Riders, rejoice- Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin – the first two entries in the turn-based, story-rich Monster Hunter Tales collection, can be found November 14 on Xbox Series X|S!
In the event you’ve traditionally discovered mainline Monster Hunter video games a little intimidating (as I’ve) however have all the time been inquisitive about its vibrant, whimsical world, the Tales video games function a unbelievable entry level to the collection. In the event you’re a seasoned hunter, you’ll nonetheless discover a lot to like in these two expansive RPG adventures. As an alternative of a Hunter, you might be a Monster Rider, capable of befriend, bond and battle alongside monster companions known as Monsties.
The Tales video games forgo Monster Hunter’s conventional fast-paced, high-skill fight for a extra forgiving turn-based battle system, which rewards strategic pondering and cautious preparation. This method was well-received inside the Monster Hunter group, and its affect has helped form a third instalment, additionally heading to Xbox subsequent 12 months.
Outdoors of fight, a huge world awaits, brimming with monsters to battle, secrets and techniques to uncover, and – most significantly – monster eggs that you simply’ll have the ability to hatch and lift your self. It’s a actually fantastic spin on the Monster Hunter setting that exhibits off all of your favourite monsters in a delightfully completely different method, whereas retaining the appeal, intrigue and motion of mainline entries like Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Wilds.
To be taught extra about how the Monster Hunter Tales got here to be, and the way its historical past is influencing its future, I had the alternative to talk with members of the Capcom growth staff about the collection. We additionally thought it’d be a nice catch-up for followers forward of the launch of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, coming to Xbox Series X|S on March 13, 2026.
A Monster Hunter for Everybody
As the authentic Monster Hunter Tales approaches its tenth anniversary, the staff displays on how the two video games (quickly to grow to be three) have helped form different entries, and the franchise as a entire. One of the best discoveries was how approachable Tales made the world of Monster Hunter, typically thought-about powerful to get began with, and even more durable to grasp.
“The Monster Hunter Tales collection is accessible even for many who aren’t good at motion video games, and since of this, it may be loved by a wide selection of ages, so some gamers begin with the Tales collection as an introduction earlier than shifting on to the action-focused Monster Hunter collection,” Govt Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto tells us.
The Monster Hunter collection is famend for its high-skill, real-time fight, and it’s a system that many generations of hunters have come to think about the very coronary heart of the video games. The choice to offer Tales a turn-based system felt like a large change, however one which was essential to enchantment to a completely different set of gamers, and one that offers Monster Hunter lovers another option to have interaction with the world they love.
“[Monster Hunter] Tales is a collection we purpose to domesticate as a new pillar, distinct from the action-focused Monster Hunter video games,” says Kenji Oguro, Director of the Monster Hunter Tales collection. “We wish gamers who aren’t comfy with motion video games or who take pleasure in RPGs to play it.
“Some Monster Hunter gamers take pleasure in the world and monsters, even when they aren’t nice at motion gameplay. When beginning the first [Stories] sport, I used to be amazed at how well-known and memorable the monster names had been amongst followers. In increasing the Monster Hunter model, we decided RPGs had been the optimum format to construct on the world, story, and monsters.
“The mainline collection will proceed to refine its action-focused gameplay, however Tales is positioned to emphasise the enjoyment of storytelling and assortment, so we adopted the turn-based command battle system acquainted to JRPGs.”
Whereas growing that first Monster Hunter Tales title, launched in 2016, the staff understood the reputation and enchantment of motion RPGs at the time, but it surely remained essential that even the most alluring genres may seize what Oguro calls “the essence of Monster Hunter”.
“We aimed to precise the core motion component of ‘studying monster actions and positioning your self’ by a rock-paper-scissors dynamic,” Oguro provides. “By giving every monster distinct quirks, gamers can learn and memorize them to realize a bonus in battle. This flavorful method expresses the Monster Hunter essence.”
However the bigger problem remained – how do you make this turn-based fight fashion compelling to gamers which might be used to the collection’ trademark high-action fight?
“The battle system facilities on a dynamic based mostly on energy, velocity, and approach, leveraging monster traits,” Oguro explains. “We consider Monster Hunter motion sport gamers additionally acknowledge the function the place victory comes from studying a monster’s quirks. In [Monster Hunter Stories 3], we established a battle imaginative and prescient centered on the enjoyable of strategizing your method, and the ensuing ‘chain’ of satisfying moments when efficiently executing your plan.”
A concrete instance of this: executing a plan to interrupt a Monster’s physique half and purpose for a knockdown makes it simpler to set off Monster Hunter Tales 3’s new Synchro Rush system—a simultaneous assault—after securing the knockdown. This will result in a Experience On, adopted by a Kinship Assault to ship the ending blow, culminating in highly effective, dramatic strikes throughout the battle’s climax.
“Thus, on this installment, the enjoyable lies in pondering, ‘I understand how to win. Now, how do I win successfully?’ and the place the exhilaration and sense of accomplishment when all of it comes collectively are amplified.” Oguro provides.
What To Anticipate in Monster Hunter Tales 3
Whereas Monster Hunter Tales 3 is constructing upon the design decisions made in the earlier entries, it’s a little completely different in a few areas too. One of the most noticeable evolutions is in its artwork fashion – nonetheless animated, however with a extra mature edge. It was a acutely aware evolution for the staff. At the begin of growth, Tsujimoto-san’s preliminary idea was to make Monster Hunter Tales 3 extra like an RPG, whereas the earlier two titles had been merely incorporating Monster Hunter components into an RPG framework.
“This title goals to face by itself as an RPG,” Oguro provides. “We envisioned the RPG we wished to create and expressed it inside the Monster Hunter world. The graphics and story really feel extra mature, together with the battle system enhanced with larger strategic depth, and each had been born from this tenet.”
One of my private favourite issues about Monster Hunter Tales is the quirky, typically dry sense of humor in the dialogue. With a extra critical edge, I used to be curious to search out out if Monster Hunter Tales 3 will proceed its streak of weirdness, and delighted to find that whereas the dialogue has matured alongside the sport’s narrative and visuals, it’ll retain a refined humor (as all Monster Hunter video games do).
“In comparison with the earlier two titles, the total tone has undoubtedly grow to be extra critical,” Oguro says. “Nonetheless, if it had been critical all through, it will really feel heavy and exhausting, so having little breaks and getting that stability excellent is extremely necessary.
“In earlier entries, Navirou, your Palico companion, dealt with that comedic dialogue. Beginning this installment, contemplating the protagonist now speaks, Royal Felyne Rudy is a new character that serves as the protagonist’s Palico companion, shifting the tone from outright gags to refined humor. Moreover, every Ranger companion has a distinct persona, so it’s best to discover the conversations with them entertaining too.”
In the event you’re less than velocity on the narrative of Monster Hunter Tales 1+2, otherwise you’re too excited to leap into Monster Hunter Tales 3 when it launches, you then’re in luck. You don’t want any prior data of the first two video games so as to take pleasure in the subsequent installment.
Monster Hunter Tales 3 takes place roughly 200 years after the earlier sport’s timeline, that includes a utterly new story and solid of characters, so you can begin taking part in straight away (however we do deeply suggest that you simply do choose the first two video games up, as they’re completely fantastic, and there shall be small nods to these video games in Tales 3).
Xbox gamers can seize the first two Monster Hunter Tales video games in the collection at a bundled low cost with the Monster Hunter Stories Collection, or buy every sport individually. These adventures function the good heat up forward of the launch of the latest entry in the collection, Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection, coming to Xbox Series X|S on March 13, 2026 – accessible now for preorder.
Monster Hunter Tales Assortment
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Restricted Bonus
Monster Hunter Tales
– Buy early to get Navirou’s “King” and “Queen” Outfits.
Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Break
– Buy early to get Ena’s “Kamura Maiden Outfit.”
*Bonus content material is obtainable to clients who pre-order the sport by 23:59 on 11.13.2025.
*This content material could also be made accessible individually at a later date.
*Outfits for Ena and Navirou are purely beauty and solely change the characters’ look.
Each Monster Hunter Tales video games included in a single assortment!
Monster Hunter Tales is an RPG collection that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and thrilling methods! Not are you searching monsters, however elevating them! That includes heroes often known as Monster Riders, you’ll dwell alongside monsters and kind lifelong bonds with them.
Contents:
– Monster Hunter Tales
– Monster Hunter Tales 2: Wings of Break (Commonplace Version)
Sport Introduction:
The primary sport tells the story of a Rider who confronts a calamity often known as the Black Blight that has overtaken the world, all whereas studying to dwell along with Hunters. The second sport is about 4 years later, when a new hero unravels the epic story surrounding a legendary Rathalos, one foretold to convey damage to the world.
Sport Options:
■ A turn-based RPG set in the world of Monster Hunter! Monster Hunter Tales options a strategic battle system which is simple to get the cling of, even for many who wrestle with motion video games. Use Energy, Velocity, and Technical assaults to guess and overcome your opponent’s assault patterns to inflict heavy harm and win head-to-head battles! Construct up your Kinship Gauge to make use of expertise or attempt your Monsties’ distinctive Kinship Abilities!
■ Flip well-liked monsters from the collection into your Monsties! Discover the discipline utilizing Monstie skills, hatch eggs that you simply discover alongside the method, and switch varied monsters into Monsties! This sport options many well-liked monsters from the Monster Hunter collection, together with Zinogre, Nargacuga, and Lagiacrus. Additionally featured is the Ceremony of Channeling, a ritual that awakens dormant skills in your Monsties, permitting you to lift authentic Monsties and tackle highly effective enemies!
■ On-line options that can help you create a highly effective celebration with the Monsties you will have raised and luxuriate in battles with different gamers!
*The objects on this set will be bought individually. Please watch out to not buy the identical merchandise twice.
Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
The third entry in the Monster Hunter Tales RPG collection is right here!
Twin Rathalos, born in a twist of destiny.
Monster Hunter Tales is an RPG collection set in the Monster Hunter world, the place you may grow to be a Rider, elevating and bonding along with your favourite monsters.
The Story
Azuria and Vermeil: two international locations, on a path to destruction.
When all hope appears misplaced, an egg is discovered. Inside is a Rathalos, a species regarded as extinct.
However this quavering mild of hope is shortly extinguished, giving option to the darkness of despair.
Born from the egg isn’t a single Rathalos, however twins, bearing the Skyscale marking that hearkens again to the disastrous civil warfare of 200 years prior.
The pure world teeters on the verge of destruction, with numerous monster species going through extinction. In the shadow of these darkish instances, the flames of warfare rekindle.
Two international locations, and two Rathalos.
A Rider and their trusted Rathalos, buffeted by the winds of destiny, set out on a journey for the reality.
*There are different bundles that embrace this product. Please watch out of duplicate purchases.
Settlement to the Finish Person License Settlement is required to play this title. (https://handbook.capcom.com/eula/sport/)
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MONSTER HUNTER STORIES is a trademark and/or registered trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. and/or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or different international locations.