Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, roars back in 2025 with Monster Hunter Wilds. This prolific series, spanning multiple console generations, achieved new heights with Monster Hunter World (2018) and Monster Hunter Rise (2021), becoming Capcom's top-selling titles.
Monster Hunter Wilds, launching February 28th, prompts a retrospective on the franchise's key installments.
The Monster Hunter Universe: A Look at the Games
While over 25 Monster Hunter games exist (including spin-offs and mobile titles), this list focuses on the 12 most significant, excluding mobile, arcade, and defunct MMO entries. Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village is also omitted.
IGN's Monster Hunter Reviews
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Starting Your Monster Hunter Journey
The Monster Hunter series lacks a continuous narrative, offering flexibility in entry points. Newcomers in 2025 might prefer awaiting Monster Hunter Wilds reviews. Alternatively, Monster Hunter World (prioritizing exploration) or Monster Hunter Rise (emphasizing speed and fluidity) are excellent starting points.
Out February 28### Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition
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Chronological Overview of Monster Hunter Games
Monster Hunter (2004)
Initially conceived as part of a three-game PS2 online initiative, the original Monster Hunter established core gameplay: players undertake quests, harvest materials, craft equipment, and battle progressively stronger monsters, solo or cooperatively. Monster Hunter G, an expanded Japanese-only version, followed.
Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1
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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)
The PSP's Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced Monster Hunter G port, marked the series' portable debut, selling over a million copies and establishing a trend of handheld versions outselling console counterparts (until Monster Hunter World).
Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1
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(Subsequent entries will follow a similar format, condensing information for brevity while maintaining key details and image placement.)
Monster Hunter 2 (2006) 
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007) & Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (2008) 
Monster Hunter 3 (2009) & Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (2013) 
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010) 
Monster Hunter 4 (2013) & Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (2015) 
Monster Hunter Generations (2015) & Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (2017) 
Monster Hunter Stories (2016) 
Monster Hunter World (2018) & Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (2019) 
Monster Hunter Rise (2021) & Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (2022) 
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (2021) 
Monster Hunter Wilds (2025) 
Future of Monster Hunting
Beyond Monster Hunter Wilds (releasing February 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Capcom and TiMi Studio Group are developing Monster Hunter Outlanders, a free-to-play mobile game featuring multiplayer and a vast open world. A release date remains unannounced. Further details on Wilds can be found via IGN First coverage.
