Games That Are Just Like Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

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Capcom was once known for creating many role-playing games, but over time, they shifted focus towards fast-paced action titles. Monster Hunter Stories offered a chance to revisit their RPG origins with a familiar and well-established franchise.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 was a hit, building on what fans love about the series – especially its unique focus on monsters and engaging turn-based battles. If you’ve enjoyed previous Monster Hunter Stories games, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well.

Monster Hunter Stories 1 And 2

Let’s address the simplest point right away: you can start playing the Stories games with any title in the series. It’s perfectly fine if the third game was actually your first experience with them.

For a long time, the first game was only playable on the 3DS, and its sequel was the first in the series to be released on all gaming platforms. Luckily, you can now find all the games if you’re looking to enjoy more of what the series has to offer.

Any Pokemon

Let’s address the second most apparent point. While Pokémon wasn’t the first game where you collect creatures, it’s become so incredibly popular that any similar game will inevitably be judged against it.

Monster Hunter started with a strong foundation thanks to its popular monsters, but its impact is clear. Similar to the many successful Monster Hunter games, there are numerous Pokémon games that also deliver that satisfying monster-collecting experience.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

This one might seem a little different, but even Capcom acknowledges the similarities. Like the Horizon series, these games focus on using tools and bows to defeat huge, impressive monsters – and those monsters are really what make the games special.

Monster Hunter World has collaborated with the Horizon series before, and Horizon itself is increasingly focused on hunting robotic creatures. It seems natural to explore whether these machines are as captivating as the monsters in Monster Hunter Stories.

Mainline Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter Stories isn’t a completely original game; it builds upon the established Monster Hunter franchise. Unlike the main Monster Hunter games, which emphasize action, timing, and monster reactions, Stories takes a different approach.

Stories offered a more relaxed way to encounter these classic monsters, but the main Monster Hunter games can be much more challenging. Battling an Espinas in the main games feels different compared to the experience in Stories 3.

Rune Factory 4

At first glance, Rune Factory 4 and Monster Hunter Stories don’t appear to have much in common. However, both games share a cheerful art style, and in Rune Factory 4, you play as a royal prince or princess.

The game also allows you to tame monsters and use them in battles. It doesn’t go as deep as the game Stories, but it offers enough similar features to be appealing if you’re looking for something a bit different.

Fire Emblem

Many players discovered the Fire Emblem series with Three Houses, but for this discussion, we’re focusing on the older titles. These games frequently feature a ‘weapon triangle’ – where certain weapon types are strong against others – along with a few weapons that aren’t part of this system and don’t have any special advantages.

This feels a lot like the battle systems in Stories 3, especially how attacks work and the Head-to-Heads. Fire Emblem will require more careful planning, but having that previous experience will definitely give you a good head start.

Dragon’s Dogma

Dragon’s Dogma has a unique feel, similar to Monster Hunter but drawing more inspiration from traditional myths and legends than purely made-up creatures. While it’s definitely a fantasy game, it feels like it’s pulled straight from the pages of old storybooks and beautifully illustrated manuscripts.

While it shares some surface-level similarities with Stories 3, this game is fundamentally different – it’s a fast-paced action RPG. It features companions, called Pawns, who act somewhat like the Monsties from other games, and the monsters themselves are a major draw. You’ll also definitely recognize the weapon designs from the core Monster Hunter series.

Final Fantasy 13-2

When people try to recommend a Final Fantasy game like Monster Hunter Stories, they often suggest World of Final Fantasy. However, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, and it overlooks the time when Square Enix made a lot of games focused on collecting monsters.

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Final Fantasy 13-2 builds on the combat system of the first game, with a new feature: you can capture monsters and add them to your party as playable characters. While a bit awkward, it’s a surprisingly engaging system, especially since you can capture almost every monster you encounter!

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

People often compare Digimon and Pokémon, but the games actually have quite a few differences. Digimon’s Cyber Sleuth, for instance, sometimes feels more similar to the Monster Hunter Stories series than to Pokémon games.

Okay, so if you’re looking for something like Digimon Stories 3, I’d say Cyber Sleuth is your best bet. You get to build up a team of Digimon, raise them up, and honestly, collect a ton of them throughout the game. It’s a really similar vibe!

Dragon Quest Monsters

Monster Hunter Stories isn’t unique in adapting a popular series into a monster-collecting game. Dragon Quest has already done this with its ‘Monsters’ series – and the name says it all!

Okay, so I recently discovered that Dragon Quest Monsters is actually the OG monster-catching series – it started way before Monster Hunter! And the cool thing is, they still make new Dragon Quest Monsters games. Basically, you can go around capturing all sorts of monsters, build a team, and even ride them into battle. If you’re into that monster-collecting and battling vibe, there are a ton of Dragon Quest Monsters games out there to keep you busy.

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2026-03-18 23:36