Monster Hunter Stories

About

"Monster Hunter Stories is a fantasy role-playing game, available for single-player and multi-player. Recruit, raise, and battle with Monsties, monsters you can form bonds with. The game features high-resolution graphics and an improved user interface for the smartphone version. The story follows a hero and their friends who discover a shining egg and perform a Rite of Kinship, leading to an exciting adventure."

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Play Modes

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 613 reviews

story59 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original 3DS version, enhanced with improved graphics and voice acting.
The turn-based combat system is engaging and rewards strategic thinking, making battles feel dynamic and enjoyable.
The story, while simple, is charming and heartwarming, focusing on the bonds between characters and their monsters.

The AI for monsters can be frustratingly unpredictable, leading to battles that feel more reliant on luck than strategy.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the egg hatching system, can feel tedious and grindy, detracting from the overall experience.
The game shows its age with dated visuals and some control issues, making it feel less polished compared to its sequel.

story
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The story of Monster Hunter Stories is characterized by its focus on the importance of bonds and the consequences of intentions, offering a charming and engaging narrative that appeals to both younger and older audiences. While some reviews note its simplicity and occasional cheesiness, many appreciate the depth that unfolds as the game progresses, making it a delightful experience despite some criticisms of repetitiveness and lack of originality. Overall, it is seen as a fun, lighthearted adventure that complements the Monster Hunter universe, with a mix of emotional moments and enjoyable character interactions.
- “The story is all about the importance of bonds and how they can make people and creatures stronger, as well as how good intentions and negative feelings can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes.”
- “While the start may be quite cheesy, the story gets wonderfully deeper as you progress throughout the game, thus giving an incredible experience.”
- “From the characters that we both have you smiling and gritting your teeth to the absolutely wonderful heartwarming story that had me in tears of joy as I arose from humble adventure to hero, alongside my monsters and friends.”
- “Other than the gameplay, the story in the title is a joke.”
- “I really really wanted to like this game but by the end of the story I was feeling incredibly tired of it all and just wanted it to be over.”
- “There is no depth, no plot twist and the story itself is terribly generic and often makes no sense.”
gameplay
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
81%
3%
The gameplay of Monster Hunter Stories is characterized by a turn-based combat system that employs a rock-paper-scissors mechanic, making it accessible yet somewhat reliant on luck. While some players appreciate its simplicity and the blend of monster-collecting elements reminiscent of Pokémon, others find it clunky and less refined compared to its sequel, with a lack of strategic depth. Overall, it offers a casual and enjoyable experience within the Monster Hunter universe, appealing to both younger audiences and those seeking a lighter alternative to the main series.
- “Monster Hunter Stories is a delightful spin-off that seamlessly blends the Monster Hunter universe with the classic monster-collecting gameplay of Pokémon.”
- “The gameplay loop is basically stealing eggs and putting together the optimal fighting team, but it's a surprisingly intricate system with a lot of possibilities.”
- “Monster Hunter Stories provides a more casual alternative to the main series, offering accessible gameplay without losing the captivating storytelling, excitement, and charm that define the Monster Hunter franchise.”
- “It's fun, but I'm not a huge fan of the direction the story went in several places, and the gameplay is a lot more clunky than in Stories 2.”
- “Battle mechanics feel way simpler and less refined in comparison to the sequel, lacking additional strategic layers introduced in 'Wings of Ruin', like swapping your weapon mid-fight.”
- “Gameplay is turn-based and is pretty decent, but the scissors-paper-rock system can be frustrating when a monster uses multiple types and gives no indication of what it's going to use, making it a bit too RNG dependent.”
graphics
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, anime-inspired art style that appeals to a younger demographic while still offering a deeper narrative. Although the visuals show their roots as a 3DS port and may not compete with modern titles in terms of fidelity, the remastered graphics and smoother performance enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the charming aesthetic and colorful designs, which contribute to the game's whimsical feel, despite some noting the limitations of the graphical options.
- “The art style is vibrant and colorful, and the soundtrack is also amazing.”
- “The beautiful graphics remaster made my experience even better.”
- “The colorful, cel-shaded graphics deviate from the more realistic look of the main series and give the game a whimsical and inviting feel.”
- “Visually, you can tell it’s a 3DS game, so don’t expect too much graphically.”
- “Graphics are smoother but is still based on a 3DS port, so nothing too grand for graphics.”
- “As someone who played MHST2 first, I must say that the graphics and gameplay aspects of MHST1 are much inferior to those of its sequel.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
35%
8%
The game's soundtrack is widely praised for its vibrant orchestral score, memorable town and battle themes, and overall contribution to the immersive experience. However, some players noted a significant lack of music during exploration in open areas, which can create a sense of emptiness. Despite this downside, the music remains a highlight, enhancing the game's colorful art style and engaging storytelling.
- “The game's soundtrack is an absolute delight with an orchestral score that adds to the sense of adventure and immersion in the game scenario.”
- “3) Great town/battle music (favorites being 'Hakum Village' town theme and 'Severe Challenge' aka Kirin boss battle theme) that are so charming and memorable, and you never get tired of listening to them no matter how many times they play over and over again.”
- “You have many of the monsters people love (and some that people don't), a vibrant world filled with color and life, a great soundtrack that lends to the atmosphere of the game, and simple mechanics that never overstay their welcome.”
- “One big downside, though, is the lack of music during exploration in open areas.”
- “It makes things feel empty and, honestly, I ended up playing my own music in the background.”
- “In my 90 hours of playtime, I think I've collectively heard Qurupeco's scream more than the game's actual soundtrack.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it tedious and frustrating, especially when combined with challenging enemy AI and boss fights, others appreciate the grind as part of the experience. Many reviews highlight the need for significant time investment to progress, particularly in high-rank content, which may deter those who dislike turn-based battles or extensive grinding. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players enjoying the grind while others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Simply finding monsters to obtain materials, eggs, or quest clears felt extremely tedious a lot of the time.”
- “It took quite a bit of grinding and min-maxing to catch up to the high-rank content.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Monster Hunter Stories" is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a heartwarming narrative that evokes joy and nostalgia as players bond with their monsters and friends. The game successfully combines thrilling monster battles with cozy, wholesome elements, creating a colorful world that resonates with players on an emotional level. Overall, it offers a delightful experience that leaves a lasting impact through its engaging characters and story.
- “From the characters that we both have you smiling and gritting your teeth to the absolutely wonderful heartwarming story that had me in tears of joy as I arose from humble adventure to hero, alongside my monsters and friends.”
- “They are cozy and heartwarming <3”
- “[Colourful and varied world with mostly attractive visuals, enjoyable and emotional story, museum extras are a nice bonus].”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Monster Hunter Stories is generally well-optimized for PC, delivering smooth performance even on lower-end hardware and the Steam Deck, though some users noted performance issues compared to its predecessor and other similar titles. The new PC version boasts improved graphics and overall performance, but some players experienced occasional hiccups and outdated visual designs.
- “As with many Capcom games, Monster Hunter Stories is exceptionally well-optimized for PC, running smoothly even on the Steam Deck.”
- “The game's performance is impeccable, making it a joy to play on a variety of hardware configurations.”
- “The new PC version looks fantastic with its improved graphics and smoother performance.”
- “Compared to Stories 2 and other games of a similar caliber, performance is not great on lower-end hardware.”
- “[Some surprising performance hiccups and basic visuals, design hangovers from past generations]”
- “The game's performance is inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences on various hardware setups.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the charming characters, particularly Navirou, the felyne companion, who adds a delightful comedic touch to the adventure. Players appreciate the engaging animations and the overall lighthearted atmosphere, which contributes to an enjoyable and addictive gameplay experience.
- “The characters are a high point, especially Navirou, your Felyne companion, who brings humor and charm to the adventure.”
- “Love the animations and the sense of humor for sure.”
- “Become engrossed with its characters, hatch some monsties and have a blast in the humorous world and its weirdly addictive gameplay.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development is highlighted through expressive and memorable character designs that enhance the gameplay experience. The fluid animations contribute to the overall immersion, allowing players to connect with the characters in richly detailed environments.
- “The character designs are adorable and memorable.”
- “The environments are richly detailed and varied, from lush forests to arid deserts and icy plains, complemented by fluid animations and expressive character designs.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly and providing a fresh experience enhanced by improved visuals.
- “The game runs great and offers a fresh experience with better visuals.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's strong replayability, attributing it to its engaging story, despite its less impressive graphics. This aspect encourages multiple playthroughs, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Even though the game doesn't have the best graphics, it has a beautiful story and a lot of replayability.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant, colorful world teeming with beloved monsters, complemented by an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The simple mechanics contribute to a seamless immersion without becoming tedious.
- “You have many of the monsters people love (and some that people don't), a vibrant world filled with color and life, a great soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of the game, and simple mechanics that never overstay their welcome.”