Monster Hunter Stories

Monster Hunter Stories is a role-playing video game developed by Capcom and Marvelous and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is a spinoff title in the Monster Hunter series and features a drastically different gameplay focus. Unlike previous titles in the franchise, Monster Hunter Stories lets players take on the role of a Rider instead of a Hunter, and are able to take part in a traditional turn-based battle system. Major changes and additions featured in this title include hatching eggs and befriending monsters, battling alongside them, executing special kinship techniques, and customizing monsters’ abilities and appearance.

The game was released in Japan on October 8, 2016, and in North America, Europe and Australia in September 2017. Later, a high-definition mobile version of the game was released on December 4, 2017 in Japan and September 25, 2018 worldwide. The Nintendo 3DS version includes support with Amiibo figures, with a first set launching alongside the game, and a second set launching two months later. A similarly named anime series is a loose adaptation of this game, and a sequel was released in 2021.

Monster Hunter Stories features a completely new gameplay structure compared to the previous titles in the series. The player assumes the role of a Rider who befriends monsters by stealing eggs and hatching them. The player then has the ability to name their companion monsters, or “Monsties”, ride them around in the overworld, and have them join the player in battles. The player will be able to explore different environments, encounter monsters in the field, battle them, collect items and steal eggs from monsters’ nests.

The game starts with the main character (whose gender can be selected by the player) and their friends, Cheval and Lilia, looking for a monster egg. They find a nest with one, and it hatches into a Rathalos that bonds with the Protagonist immediately. They nickname the creature Ratha. However, upon returning to Hakum Village, it is attacked by a rampaging Nargacuga controlled by a sickness called the Black Blight. Ratha tries to defend the village but is seemingly killed. Cheval’s mother dies in the attack.