Capcom just announcedMonster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, a new entry in the series, and I’m hoping it will help save the franchise from the disaster that was its latest installment. A spin-off series within the larger franchise,Storiesis an RPG that puts players in control of a Monster Rider and presents a turn-based combat system. The newMonster Hunter Storiesgame was one of thebiggest reveals from the new Nintendo Direct.
Following a linear story arc with more focus on character development, the protagonist is an ally to the many monsters in the series, and instead of hunting them,your goal is to turn them into allies, as you can use their abilities to explore the world. The most recent entry in the spin-off series wasMonster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, though the latest installment in the franchise wasMonster Hunter Wilds, which is being heavily criticized.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 May Save The Franchise
Twisted Reflection Could Renew Player Interest
I believe thatMonster Hunter Stories 3has the potential to save the franchise from its doom, even if the game isn’t a core entry in the series. While it is a spin-off game that offers a drastically different gameplay experience,the turn-based series has proven to be fantastic in the past, andTwisted Reflectionhas great potential to be even better.
Wings of Ruin, for example, has an 81 Metascore and an 8.2 user score onMetacritic.
The franchise has hit an all-time low with how poorly receivedWildswas, especially by PC players. However,Monster Hunter Stories 3could renew player interest, even if it doesn’t cater to the entirety of the core series’ community.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Already Looks Better Than Wilds
The Game Seems To Be Keeping What Made Its Predecessors Successful
If Capcom sticks to what worked well withWings of Ruin,Monster Hunter Stories 3has the potential to remove some of the negative perception players have of the franchisefollowing theproblems raised byMonster Hunter Wilds. Based on the reveal trailer,Twisted Reflectionis retaining its cartoon-like graphic style and investing heavily in story and a variety of monsters to befriend.
The turn-based combat that makesMonster Hunterfeel likePokémonworks well, and the stories the spin-off series tells are more compelling than those of the core installments. While a portion of the community may miss the ability to hunt down monsters in action-based combat,I’m sure a portion of the fans will be pleasantly surprised to expand their horizonswithin the franchise.
While the game was announced during the Nintendo Direct, it will be a multi-platform title.Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflectionwill be released for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam) in 2026. Overall, the game will feel different fromWilds, but I’m sure it will make me more hopeful for the future of theMonster Hunterseries.
