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Monster Hunter Wilds is likely one of the most anticipated video games of 2025, and with good motive. The earlier two video games within the sequence, 2018’s Monster Hunter World and 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise, had been acclaimed by critics and audiences, and each broke gross sales information, with World nonetheless ranked as Capcom’s second-best-selling recreation of all time at over 26 million copies bought.
Nonetheless, Monster Hunter has been round for a very long time, and there have been many video games earlier than World and Rise ushered in a brand new period for the franchise. Whereas the franchise was already mega-popular in Japan pre-World, Monster Hunter had extra of a cult following in North America. However the video games have at all times been good.
Followers curious to check out a few of these older titles can seize a number of traditional Monster Hunter cartridges for round retail worth on Nintendo Change and 3DS proper now—and the perfect place to begin is with Monster Hunter Generations Final. You may seize the Change model for simply $10 by way of the eShop (usually $40), and people who choose shopping for bodily media can snag a copy for $43.54 at Amazon. Generations Final is out of print now, so bodily version costs fluctuate commonly. You may consider Generations Final as a biggest hits album, because it compiles a staggering variety of monsters and locales from the franchise’s historical past till World. When you solely need one previous Monster Hunter recreation, Generations Final is the perfect decide.
Monster Hunter Generations Final for Nintendo Change
Monster Hunter Generations Final is seen because the final entry within the sequence to function the «previous Monster Hunter» gameplay—and all of the jank and allure that got here with it. Initially launched on 3DS as Monster Hunter X in Japan in 2015, the 2016 localization included the Generations rebranding. Capcom considerably expanded the journey for the sport’s 2018 launch on Change as Generations Final. The sport’s 3DS origins and hardcore traditional Monster Hunter design will likely be evident to gamers who began with World or Rise. Nonetheless, Generations Final affords a way more approachable tackle the method in comparison with earlier entries, that includes small quality-of-life tweaks and quicker, extra different fight.
Regardless of its unique incarnation being practically a decade previous, Generations Final nonetheless reigns because the Monster Hunter recreation with essentially the most stuff to do (and most monsters to hunt). Severely, it is packed with content material. It has lots of of quests and nearly each monster, map, and city hub from all earlier video games. There are over 90 giant monsters to hunt, together with a couple of new ones.
World and Rise turned Monster Hunter right into a multi-platform franchise, however Generations Final stays a Change unique. If you wish to play it however haven’t got a Change, it can save you on the Nintendo Change OLED in addition to the handheld-only Change Lite at Amazon.
- Mario Red Nintendo Switch OLED — $295 (
$350) - Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch OLED — $360
- Nintendo Switch Lite (Gray) — $170 (
$200) - Nintendo Switch Lite (Yellow) — $170 (
$200)
And now, let’s leap again one other era to hunt monsters rendered in stereoscopic 3D.
Monster Hunter Video games for Nintendo 3DS
- Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (new) — $57.64 | Renewed $38.52
- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (renewed) — $42.20
- Monster Hunter Generations (new) — $45.59 | Renewed $33.15
Monster Hunter video games used to launch in two versions—a base recreation, adopted a yr or so later by an expanded «Final» model that included new monsters, armor, searching ranks, and extra. Form of like old-school Pokemon. Capcom usually skipped the bottom recreation in North America, opting to solely launch the upgraded model in English. Whereas Generations Final is the higher of the 2, Generations continues to be reasonably priced for $45.59 new at Amazon, and value selecting up if you do not have a Change and need to mud off your trusty 3DS or 2DS.
Fast be aware about enjoying Monster Hunter on 3DS: With the Change eShop closed, bodily editions might proceed to climb in worth as we inch nearer to the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. Additionally, Monster Hunter performs finest on the New Nintendo 3DS XL or 2DS XL as a result of addition of the C-stick, the quirky little second «analog stick» that appears like a pencil eraser. If you do not have a New mannequin, there may be an adjunct that provides a second Circle Pad to your 3DS or 3DS XL. Sadly, the Circle Pad Pro is tough to seek out for an inexpensive worth today, except you occur to have a Japanese Nintendo 3DS LL (the XL’s title in Japan).
Generations wasn’t the one conventional Monster Hunter recreation to launch on 3DS. Throughout its lifecycle, the 3DS was the only dwelling of the franchise. Monster Hunter 3 Final launched in North America in 2013, and it was adopted by Monster Hunter 4 Final in 2015.
Whereas these video games have much less general content material than Technology Final, they provide an much more genuine «traditional Monster Hunter» expertise. Each are extremely regarded by long-time followers, notably 4 Final, which landed a excessive slot on GameSpot’s Monster Hunter series rankings list.
If you wish to play these video games however haven’t got a 3DS, it is value noting there are plenty of 3DS and 3DS XL handhelds available at Amazon via its Renewed program. Although online game consoles and handhelds are inclined to price a bit extra on Amazon in comparison with eBay or Fb Market, you get the additional benefit of Amazon’s 90-day assure. If the product would not stay as much as expectations, you may return it for a full refund.
For individuals who are fully new to the sequence, Monster Hunter World and Rise—and their big expansions—are nonetheless the perfect locations for brand new gamers to begin with the sequence earlier than Wilds comes out. Bodily copies for all these video games can be found at Amazon. You may as well decide up copies of the turn-based RPG spinoff, Monster Hunter Tales and Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Destroy in a discounted collection on Switch. It is also value mentioning that the official Monster Hunter Amiibo figures that Nintendo launched for Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Tales 2 are nonetheless out there at Amazon and GameStop. A number of discounted Monster Hunter art books and new figure preorders are additionally out there at Amazon.
- Monster Hunter World Iceborne — Master Edition (PS4) — $27
- Monster Hunter World (PS4) — $25 (
$30) - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (Change) — $72
- Monster Hunter Rise (Change) — $30
- Monster Hunter Stories Collection — $49 (
$60) - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin — $45 (
$60)
And let’s not neglect that the following recreation, Monster Hunter Wilds, launches February 28 on PS5, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC. Based mostly on the most recent previews, it looks like it could be the perfect jumping-on point for newcomers—so fret not if the older titles are too intimidating. Preorders are available now, and you will get your copy of the sport with a limited-edition steelbook case for under 5 bucks extra.
When you recreation on PC, you may save 18% on your Monster Hunter Wilds preorder at Fanatical. The digital storefront is promoting Steam keys for Monster Hunter Wilds’ customary, Deluxe, and Premium Deluxe editions at this low cost. The deal drops the worth of the usual version to solely $57.39.
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