The latest addition to the Monster Hunter family is releasing in just a couple of days, with Monster Hunter Rise launching for Nintendo Switch on March 26th, 2021. Review scores are already in and it's looking really good for both long-time fans of the series and new players alike.

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While fans are excitedly waiting to get to grips with Monster Hunter: Rise, we thought we would look back at the franchise and the different games it has to offer. Regrettably, not all of the Monster Hunter games released in the west, but we still received some of the very best in the series. Which of these ten awesome Monster Hunter games have you played over the years?

10 Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter Rathalos chasing a hunter

The game that began it all — Monster Hunter. It was released for the PS2 in 2004 and allowed players to take on the role of a hunter who completes various quests while they track down a variety of monsters to kill or capture. Players could obtain items from slain monsters to create better armor, enabling them to take down even bigger and better prey.

This core gameplay has survived throughout the franchise, though most sequels expand on the basics to offer up a more in-depth experience for players. Monster Hunter offered single-player and multiplayer gameplay, however, monsters found solo/while offline were less valuable and much smaller than those tackled by online teams.

9 Monster Hunter Freedom

Monster Hunter Freedom obtaining item from monster's corpse

Monster Hunter Freedom was based on Monster Hunter G, the Japanese-only expanded version of the original Monster Hunter. Made specifically for handheld audiences, Freedom was not a direct port of Monster Hunter G but instead just based a lot of its content on the earlier game.

Additionally, new features were also introduced in Freedom, such as new monsters, new quest types, and more. This PSP version offered much smoother gameplay than its PS2 counterpart and received generally favorable reviews on release.

8 Monster Hunter Stories

Monster Hunter Stories character riding a Rathalos

Monster Hunter Stories was a spin-off title that released for the 3DS in 2016. This game takes a different approach to gameplay, where instead of players becoming a hunter, they take on the role of a rider instead. Additionally, instead of the normal action-style battle, Stories features RPG-like turn-based battles.

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Instead of battling monsters, players befriend them and have them fight alongside them in battle. Monsters could be bred from eggs and players could customize their appearance and abilities. Though very different from the normal Monster Hunters title, Stories was a refreshing take on the franchise, and the game sold well on release. The sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, is set to release for Nintendo Switch on July 9th, 2021.

7 Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Key Artwork

Monster Hunter 3 (also known as Monster Hunter Tri) originally released for the Wii in 2010. An enhanced version titled Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was later released for Wii U and 3DS in 2013. This title was very well received and is considered a critical and commercial success.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate included underwater combat, which seemed to be a feature that divided fans, as some liked it, whereas others did not. The game also added a host of improvements and new features in comparison to the original Monster Hunter 3.

6 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite battle gameplay

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite originally released for the PSP in 2008, and then later released for iOS in 2014. This game was an expanded version of the PSP title Monster Hunter Freedom 2, adding more monsters, missions, equipment, and a Felyne companion. A variety of improvements were also made to enhance gameplay.

The original version became one of the best-selling games for the PSP, but arguably the iOS version is even better as it feels like more than just a simple port. The iOS version also allows players to still experience this classic game despite the PSP now being all but forgotten.

5 Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Monster Hunter Generations Key Artwork

Monster Hunter Generations originally released for the 3DS in 2016, though an enhanced version titled Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate released for Nintendo Switch in 2018. This game is considered to be a spin-off title in the series, rather than a mainline title.

Generations included a number of changes from the normal format, most notably allowing fans to play as Felynes, who until this point had only ever accompanied hunters as companions. In addition to featuring some of the well-known monsters from the series, Generations also introduced four new monsters and Deviant monsters, which were mutated variations, all of which also added new series of armor for players to craft.

4 Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Key artwork

The original Monster Hunter 4 was a Japan-only release for the 3DS in 2013, however, the enhanced version that was later released did come to western shores, called Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Monster Hunter 4G in Japan). It released for 3DS in 2015 and was the first handheld Monster Hunter for the west to feature fully integrated online multiplayer functionality.

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On release, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was hailed as the best game in the series so far. It offered more fluid battle mechanics and a smoother exploration of the environment for players. The game featured a new "Guild Quest" system and also had more of a story-based focused than previous titles.

3 Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Monster Hunter World Iceborne battle key art

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is not a standalone game, but was an expansion for Monster Hunter World that offered players a brand new adventure in the Hoarfrost Region, with new monsters, features, and more. It released in 2019 for Xbox One and PS4, with the PC release following in 2020.

Iceborne went down well with Monster Hunter: World fans and critics alike, with the expansion offering almost as much content as the base game itself. Players especially enjoyed that Iceborne wasn't just more of the same, but added in new gadgets and battle mechanics to keep the gameplay feeling fresh.

2 Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise Magnamalo monster

Monster Hunter Rise is releasing for Nintendo Switch on March 26th, 2021, and hopes to build on the success of Monster Hunter: World. As such, it will retain many of the changes that World brought to the franchise, such as various improvements and features that keep it accessible for new players while still appealing to longtime fans.

Rise is also adding a host of new features, with the most prominent one being the addition of Palamutes — canine animals that players can ride around on. Additionally, players will be able to use the new wire bugs tool to travel vertically around the map.

1 Monster Hunter: World

Monster Hunter World Cover Art featuring a team fighting a Rathalos

Monster Hunter: World released for Xbox One and PS4 in early 2018, before later releasing for PC in the same year. The game was met with critical acclaim and was particularly praised for its balance between staying true to its roots while adapting gameplay to make it more accessible for new fans. Players could adventure solo or team up via online multiplayer to take down the hardiest marks.

One of the biggest changes that World brought to the franchise was the removal of "loading zones" that featured in previous games, which were an often frustrating experience where you had to wait to move from one part of the map to the other. Instead, World offers a fully connected environment with a variety of different biomes and areas to explore.

Next: Monster Hunter World: 15 Things To Do After You Beat The Game