The wirebug redefines hunting mobility: climbing, vaulting and mounting beasts becomes instinctive. More accessible than its forebears without losing combat depth, and the Switch presentation stays impressive for the hardware.
Your verdict
Category
Action RPG4 players12+
Co-op
Description
From Kamura village, you hunt great monsters to forge weapons and armour. Published by Capcom, released worldwide in 2021. The Wirebug for aerial movement, rideable Palamute dogs, timed hunts and co-op for up to four players.
Monster Hunter Rise review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Firing the wirebug to climb, vault then mount a beast redefines hunting mobility and smooths a system once deemed stiff. The rideable dog speeds up exploration and lowers the barrier to entry without sacrificing combat depth. Portability suits the timed format of hunts beautifully, solo or in fours. A few purists mourn the lost rigor, but the snappy feel reigns supreme.
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
It all begins with the hunt: spot a monster, read its tells, fell it, then carve the carcass to forge a fresh piece of armor. This hunt-gather-craft chain in Monster Hunter Rise weaves cascading goals, each new gear set opening a tougher target. Wirebugs and the Palamute keep traversal swift, so cueing up « just one more quest » costs little. The caution lies in farming rare materials, sometimes a long grind before the right drop.
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
One hunt leads to the next: every monster felled yields materials to forge the weapon or armor that makes the following hunt possible. Fourteen weapon types to master, online battles and an endgame of overpowered beasts stretch the adventure far past the story. That loop of constant improvement, deeply satisfying, is the heart of its reputation among hunters.
A massive Capcom hit, Monster Hunter Rise sold in huge numbers and stays a common title. On a region-free Switch, the Japanese pressing brings no content exclusivity over Western versions, and its price mostly reflects a market effect. Collector interest stays measured; only the original Japanese packaging, with its own sleeve, sets it apart for a Japan-themed shelf.
Memorable bosses
Hunting the monsters becomes a dialogue of reading and reacting, each beast carrying its own body language. Magnamalo unleashes fiery bursts while elder wyverns force you to learn attack windows, part breaks and Wirebug repositioning. Rise's added verticality energizes confrontations already famed for their weight, timing and tactile precision.
Better with friends
Stalking colossal monsters as a four means preparing together first: sharpening gear, splitting roles, then savoring a hard-earned takedown after a tense fight. The cooperation is demanding yet exhilarating, punctuated by flashes of brilliance and near-disasters that forge lasting memories. The gear-check difficulty pushes you to close ranks rather than compete.
Is Monster Hunter Rise still worth playing in 2026?
Monster Hunter Rise loosened Capcom's formula without betraying it, and that choice still holds up. The Wirebug, opening aerial movement and fresh verticality, smooths hunts once judged stiff. The rideable Palamute speeds exploration and lowers the entry barrier. On Switch, portability beautifully suits the format of timed hunts, ideal for short bursts or four-player co-op. Some purists fault a softened rigour, but its briskness will delight newcomers and veterans alike. An excellent way into the saga, still very much alive and rewarding to dip into today.
