Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on 3DS, enriched version of MH3 Tri with more quests and monsters. Hunt colossal creatures solo or online. Capcom's hunting franchise at the peak of its popularity.
Your verdict
Category
Action RPG4 players12+
Co-op
Description
A lone hunter tracks and slays colossal creatures to forge weapons and armour from their remains and rise through the hunter hierarchy. Published by Capcom, released in Europe in March 2013. Real-time giant monster hunting, equipment forging from their remains, varied weapons with distinct mechanics, online co-operation. Multilingual version.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The feline companions get the same care as the hunter. Every outfit cut for them reuses the materials of a slain creature, scales, fur, carapace, but at the scale of a cat, with oversized helmets and disproportionate weapons. That miniature work, entirely optional, says everything about the seriousness with which the studio treats its own folklore of craft.
The music changes with the hour as much as with the place. The same zone gets a bright arrangement in the morning, more sustained and lower once night falls, and since the cycles are short you hear that shift several times per expedition. As the creatures' habits follow the same timetable, the musical variation ends up serving as a practical cue as much as an atmosphere.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Tracking a colossal creature, learning its tells and forging better gear from its remains sets up a hunt-and-craft loop where every victory unlocks a more fearsome target. Fine-tuning your weapon and chasing the perfect set keeps you heading back out. The farming and the early stiffness put some off, but this growing mastery and the thrill of the hunt grip you relentlessly.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Tracking colossal creatures to forge weapons and armour from their remains sets up a hunting loop with no real end. Upgrading your gear, climbing the hunter ranks and cooperating on hunts fills hundreds of hours. That constant call of the next monster, the Monster Hunter hallmark, founds a longevity hunters cultivate relentlessly.
The NTSC release of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate holds the same exceptional status on the US market: among the few portable Monster Hunters officially released in box form. The initial print was decent, but the secondary market caught up after the franchise's Japanese resurgence, and complete copies with original manual are now a genuine hunt for US MH collectors.
Memorable bosses
Here the 'bosses' are the beasts themselves, believable creatures whose moods you must learn and whose parts you must break to prevail. This entry dares underwater combat, adding a vertical dimension to fights against the dreaded Lagiacrus. Observe, prepare, strike at the right moment: the hunt rests on patience and knowledge of a living ecosystem, deeply rewarding.
Better with friends
Cooperative hunting for up to four where you track colossal creatures together, splitting roles and calling out the monster's position. Mutual aid is king: baiting, healing and laying a trap while the others strike turns each hunt into a joyful team effort. The learning curve is steep and prep takes time, but felling a beast after a fierce struggle brings an unforgettable shared pride.
Is Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2011 in Japan then 2013 in the West on 3DS and known in Japan as Monster Hunter 3G, Capcom's project is the enhanced version of the third entry, which carried the hunting series to a wider audience. The hunt, built on observation, preparation and the mastery of varied weapons, integrates underwater combat phases specific to this entry. The generous content, the addition of monsters and the cooperative multiplayer bind the experience. The austere interface and the demanding learning put off newcomers. An excellent entry point of the hunting game, recommended for fans of technical combat and of cooperation.
