack thereof)... where Iceborne's environment was packed with life and minute detail, Sunbreak's is sparse and uninspiring.”
  • emotional40 mentions

    Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from joy and nostalgia to frustration and heartbreak. Many highlight the wholesome interactions with characters and the satisfaction of completing hunts, while others share their emotional struggles, such as losing significant progress or feeling bored during gameplay. Overall, the game fosters a strong emotional connection through its charming world and character dynamics, despite some technical issues that can lead to disappointment.

    • “Finishing a hunt and having my character pet the dog and say something wholesome or lighthearted just feels nice and makes me smile.”
    • “I lost 600 hours of a character I had grown attached to, and it was genuinely heartbreaking; far and away the worst thing to ever happen to me in gaming.”
    • “The story and characters are more fleshed out than in most Monster Hunter games, with cutscenes showing off monsters or locales in a very charming way and an environment that invites you to interact with it.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive character and NPC designs, as well as the customization options available. However, some players criticize the lack of meaningful character development and storytelling, noting that the focus is primarily on gameplay rather than character progression. Overall, while the aesthetic appeal is highlighted, the depth of character development is seen as lacking compared to previous installments.

    • “I love the NPC character design in this game, especially the twins!”
    • “Very fun in multiplayer, but also fun solo as well. The story and character designs for NPCs and monsters are out of this world, and the best part is the music and animations!”
    • “Character designs are also very pretty with powerful customization.”
    • “Just another monster hunter game with no story, no character development, a million unexplained systems that you need to web search guides for and repetitive fights against vastly recycled monsters from previous games.”
    • “In this installment, it lacks the flow of character development, and it only focuses on gameplay.”
    • “It's nothing like World other than the character design and weapons.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

Buy Monster Hunter Rise

Play time

85hMedian play time
220hAverage play time
20-300hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 160 analyzed playthroughs

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