11 Best Games Like Monster Hunter: Top Alternatives in 2026

Our Top Picks for Games Like Monster Hunter

• A no-nonsense, “only the best” kind of gamer, are you? Take a look at our team’s top picks for the titles we  think you’ll enjoy out of all the
• Monster Hunter

-like games out there:

Horizon Zero Dawn ACTION RPG Arguably the closest game to Monster Hunter in terms of gameplay loop, innovative monster designs, and just how stunning and diverse its vast open world is.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

ACTION RPG

Has a sizable variety of monsters for you to hunt and features combat mechanics that share some similarities with Monster Hunter’s, such as monster climbing and a body part-based weakness system.

Wild Hearts

ACTION RPG

A direct competitor to Monster Hunter and rocks the same hunt-craft-repeat style of play, but also does its own thing in several areas.

Didn’t like any of our picks? Well, I wouldn’t worry just yet, as I’ve prepared seven more games that are just as fun and highly recommended for Monster Hunter fans to look at below.

11 Games Like Monster Hunter That Let You Slay Epic Beasts

Here are the ten best games to play if you like Monster Hunter’s patented gameplay loop, combat system, monster variety, and general immersiveness. Hot take much? Scroll down and see why I put each game on this list, and why you should play them next!

Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition

Best Monster-Hunting Open-World Alternative

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• PS4, PC
• Creator/s
• Guerrilla Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Average playtime
• 52 hours
• Best for
• Open-world monster-hunting fans who want huge mechanical beasts
• When it comes to
• giant monsters that require skill, patience, and preparation to take down, very few monster-hunting RPGs can compete with
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• ’s
• beautifully designed, machine-fauna hybrids

.

Here, you’ll get to hunt BIG monsters and bring them down by targeting their most vulnerable body parts, demanding precise aim and strategic use of your arsenal. Its combat is more ranged-centric than in Monster Hunter, yet it’s every bit as expansive, considering this game’s diverse weapon selection.

Unlike most Monster Hunter titles, Horizon Zero Dawn is also a true open-world game where you can explore a massive, interconnected map seamlessly. It’s also backed by a great story, beautiful graphics, and a relatively simple yet engaging crafting system. The game depth is pushed even further in The Frozen Wilds DLC (included in the Complete Edition), which introduces a new icy region filled with more aggressive machine threats and high-tier gear to master.

My verdict:

This is one of the closest experiences to Monster Hunter in terms of scale, atmosphere, and tactical combat. If you enjoy huge, multi-phase battles and exploring massive worlds, Horizon Zero Dawn is absolutely worth your time.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Best Classic Action RPG for Monster Hunter Fans

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• Nintendo Switch, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
• Creators
• Capcom, Capcom
• Average playtime
• 53 hours
• Best for
• Fans of classic action RPGs with large fantasy monsters

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

• lets you adventure your own way by giving you
• nine different classes
• (i.e., Vocations) you’re free to switch between mid-playthrough, as well as
• fully customizable companions

that you can tweak according to the needs of your party.

Whether you’re into grabbing NPCs and throwing them over ledges for fun or slaughtering every monster on your way to the final boss,

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

is one of the most thrilling RPG games I’d recommend to any Monster Hunter veteran.

You’ll encounter lots of epic hunts and colossal monsters here, as well as memorable NPCs (some of which you can even romance) that make this game’s well-written narrative all the more engrossing.

My verdict:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

delivers unique action RPG systems and epic monster encounters that scratch a similar itch to Monster Hunter.

Its replayability and freedom in combat make it a standout experience even today.

Wild Hearts

Best Modern Monster-Hunting Competitor

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• PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
• Creators
• Omega Force / Koei Tecmo, Electronic Arts
• Average playtime
• 52 hours
• Best for
• Players who want a modern, fast-paced Monster Hunter competitor
• After playing
• Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
• ,

Wild Hearts

• came just at the right time and gave me countless hours of fun while I was “patiently” waiting for
• Monster Hunter Wilds

’ release date.

It’s a refreshing take on the monster-hunting genre that offers the same gameplay loop, strategic combat, and co-op online multiplayer experience that MH games have, but it certainly wasn’t afraid to deviate from the formula. Fans of intense, skill-based combat may also enjoy browsing some of the best action RPG games, which share similar fast-paced gameplay elements.

I particularly liked the implementation of the Karakuri System here, which allowed for more in-depth crafting than most other Monster Hunter games. With it, you can build your very own base of operations from the ground up and craft all sorts of tools, traps, and fancy gadgets that’ll help you on your hunts and make map traversal easier.

It supports crossplay (PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5), too, which makes it a great MH alternative if you like playing with your friends via co-op.

My verdict:

Wild Hearts

is the closest modern competitor to Monster Hunter, offering fast, creative hunts with its own identity. If you want something familiar yet refreshingly different, this is an easy recommendation.

Toukiden 2

Best Mythology-Inspired Monster-Slaying RPG

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• PS4, PS3, PS Vita, PC
• Creators
• Omega Force, Koei Tecmo
• Average playtime
• 32 hours
• Best for
• Gamers who enjoy mythology-inspired monsters and melee combat
• Speaking of awesome-looking, powerful weapons you can upgrade,
• Toukiden 2′
• s vast arsenal of
• 11 different weapon types, each with their unique movesets

, will surely blow you away.

Aside from its impressive weapon variety and focus on intense, melee combat,

Toukiden 2

also boasts some of the best boss fights you’ll ever encounter in any monster-hunting RPG. Players who enjoy exploring large, immersive environments may also appreciate some of the best open-world games, which offer similarly expansive adventures.

Sure, even the tougher hunts here aren’t exactly Monster Hunter -level in terms of difficulty, but this actually works in its favor due to the way the story presents your main character.

It’s a solo-friendly game with less-gruelling, yet hype-inducing combat and – more importantly – a badass self-insert protagonist. Nuff said!

My verdict:

Toukiden 2

brings intense melee combat, memorable boss fights, and mythology-inspired monsters to the forefront. It’s an excellent choice for players who love crafting, slaying, and exploring at their own pace.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Best Story-Driven Monster-Hunting Experience

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• PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
• Creators
• CD Projekt Red, CD Projekt
• Average playtime
• 103 hours
• Best for
• Story-driven players who enjoy contract-based monster hunting

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• stands proudly among the
• best single-player games
• of all time. Its monster-centric elements closely resemble
• Monster Hunter

’s, down to all the pre-hunting preps you need to make for certain bosses, to the contract-based monster hunts you can take via subquests.

This game left such an impact on me that I recommend you play its previous installments, too, as all three games have a phenomenal story, great monster variety, and tons of content for you to explore.

Still,

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

is undoubtedly the best title in the series, and offers one of the best narratives any Monster Hunter fan is sure to enjoy. It’s the perfect game for all you hunters who like playing solo.

My verdict:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

isn’t a traditional monster-hunting game, but its contract system provides some of the genre’s most memorable encounters. Story-driven players who still crave tactical preparation will love it.

• Monster Hunter Stories
• &
• Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Best Story-Focused Monster Hunter Spinoffs

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• PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, mobile
• Stories: 2016 / Stories 2: 2021
• Creators
• Capcom & Marvelous, Capcom
• Average playtime
• Stories: 51 hours / Stories 2: 61 hours
• Best for
• Players wanting a story-rich, turn-based take on Monster Hunter
• Both
• Monster Hunter Stories
• &
• Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
• are
• MH
• spinoffs that
• breathed new life into the series. They have vastly different core mechanics compared to the mainline titles, yet they’re
• the best alternatives to play if you want to delve deeper into the
• Monster Hunter
• lore
• . For a closer look at how the series continues to evolve, the
• Monster Hunter Stories 3
• game review

offers a clear perspective.

In these games, you don’t actively seek to hunt monsters, but instead to become one with nature and its creations as a Monstie Rider. They’re also a great bridge into the best Monster Hunter games if you plan to explore the main series afterward.

You still get to fight monsters and collect their parts for gear crafting, of course, albeit via less intense, Pokémon -style turn-based battles. You’re also allowed to capture defeated monsters, add them to your roster, and use them for fighting and map traversal.

My verdict:

Monster Hunter Stories and Stories 2 offer a lighter, story-rich spin on the franchise while keeping the spirit of discovery alive. They’re ideal for players who want MH-inspired adventures without the intensity of real-time hunts.

★ Best Story-Focused Monster Hunter Spinoffs Monster Hunter Stories Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin 10.

The Axis Unseen

Best Indie Monster-Tracking Experience

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• Xbox One, PS4, PC
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• Just Purkey Games, Just Purkey Games
• Average playtime
• 30 hours
• Best for
• Fans of atmospheric, horror-infused monster-tracking adventures
• Any
• Elder Scrolls
• title from Bethesda Game Studios would’ve been a great addition to this list due to their excellent monster roster and classic RPG mechanics, but what about
• a standout monster-hunting RPG from a one-man software publisher

who used to work on some of Bethesda’s most iconic titles?

The Axis Unseen

is an absolute must-have for Monster Hunter fans who are also into fantastic indie games made with passion for the genre and pure artistic vision. Here, you get to track down folklore-inspired monsters and hunt them as you explore a massive, atmospheric open world.

Watch out, though, as this one’s also categorized as a heavy metal horror game, meaning you might find the monsters here a bit more…

unsettling than what you’re probably used to.

My verdict:

The Axis Unseen

mixes atmospheric exploration with tense monster tracking, creating a fresh experience for fans seeking something different. Its eerie tone and unique design make it a standout indie pick.

My Overall Verdict on Games Like Monster Hunter

Finding the best games like Monster Hunter comes down to understanding what kind of hunter you are. If you crave massive beasts, deep combat systems, rich storytelling, or pure challenge, each game on this list captures a different piece of what makes Monster Hunter so unforgettable. Here’s how to choose your next great hunt.

For open-world adventurers:

Horizon Zero Dawn offers massive creatures, strategic targeting, and the same sense of scale that makes Monster Hunter battles unforgettable.

For action RPG loyalists:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

and

Wild Hearts

both offer strategic combat, varied enemy encounters, and plenty of room to experiment with different weapons and playstyles.

For story-driven players:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

and Monster Hunter Stories 2 provide rich narratives and monster-focused quests perfect for fans who want more worldbuilding and lore.

For challenge seekers:

Elden Ring

and

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

bring deliberate, high-stakes combat against brutal enemies, echoing the intensity of Monster Hunter’s toughest hunts.

Each of these games captures a different part of what makes Monster Hunter special – no matter if it’s the thrill of the fight, the satisfaction of crafting, or the joy of exploring dangerous worlds. No single game replaces the series, but best games like Lethal Company offer similar excitement and together, they provide countless new hunts worth embarking on.

FAQs What game is most like Monster Hunter?

The game that’s most like Monster Hunter is Horizon Zero Dawn, which has the same hunt-craft-repeat gameplay loop, breathtaking visuals, and large, challenging creatures for you to hunt. Another excellent Monster Hunter -like is

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

.

What style of game is Monster Hunter?

Monster Hunter games are action RPGs that excel in enemy variety, gear crafting, and challenging boss fights that are best experienced via co-op. It emphasizes the hunt-craft – repeat gameplay loop that’s set in several environmentally diverse maps with tons of interactive elements.