Category: GamesNovember 14, 2025Monster Hunter Stories: How the Turn-Based RPG Spin-Off Became a Pillar of the Iconic Action SeriesDanielle Partis, Xbox Wire EditorRiders, rejoice- Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin – the first two entries in the turn-based, story-rich Monster Hunter Stories series, are available November 14 on Xbox Series X|S!If you’ve historically found mainline Monster Hunter games a little intimidating (as I have) but have always been curious about its vibrant, whimsical world, the Stories games serve as a fantastic entry point to the series. If you’re a seasoned hunter, you’ll still find plenty to love in these two expansive RPG adventures. Instead of a Hunter, you are a Monster Rider, able to befriend, bond and fight alongside monster companions called Monsties.The Stories games forgo Monster Hunter’s traditional fast-paced, high-skill combat for a more forgiving turn-based battle system, which rewards strategic thinking and careful preparation. This approach was well-received within the Monster Hunter community, and its impact has helped shape a third instalment, also heading to Xbox next year.Outside of combat, a vast world awaits, brimming with monsters to battle, secrets to uncover, and – most importantly – monster eggs that you’ll be able to hatch and raise yourself. It’s a truly wonderful spin on the Monster Hunter setting that shows off all of your favorite monsters in a delightfully different way, while retaining the charm, intrigue and action of mainline entries like Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Wilds.To learn more about how the Monster Hunter Stories came to be, and how its history is influencing its future, I had the opportunity to speak with members of the Capcom development team about the series. We also thought it’d be a great catch-up for fans ahead of the launch of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, coming to Xbox Series X|S on March 13, 2026.A Monster Hunter for EveryoneAs the original Monster Hunter Stories approaches its tenth anniversary, the team reflects on how the two games (soon to become three) have helped shape other entries, and the franchise as a whole. One of the greatest discoveries was how approachable Stories made the world of Monster Hunter, often considered tough to get started with, and even tougher to master.“The Monster Hunter Stories series is accessible even for those who aren’t good at action games, and because of this, it can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages, so some players start with the Stories series as an introduction before moving on to the action-focused Monster Hunter series,” Executive Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto tells us.The Monster Hunter series is renowned for its high-skill, real-time combat, and it’s a system that many generations of hunters have come to consider the very heart of the games. The decision to give Stories a turn-based system felt like a big change, but one that was necessary to appeal to a different set of players, and one that gives Monster Hunter enthusiasts an alternative way to engage with the world they love.“[Monster Hunter] Stories is a series we aim to cultivate as a new pillar, distinct from the action-focused Monster Hunter games,” says Kenji Oguro, Director of the Monster Hunter Stories series. “We want players who aren’t comfortable with action games or who enjoy RPGs to play it.“Some Monster Hunter players enjoy the world and monsters, even if they aren’t great at action gameplay. When starting the first [Stories] game, I was amazed at how well-known and memorable the monster names were among fans. In expanding the Monster Hunter brand, we determined RPGs were the optimal format to build on the world, story, and monsters.“The mainline series will continue to refine its action-focused gameplay, but Stories is positioned to emphasize the enjoyment of storytelling and collection, so we adopted the turn-based command battle system familiar to JRPGs.”While developing that first Monster Hunter Stories title, released in 2016, the team understood the popularity and appeal of action RPGs at the time, but it remained crucial that even the most alluring genres could capture what Oguro calls “the essence of Monster Hunter”.“We aimed to express the core action element of ‘reading monster movements and positioning yourself’ through a rock-paper-scissors dynamic,” Oguro adds. “By giving each monster distinct quirks, players can read and memorize them to gain an advantage in battle. This flavorful approach expresses the Monster Hunter essence.”But the larger challenge remained – how do you make this turn-based combat style compelling to players that are used to the series’ trademark high-action combat?“The battle system centers on a dynamic based on power, speed, and technique, leveraging monster characteristics,” Oguro explains. “We believe Monster Hunter action game players also recognize the feature where victory comes from reading a monster’s quirks. In [Monster Hunter Stories 3], we established a battle vision centered on the fun of strategizing your approach, and the resulting ‘chain’ of satisfying moments when successfully executing your plan.”A concrete example of this: executing a plan to break a Monster’s body part and aim for a knockdown makes it easier to trigger Monster Hunter Stories 3’s new Synchro Rush system—a simultaneous attack—after securing the knockdown. This can lead to a Ride On, followed by a Kinship Attack to deliver the finishing blow, culminating in powerful, dramatic moves during the battle’s climax.“Thus, in this installment, the fun lies in thinking, ‘I know how to win. Now, how do I win effectively?’ and where the exhilaration and sense of accomplishment when it all comes together are amplified.” Oguro adds.What To Expect in Monster Hunter Stories 3While Monster Hunter Stories 3 is building upon the design choices made in the previous entries, it’s a little different in a few areas too. One of the most noticeable evolutions is in its art style – still animated, but with a more mature edge. It was a conscious evolution for the team. At the start of development, Tsujimoto-san’s initial concept was to make Monster Hunter Stories 3 more like an RPG, while the previous two titles were simply incorporating Monster Hunter elements into an RPG framework.“This title aims to stand on its own as an RPG,” Oguro adds. “We envisioned the RPG we wanted to create and expressed it within the Monster Hunter world. The graphics and story feel more mature, along with the battle system enhanced with greater strategic depth, and both were born from this guiding principle.”One of my personal favorite things about Monster Hunter Stories is the quirky, often dry sense of humor in the dialogue. With a more serious edge, I was curious to find out if Monster Hunter Stories 3 will continue its streak of weirdness, and delighted to discover that while the dialogue has matured alongside the game’s narrative and visuals, it’ll retain a subtle humor (as all Monster Hunter games do).“Compared to the previous two titles, the overall tone has definitely become more serious,” Oguro says. “However, if it were serious throughout, it would feel heavy and exhausting, so having little breaks and getting that balance just right is incredibly important.“In previous entries, Navirou, your Palico companion, handled that comedic dialogue. Starting this installment, considering 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 subtle humor. Additionally, each Ranger companion has a distinct personality, so you should find the conversations with them entertaining too.”If you’re not up to speed on the narrative of Monster Hunter Stories 1+2, or you’re too excited to jump into Monster Hunter Stories 3 when it launches, then you’re in luck. You don’t need any prior knowledge of the first two games in order to enjoy the next installment.Monster Hunter Stories 3 takes place approximately 200 years after the previous game’s timeline, featuring a completely new story and cast of characters, so you can start playing right away (but we do deeply recommend that you do pick the first two games up, as they are absolutely wonderful, and there will be small nods to those games in Stories 3).Xbox players can grab the first two Monster Hunter Stories games in the series at a bundled discount with the Monster Hunter Stories Collection, or purchase each game individually. These adventures serve as the perfect warm up ahead of the launch of the newest entry in the series, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, coming to Xbox Series X|S on March 13, 2026 – available now for preorder.Monster Hunter Stories CollectionCAPCOM Co., Ltd.☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Get it nowLimited BonusMonster Hunter Stories– Purchase early to get Navirou's "King" and "Queen" Outfits.Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin– Purchase early to get Ena's "Kamura Maiden Outfit."*Bonus content is available to customers who pre-order the game by 23:59 on 11.13.2025.*This content may be made available separately at a later date.*Outfits for Ena and Navirou are purely cosmetic and only change the characters' appearance.Both Monster Hunter Stories games included in one collection!Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG series that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and exciting ways! No longer are you hunting monsters, but raising them! Featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, you will live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them.Contents:– Monster Hunter Stories– Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Standard Edition)Game Introduction:The first game tells the story of a Rider who confronts a calamity known as the Black Blight that has overtaken the world, all while learning to live together with Hunters. The second game is set four years later, when a new hero unravels the epic story surrounding a legendary Rathalos, one foretold to bring ruin to the world.Game Features:■ A turn-based RPG set in the world of Monster Hunter! Monster Hunter Stories features a strategic battle system which is easy to get the hang of, even for those who struggle with action games. Use Power, Speed, and Technical attacks to guess and overcome your opponent's attack patterns to inflict heavy damage and win head-to-head battles! Build up your Kinship Gauge to use skills or try your Monsties' unique Kinship Skills!■ Turn popular monsters from the series into your Monsties! Explore the field using Monstie abilities, hatch eggs that you find along the way, and turn various monsters into Monsties! This game features many popular monsters from the Monster Hunter series, including Zinogre, Nargacuga, and Lagiacrus. Also featured is the Rite of Channeling, a ritual that awakens dormant abilities in your Monsties, allowing you to raise original Monsties and take on powerful enemies!■ Online features that allow you to create a powerful party with the Monsties you have raised and enjoy battles with other players!*The items in this set can be purchased individually. Please be careful not to purchase the same item twice.Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted ReflectionCAPCOM Co., Ltd.☆☆☆☆☆1★★★★★Get it nowThe third entry in the Monster Hunter Stories RPG series is here!Twin Rathalos, born in a twist of fate.Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG series set in the Monster Hunter world, where you can become a Rider, raising and bonding with your favorite monsters.The StoryAzuria and Vermeil: two countries, on a path to destruction.When all hope seems lost, an egg is found. Inside is a Rathalos, a species thought to be extinct.But this quavering light of hope is quickly extinguished, giving way to the darkness of despair.Born from the egg is not a single Rathalos, but twins, bearing the Skyscale marking that hearkens back to the disastrous civil war of 200 years prior.The natural world teeters on the verge of destruction, with countless monster species facing extinction. In the shadow of these dark times, the flames of war rekindle.Two countries, and two Rathalos.A Rider and their trusted Rathalos, buffeted by the winds of fate, set out on a journey for the truth.*There are other bundles that include this product. Please be careful of duplicate purchases.Agreement to the End User License Agreement is required to play this title. (https://manual.capcom.com/eula/game/)©CAPCOMMONSTER HUNTER STORIES is a trademark and/or registered trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. and/or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries..post-template-default .xwsrc-block-content-block .wp-block-column.flex-basis-50.push--25.column--content {flex: 100%;margin-left: 0;}Related Stories for “Monster Hunter Stories: How the Turn-Based RPG Spin-Off Became a Pillar of the Iconic Action Series”Category: ID@XboxFrom Tony Hawk Dreams to BMX Reality: How Legends BMX Was Made by RidersCategory: GamesFree Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and WreckfestCategory: GamesThe Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 2 & Update 48 Now LiveThe post Monster Hunter Stories: How the Turn-Based RPG Spin-Off Became a Pillar of the Iconic Action Series appeared first on Xbox Wire.