Capcom’s latest JRPG spin-off is by far the best in the Monster Hunter spin-off series, as you’re compelled to nurture monsters and not just hunt them.
It’s becoming repetitious to start a review of every new Capcom game, by noting what a good run of high quality titles they’ve had lately. The highly successful launch of Resident Evil Requiem has cemented this as a new golden era for the veteran publisher and developer, although if there was one title in their current line-up that wasn’t likely to be greeted with much anticipation in the West, it’s this.
We’re genuinely unsure how Monster Hunter Wilds is doing at the moment, as while it spent half of last year as the best-selling game of 2025 its reputation has subsequently sunk amongst fans. Whether that’s enough to ruin the franchise’s only recently earned reputation in the West is unclear but rather than being an easily ignored spin-off, like the last two games, Monster Hunter Stories 3 deserves more serious consideration.
The concept behind Monster Hunter Stories is very simple: turn the action-orientated mainline titles into a traditional Japanese role-playing game, with the same basic structure but more focus on storytelling. The first game was squarely aimed at kids, the second one less so, and this third one has a more serious tone than anything else in the franchise.
Although there’s plenty of humour in other aspects of the game, the core story revolves a brewing war between two nations, one of which is suffering from a stock Japanese role-playing calamity, where everything is being turned into crystals. You take on the role of a scion of the other kingdom – either its prince or princess – and set out to try and sort things out yourself.
As generic as that sounds the story does have some bite to it, with a surprising amount of social and political commentary. It’s not Metaphor: ReFantazio but it’s much more thought-provoking than you’d expect, even if the ecological themes are laid on a bit thick. The character work is less impressive, but the voice-acting is good and everyone has their own clear motivations and goals.
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The storytelling was easily the worst part of Monster Hunter Wilds, even though Capcom put more emphasis on it than usual, but this shows that Monster Hunter can be used to tell an interesting story. Even if this story in particular could easily be transposed to any other stock fantasy setting.
Despite the change in genre for the battles, the structure of Monster Hunter Stories 3 is still very similar to the regular games. There’re usually more complex reasons for why you’re going out to fight monsters, other than you want to turn their carapace into a new piece of armour, but at the end of the day that’s ultimately what you’re doing.
As in the regular games, taking down a large monster is a lengthy affair that takes part in several stages, as you target weak points with appropriate weapons and elemental attacks, learning their attacks, and managing your stamina. Rather than being a traditional turn-based system though the game uses a rock, paper, scissors system where you have to guess one of three attack types to fight a monster with.
In the previous game that led to a lot of random scraps, until you slowly began to learn each creature’s methods, but while that aspect has been reduced in this new game we still can’t help but wish it wasn’t a factor at all. Although in its favour it does help to ensure bigger battles are as fast-paced as possible, given how naturally long they are in the first place.
Apart from the mechanics of combat, the biggest difference between Monster Hunter Stories and its parent franchise is a Pokémon style element where you can collect eggs and train your own monsters, which it insists on referring to as Monsties.
You can take half a dozen into battle with you and they can all be customised to a surprising degree, as you fiddle with their genes to improve stats and change affinities. It works so well it’s a system we’d love to see adapted for actual Pokémon games, even if the process of changing genes is too long-winded.
Pokémon might also do well to consider the habitat restoration feature, where you let a monster go in the hope that it will create more powerful Monsties later on. It’s a great way to deal with doubles and means that rather than being upset you’ve got the same type again you’re actually pleased, because the more of the same that you release the more powerful the critters in that area become.
The same system also allows for a variation on the fusion process seen in many Japanese role-players, where you purposefully release non-native Monsties into an area, so that their genes will mix with the existing population.
Graphically, the game has some great animation but it’s a little too authentic to the mainline games when it comes to accessibility, with unhelpful tutorials and a lot of concepts that are never properly explained. There’s also a lot of level grinding near the end, even if you do all the side quests, which does not feel like a welcome use of your time.
Monster Hunter Stories has improved with each new entry, to the point where an inevitable fourth game has become something to be greatly anticipated. There are improvements to be made, and we’ve still not been fully invested in any of the actual stories, but if you’re looking for an imaginative and unusual new Japanese role-player this is worth hunting out.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review summary
In Short: An impressively full-bodied Japanese role-player that’s good enough to attract non-Monster Hunter fans, with the Pokémon style collection process making up for the flaws in the storytelling and combat.
Pros: Collecting eggs, customising Monsties, and fostering new breeds is highly compelling. Excellent graphics and animation, and the story is deeper than you’d imagine.
Cons: Despite the game’s name, the story isn’t very interesting or original. There’s still too much randomness in battles. Insufficient tutorials and too much level grinding.
Score: 7/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Price: £54.99
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 13th March 2026
Age Rating: 12
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