Monster Hunter Wilds is without doubt one of the most anticipated video games of 2025, and with good purpose. The earlier two video games within the sequence, 2018’s Monster Hunter World and 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise, have been acclaimed by critics and audiences, and each broke gross sales data, with World nonetheless ranked as Capcom’s second-best-selling sport of all time at over 26 million copies offered.
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 all the time 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 value on Nintendo Switch and 3DS proper now–and the very best place to start out is with Monster Hunter Generations Final. You’ll be able to seize the Switch model for simply $10 by way of the eShop (usually $40), and those that 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 recurrently. You’ll be able to 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 When you solely need one outdated Monster Hunter sport, Generations Final is the best choose.
Monster Hunter Generations Final for Nintendo Switch
Monster Hunter Generations Final is seen because the final entry within the sequence to characteristic the “outdated Monster Hunter” gameplay–and all of the jank and appeal that got here with it.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 Switch as Generations Final. The sport’s 3DS origins and hardcore traditional Monster Hunter design shall be evident to gamers who began with World or Rise. Nonetheless, Generations Final presents a way more approachable tackle the formulation in comparison with earlier entries, that includes small quality-of-life tweaks and quicker, extra diversified fight.
Regardless of its authentic incarnation being almost a decade outdated, Generations Final nonetheless reigns because the Monster Hunter sport with probably the most stuff to do (and most monsters to hunt). Severely, it’s 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 number of new ones.
World and Rise turned Monster Hunter right into a multi-platform franchise, however Generations Final stays a Switch unique. If you wish to play it however do not have a Switch, it can save you on the Nintendo Switch OLED in addition to the handheld-only Switch Lite at Amazon.
And now, let’s soar again one other era to hunt monsters rendered in stereoscopic 3D.
Monster Hunter Games for Nintendo 3DS
Monster Hunter video games used to launch in two versions–a base sport, adopted a 12 months or so later by an expanded “Final” model that included new monsters, armor, searching ranks, and extra. Sort of like old-school Pokemon. Capcom sometimes skipped the bottom sport in North America, opting to solely launch the upgraded model in English. Whereas Generations Final is the higher of the 2, Generations remains to be reasonably priced for $45.59 new at Amazon, and value choosing up if you do not have a Switch and need to mud off your trusty 3DS or 2DS.
Fast notice about taking part in Monster Hunter on 3DS: With the Switch eShop closed, bodily editions may proceed to climb in value 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 affordable value nowadays, except you occur to have a Japanese Nintendo 3DS LL (the XL’s identify in Japan).
Generations wasn’t the one conventional Monster Hunter sport to launch on 3DS. Throughout its lifecycle, the 3DS was the only house 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 total content material than Technology Final, they provide an much more genuine “traditional Monster Hunter” expertise. Each are extremely regarded by long-time followers, significantly 4 Final, which landed a excessive slot on GameSpot’s Monster Hunter sequence rankings record.
If you wish to play these video games however do not have 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 value a bit extra on Amazon in comparison with eBay or Fb Market, you get the additional advantage 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 many who are completely new to the sequence, Monster Hunter World and Rise–and their large expansions–are nonetheless the very best locations for brand spanking new gamers to start out with the sequence earlier than Wilds comes out. Bodily copies for all these video games can be found at Amazon. It’s also possible to choose up copies of the turn-based RPG spinoff, Monster Hunter Tales and Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Break 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 accessible at Amazon and GameStop. A number of discounted Monster Hunter artwork books and new determine preorders are additionally accessible at Amazon.
And let’s not overlook that the subsequent sport, Monster Hunter Wilds, launches February 28 on PS5, Xbox Sequence X|S, and PC. Based mostly on the newest previews, it looks like it might be the proper jumping-on level for newcomers–so fret not if the older titles are too intimidating. Preorders can be found now, and you will get your copy of the sport with a limited-edition steelbook case for under 5 bucks extra.