Wide-spaces, narrow niches, and uneven soil as far as the eye can see. Grass, trees, snowy mountains, swamps, and damp caves filled by strange creatures. Flying bugs, fanged beasts, and sometimes behemoths prowl these lands. For food, for glory, or for fun are all reasons to fight. Size, shape, or an extra limb are all the advantages these beings have against you, a human. This is your everyday life. You explore the wilderness on a business trip. You take the jobs you wish to fulfil. You did not end up where danger lurks because you choose your hunting grounds. Your weapon is made from the jaws of the last foe you fell and your armour is made from monster hide and scales. Whatever monster challenges you, you are already wearing that beast’s ancestor. You are not trapped in a dangerous place, you chose to be in that place. You are not in danger, you are the danger. You are a Monster Hunter. 
Gameplay
Combat
There are different weapons for you to try. Each equipment has a different set of moves for you that affects the role you play in a hunting party. Each Monster Hunter title has introduced a new arsenal. Some weapons have stayed while some were not implemented again in other titles.
Player Status
As a tracker and fighter, your job as a hunter includes staying in shape. You will be prone to hunger and sickness that can affect gameplay. Cold drains stamina and heat drains health. Special status exists in each Monster Hunter title, often with a new monster or a new location. Special armours and items exist in the game that can help the hunter cure or prevent these problems from happening.
Monster Status
Monsters can also get status ailments like yours. Your targets can be poisoned, stunned, asleep, paralyzed, and more. Your prey may be immune to some status effects but there are some other ways.
Exploration
The ‘locations’ where you hunt vary in shape, size, and terrain. These don’t affect player traversal in big ways. A ‘location’ is separated into several areas that are numbered and colour-coded in the player’s map. Some have platforms to climb and leap from while others are simply large rooms to run around in. Locations don’t change shape and arrangement so you can get used to hazards and the monsters you can expect from them. 
Terrain Hazard
Combat is where the setting becomes fun. Certain platforms can be destroyed by large monsters. Some creatures have moves that are affected by where you fight or are only available in certain places. Likewise, you can also use the situation to your advantage. Certain parts of an area can be used as a trap against heavy enemies. A charging wyvern can get stuck on a big boulder or you can drop from a high place onto a monster.
Hunter/Gatherer and Loot Base crafting system
Crops, ores, fish, and bugs are mostly used on single-use items such as drinks, traps, bombs, and tools. Not everything will be available in the market store so all hunters learn to craft from early in the game. Loots can also be found from monsters of all sizes. Some animal parts are traded for village points, others are materials for crafting items, and the rest can be used for crafting weapons and armours. Everything you’ll be wearing and wielding will be made from the things you collect. In real life, armours and weapons are made from wood, metal and fabric. In a world full of giants with scales harder than steel, hides more durable than the finest cloth, and bones more renewable than lumber, you have abundant resources to make the most intimidating suit you can put on.
Single-use Items
One of Monster Hunter’s main appeals is how the game pushes you to rely on your items. You can be a great fighter but you are still human. While monsters are better than you in terms of strength, speed, and a tail, you make up the differences with man-made inventions. Items can be broken, ingested, thrown, applied on weapons, applied on surroundings, or explodes. Drinks are for your health and added strength. Potions keep you alive and at your best. You can barbecue monster meat or fish to make food. Monster meat is for your stamina. Fish meat is for your health. Some items come in two different levels, normal and mega. Mega is an upgraded version which usually requires the normal version as a crafting ingredient. Mega items can last longer or provide a stronger effect than the normal versions. Pickaxe, bug net, and flute can break. Each tool can be used many times but each use raises the chance of breaking. Pickaxe and bug net has three durability levels namely old, normal, and mega. Unlike potions, none of these items need other versions to craft the better version. Each needs a different set of crafting materials. The flute comes with various effects instead of durability. The standard monster flute taunts monsters. Other flute versions give all hunters in the same area special buffs based on what flute was played. Other single-use items include bombs, fish baits, throwing weapons, traps, bullets, arrow coating, and whetstone. Bombs can hurt everyone, including you. Different bombs affect some monsters in special ways so feel free to try everything on everyone. There are different kinds of fish bait meant for different kinds of fish. Different fish can be found in specific locations so explore every location with bodies of water. Throwing weapons affect the targets. These include tinted knives that apply status effects, paintball that helps track a monster on the map, and stone which hurts but not much. You can throw stones at big barrel bombs to trigger without getting too close. Traps include pitfall, shock, and meat. Pitfall and shock traps work when stepped on by most wyverns and beasts. Meat is the basic ingredient for your own food, but you can also share it with your foes. You can craft meat traps using raw meat and herbs or mushrooms for whichever effect you wish it holds like using toadstool to create poisoned meat. Monsters only eat these when calm so you need to hide. There are different kinds of bullets with different effects but most are not usable for every bowgun in the game. Same applies for arrow coatings and bows so always check weapon details before crafting.
Universe
Locations
Each title takes place in a different region with different hunting grounds. There are day and night time which affects each place differently. Commonly found locations in each game are deserts, swamps, snowy mountains, jungles, hills, plains, arenas, towers, and fortresses.
Lynian
These are cats who can use tools, armours and talks. Felyne and Melynx are often seen working with hunters. Certain tribes do not work with humans and are often not hostile unless provoked. Lynian tribes will fight against big monsters found in Lynian territories.
Small monsters
Animals found anywhere can be hostile towards the player or run away if wyverns appear. Meat-eaters and territorial animals will fight you or the big monster you are fighting. If you are fighting against a bird wyvern alpha, the smaller ones of the same species will help the alpha against you.
Big Monsters
The weakest ‘big monsters’ are bird wyvern alphas while the strongest are often elder dragons. These are your targets in hunting quests.
Villages
You don’t really think you’ll be fighting on your own, did you? Another part of being a hunter is your role in the village you live in. The village is your home, your ally, and base of operations. Villages offer common services available for every hunter. Most of these services start small but slowly increase as you play. The following services include:
- Village chief – The village chief acquaints you with the village and other locals. The main story quests can only be received through the village chief, and village quests are meant to be played alone.
- Village quests are always easier than guild quests of the same hunter-rank, which is why village quests have fewer rewards. Playing through village quests unlocks special features such as animated intro on your first encounter. Village quests also lead you around the world of Monster Hunter faster as village event quests need fewer quests done than guild quests.
- Market – Items and materials can be bought and sold at the market. You only have a few options until you increase your hunter-rank.
- Travelling Salesman – The travelling salesman also sells market products often for half the price than the market. The salesman also stocks things that are not sold in the market and tiresome to gather. The travelling salesman’s merchandise changes each time you come back from a quest so be sure to always see what is in stock. Unlike other services, the travelling salesman does not improve with your progress.
- Smithy – The smithy makes your armours and weapons using things you gathered. The smithy’s list of services improves with your hunter-rank. Certain equipment will not be unlocked unless you have at least one of its materials.
- Armoury – The armoury sells armours and weapons without the need for materials and buys the equipment you wish to part with. Armoury stock improves with your hunter-rank.
- Hunter Training School – The training school is lead by the Esteemed Instructor. The hunter training school gives special training quests to help you acquaint yourself with the world. Unlike other games that force you to play through the tutorial, the Hunter Training School is optional and lets you choose your lessons.
- Your House – Your house is where you find your bed and storage. Your bed allows you to manually save your game before you take another quest. Your storage lets you manage your armour pieces, weapons and your item inventory. You may also change your hair and clothes at the table near your bed.
- Your Farm – The farm allows you to produce your own materials that can be used for crafting items. Farm facilities can be improved by buying renovations with village points, a separate type of money you earn from quests. Not all renovation options are available to you at the start. You can unlock renovation options by hunter-rank.
Guildhall – The Guildhall is where you can take guild quests. Guild quests are tougher and pay more than village quests. Guildhalls serve as an online lobby for hunters playing online with friends or offline alone. Guildhalls have some of the same facilities as the village such as market, smithy, armoury, and storage that can access your items from your house. Guildhalls have these to let players prepare before a quest without having to leave online. Your hunter-rank in the guild is separate from your village hunter-rank.
Franchise
Main titles
The Monster Hunter franchise has existed since 2004 with several official releases and spin-offs and collaborations. All main titles are developed and published by Capcom for all regions but are released on different platforms. Each title features a flagship monster representing each game’s theme. 
Monster Hunter
The first title of the franchise was initially released on the Sony PlayStation for the Japanese audience. The game takes place in Kokoto Village, a medieval fantasy-themed shanty with tales of chosen heroes, a sacred sword, and four monsters of legends. Flagship monster is the franchise’s most iconic, and frequent recurring character and hailed the king of the skies Rathalos.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation 2 | JAPAN: March 11, 2004 NORTH AMERICA: September 21, 2004 EUROPE: May 27, 2005 |
Monster Hunter G
The enhanced version of Monster Hunter that introduces monster subspecies, different coloured version of existing monsters with new powers and base status. Flagship monster is the king’s subspecies Azure Rathalos.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation Portable | JAPAN: January 20, 2005 |
| Nintendo Wii | JAPAN – April 23, 2009 |
Monster Hunter Freedom
A re-enhanced version of Monster Hunter G for the PlayStation Portable. Flagship monster is the king of the skies himself, Rathalos.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation Portable | JAPAN: December 1, 2005 NORTH AMERICA: May 23, 2006 EUROPE: May 12, 2006 AUSTRALIA: May 26, 2006 KOREA: September 21, 2006 |
Monster Hunter 2
Monster Hunter 2 brings you to Jumbo Village, a tropical-themed village set in the jungle. The game was only released in Japan for the Sony PlayStation 2, officially kicking off the start of the second generation of the Franchise. Flagship monster is the metal-plated storm dragon, Kushala Daora.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation 2 | JAPAN: February 16, 2006 |
Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 takes place in Pokke village, a Native American inspired settlement resting in a snowy region. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 introduces the cold status of the Snowy Mountains. Flagship monster is the ancient missing link between dragons and wyverns, Tigrex.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation Portable | JAPAN: February 22, 2007 NORTH AMERICA: August 29, 2007 EUROPE: May 12, 2006 AUSTRALIA: September 7, 2007 KOREA: September 12, 2007 |
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Freedom Unite is an enhanced version of Freedom 2. Freedom Unite introduces the Comrade System that lets you take and train a Felyne or Melynx as a fellow hunter. The comrade system eventually becomes known as the Palico system. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is commonly known as where most of the Monster Hunter community started with. Flagship monster is the ever-present shadow, Nargacuga.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation Portable | JAPAN: March 27, 2008 NORTH AMERICA: June 22, 2009 EUROPE: June 26, 2009 AUSTRALIA: June 23, 2009 KOREA: March 29, 2008 |
| iOS | JAPAN: May 8, 2014 NORTH AMERICA: July 3, 2014 EUROPE: July 3, 2014 |
Monster Hunter Tri
Monster Hunter Tri takes place in Moga Village, a small fishing village threatened by monster-infested islands nearby. Monster Hunter Tri introduces underwater combat along with water-based monsters. Flagship monster is the lord of the seas, Lagiacruz.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo Wii | JAPAN: August 1, 2009 NORTH AMERICA: April 20, 2010 EUROPE: April 23, 2010 AUSTRALIA: April 29, 2010 |
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Tri takes place in Yukumo Village, an oriental Chinese themed setting known for hot springs and wood. Yukumo village is a well-known tourist spot. Monster Hunter Tri removed underwater combat for the PlayStation Portable. Portable 3rd is a new game that uses elements from Monster Hunter Tri instead of being an enhanced version. Flagship Monster is the lightning wolf, Zinogre.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Sony PlayStation Portable | JAPAN: December 1, 2010 KOREA: December 1, 2010 |
| Sony PlayStation 3 | JAPAN: August 25, 2011 |
Monster Hunter Tri G / Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Monster Hunter Tri G is the official enhanced version of Monster Hunter Tri. Underwater combat returned with a new flagship monster, the beast of brawn, Brac
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo 3DS | JAPAN: December 10, 2011 NORTH AMERICA: March 19, 2013 EUROPE: March 22, 2013 AUSTRALIA: March 23, 2013 |
| Nintendo Wii U | JAPAN: December 8, 2012 |
Monster Hunter 4
Monster Hunter 4 mainly takes place in Val Habar, a wild-west themed village set in the Great Desert. Monster Hunter 4 removed underwater battles but features more than one village for you to explore. Flagship is the non-categorized eclipse of the steppes, Gore Magala.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo 3DS | JAPAN: September 14, 2013 KOREA: December 14, 2013 |
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate does not feature a village, but a caravan which will set you on a grand adventure visiting other towns and villages. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate features more elevated platforms pushing you to fight flying monsters on different heights. Flagship monster is the acrobatic knife juggler, Seregios.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo 3DS | JAPAN: October 11, 2014 NORTH AMERICA: February 13, 2015 EUROPE: February 13, 2015 AUSTRALIA: February 14, 2015 |
Monster Hunter X / Monster Hunter Generations
Monster Hunter X takes you to Bherna, a camp of scholars in the middle of a prairie. This game introduces Hunter Styles, three different fighting styles per weapon-types, and Hunter Arts, flashy signature moves. Mix and match your own moves as you face the game’s four flagship monsters, Astalos, Gammoth, Mizutsune, and Glavenus.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo 3DS | JAPAN: November 28, 2015 NORTH AMERICA: July 15, 2016 EUROPE: July 15, 2016 |
Monster Hunter XX / Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter XX expands on MH X with improved graphics, more Hunting Styles, more Hunter Arts, and two new Flagship monsters, Bloodbath Diablos and Valstrax. XX has also expanded the list of monsters and locations which were previously not compatible with the weaker Nintendo 3DS.
| Platform | Release date by region |
| Nintendo 3DS | JAPAN: August 25, 20017 WORLDWIDE: August 28, 2018 |
Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter World sends you on an expedition to conduct research on the New World. Monster Hunter World overhauls the usual game formula. Locations are now open without the need for loading screens, monsters can be lured to meet and fight against each other, and the surroundings are more interactive for both you and monsters alike. Flagship monster is the agent of destruction, Nergigante.
| Platform | Release date |
| Sony Playstation | January 26, 2018 |
| Xbox One | January 26, 2018 |
| Microsoft Windows | August 9, 2018 |
Iceborne DLC
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expands the base Monster Hunter World game. Iceborne re-introduces classic fan favourites such as Nargacuga and Tigrex with a new flagship, mysterious ice dragon, Velkhana.
| Platform | Release date |
| Sony Playstation | September 6, 2019 |
| Xbox One | September 6, 2019 |
| Microsoft Windows | January 2020 (to be announced) |
Spinoff titles by platform
Capcom releases spin-off titles to expand the franchise to other markets. These include puzzle games, children’s mini-games, and even complete rebranding of the franchise. Spin-off titles are listed below by game platform:
Sony PlayStaton Portable
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Felyne Village
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Felyne Village G
- Felyne Puzzle
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Felyne Village DX
PC – Microsoft Windows
- Monster Hunter Frontier
Xbox
- Monster Hunter Frontier
iOS/Android
- Monster Hunter Diary: Mobile Felyne Village
- Monster Hunter Dynamic Hunting
- Monster Hunter Stories