A year after celebrating its 20th anniversary, Capcom's beloved monster-hunting series is set to thrill fans once again with the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in 2025. The franchise has evolved through various generations of consoles, culminating in the monumental success of Monster Hunter World in 2018 and Monster Hunter Rise in 2021. These titles not only became the best-selling games in the series but also rank as Capcom's top-selling games ever.

With Monster Hunter Wilds slated for release on February 28, we're taking a nostalgic journey through the history of the series, presenting a chronological list of the most significant Monster Hunter games.

How Many Monster Hunter Games Are There?

There are over 25 Monster Hunter games, encompassing base games, spinoffs, mobile entries, and enhanced versions. For the purpose of this list, we've narrowed it down to the 12 most impactful Monster Hunter games, excluding mobile and arcade exclusives (like Monster Hunter i and Monster Hunter Spirits), defunct MMOs (Monster Hunter Frontier and Monster Hunter Online), and the Japan-only, FromSoftware-developed, Animal Crossing-inspired game, Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village.

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Which Monster Hunter Game Should You Play First?

The Monster Hunter series doesn't have a continuous storyline, allowing you the freedom to start with any game. If you're new to the series in 2025, you might want to await feedback on the latest installment, Monster Hunter Wilds, launching on February 28. For those eager to dive in before then, Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise are recommended. World is ideal for those who enjoy deep exploration and immersion, while Rise caters to players who value speed and fluidity.

Out February 28

Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition

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Every Monster Hunter Game in Release Order

Monster Hunter (2004)

Monster Hunter, alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak, was part of Capcom's strategy to test the PS2's online capabilities, as shared by Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto in a 2014 interview with Eurogamer.

The inaugural Monster Hunter game established the series' core mechanics. Players, either solo or with friends online, embark on quests to hunt monsters, using materials from the environment and defeated monsters to craft and upgrade weapons and armor for tackling even tougher foes.

An expanded version, Monster Hunter G, was released exclusively in Japan the following year.

Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1Mar 11, 2004

Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)

Monster Hunter Freedom marked the series' transition to portable consoles in 2005. An enhanced port of Monster Hunter G, it was tailored for the PSP's single-player experience. This entry kickstarted a trend where portable versions outsold home console releases until Monster Hunter World in 2018.

Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1Dec 1, 2005

Monster Hunter 2 (2006)

Returning to home consoles, Monster Hunter 2 (aka Monster Hunter Dos) was exclusively released in Japan for the PS2. It introduced a day-night cycle and gem system, enhancing customization options for weapons and armor.

Monster Hunter 2Capcom Production Studio 1Feb 16, 2006

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007)

Monster Hunter Freedom 2, the second portable installment, built upon Monster Hunter 2 with new content and a focus on single-player. It was further expanded in Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in 2008, which introduced new monsters, missions, maps, and the ability to have a Felyne fighter accompany you in battle.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2Capcom Production Studio 1Feb 22, 2007

Monster Hunter 3 (2009)

Monster Hunter 3 (aka Monster Hunter Tri) debuted in Japan in 2009 and globally in 2010. Initially developed for the PS3, it was released as a Wii exclusive. It introduced underwater combat, new monsters, weapons, and locations.

Later, it was released for the Wii U and 3DS as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, featuring new monsters, an enhanced single-player experience, updated graphics, and a new multiplayer area.

Monster Hunter TriCapcom Production Studio 1Aug 1, 2009Rate this gameRelated GuidesOverviewBasicsQuestsMoga Village Quests

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010)

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd was a PSP port of Monster Hunter 3, also released on PS3 as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. Despite not being released in the West, it became the best-selling handheld-exclusive Monster Hunter game with 4.9 million copies sold.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rdCapcom Production Studio 1Dec 1, 2010