Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection continues the series’ transition to a more methodical RPG

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Capcom is clearly aiming to do something new and exciting with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. While the initial trailer gave us a glimpse, actually playing the game is a completely different experience. Even though we only got to play for about an hour at Tokyo Game Show 2025, what Capcom showed off suggests this RPG is a significant departure from previous titles in the series.

Even though the game series is called “Monster Hunter Stories,” the previous games didn’t have particularly complex storylines. Players play as a Monster Rider who bonds with a Rathalos named Ratha and embarks on an adventure. The focus was more on the Rathalos and its connection to the story than on the main character themselves, who didn’t really have a personality. Both earlier games featured a silent protagonist, so a companion named Navirou filled the role of narrator, commenting on events the main character didn’t react to. This often created a lighthearted tone, making it hard to feel invested in more serious moments due to the emotional contrast.

Okay, I’m really excited about this new installment! It feels like the developers are going for something much deeper and more story-driven this time. One of the biggest changes is that the main character actually *talks* and has a real personality, which is awesome. That means we won’t be seeing Navirou and his usual silliness, but instead, there’s a new Felyne companion named Rudy – he’s much more serious and traditional in design. The game sets things up with a really interesting premise too: the riders aren’t just hunters, they’re basically wildlife protectors! There’s been a huge monster extinction event, and it’s tied to these strange, cocoon-like crystals that are popping up everywhere and harming the environment. It’s a cool shift in focus, and I’m really intrigued to see where it goes!

The atmosphere in Monster Hunter Stories 3 is really unique. The game takes place in a world where two countries are increasingly at odds, and a long-lasting environmental disaster is making things even worse – it’s possible these two problems are even linked. I never thought a Monster Hunter spin-off would explore such a complex setting, and it definitely makes me excited to see where the story goes.

The game aims for a compelling story and has made significant changes to the battle system to match. Like its predecessor, Monster Hunter Stories 2, players can now equip three weapons in Twisted Reflection. Weapon skills now use a separate Stamina Meter instead of the energy used for riding your Monstie. This design choice should highlight each weapon’s unique style and encourage players to use them effectively. With two separate resources to manage, the game may eventually challenge players to balance both energy and stamina strategically.

The early boss fight in Feral Chatacabra challenges players to prioritize targets carefully. The feral monsters are strengthened by stones, but directly attacking those stones will be blocked. The stones are only vulnerable when the Chatacabra covers its arms in them, but failing to quickly damage its back leaves you facing a much more powerful enemy. This demo highlights the importance of strategic thinking – figuring out the best way to approach a difficult fight, and using the right attack type to target specific body parts and effectively stun enemies.

The demo showed a significant increase in both the size of the world and the depth of the combat. Even the single hub area was much larger than in previous games, filled with points of interest-though some areas were blocked off, likely to limit exploration within the demo. We could see Gypceros flying overhead, and the game helpfully explained that they could be taken down with a well-aimed breath attack. Overall, the demo was a strong success in terms of scope and gameplay improvements, but some aspects still need further evaluation.

Let’s talk about the game’s improvements. What’s new with the Monstie system, and how have the genes been updated? The game is clearly aiming for a more mature feel, but how significant are those changes? We also tested the game on both the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. It runs beautifully on the PS5, and even though the Switch 2 version has a few minor issues right now, it’s already looking great with several months before release. Finally, how well will the game run on PC and Xbox?

I’m not sure we’ll have all the details before the game comes out, but I expect I’ll get to play Monster Hunter Stories 3 again before its March 13, 2026 release. Capcom has a lot planned for 2026, and this game looks like it will be a major highlight. I’m really looking forward to playing it again soon.

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2025-09-28 10:26