A turn-based Monster Hunter Stories sequel, more story-driven and approachable than the main series. Collecting, raising and combining monsters is addictive, and the colourful world charms. A warm, generous spin-off.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player7+
Description
The hero's grandchild, a monster Rider, hatches eggs and rides companions to unravel a looming calamity. Published by Capcom, released worldwide in 2021. Turn-based rock-paper-scissors combat, breeding and gene-splicing Monsties, vast lands to explore and an orchestral score.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
In a village where monsters are ridden and raised rather than hunted, a young Rider inherits an egg that could change the world's fate. The quest blends grief, family legacy and cross-species friendship with touching sincerity. Beneath its all-ages adventure surface, the story isn't afraid to move you and to speak of losses one learns to carry.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Hatching, raising and cross-breeding monsters through the egg ritual opens a bottomless pit: every Monstie carries genes and skills to optimise, and the hunt for rare dens runs long past the credits. The main story is joined by online co-op, deep turn-based combat and a gene-splicing endgame. You keep coming back to perfect your ideal stable.
Technical info
💾14 GB📅09/07/2021
Published by Capcom
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
A turn-based spin-off of Monster Hunter, this entry sets your Monsties against the saga's iconic beasts through a snappy rock-paper-scissors system. Reading the enemy's attack to pick the right counter sparks thrilling head-to-head duels, boosted by bonds with your mount. The animated charm and an iconic bestiary make these clashes as tactical as they are joyful.
An underrated gem
Branded as the cute spin-off of an action saga, it hides a genuine turn-based JRPG of surprising depth, where breeding and Monstie genes deliver huge replay value. Released in the shadow of the mainline games, it was treated as a secondary offshoot. Its clever combat and orchestral score make a heartfelt adventure for monster-collecting fans after real finesse.
Is Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin still worth playing in 2026?
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin flips the parent series on its head: no real-time hunting here, but a turn-based RPG built on a surprisingly deep rock-paper-scissors core. Hatching eggs, crossing your Monsties' genes and riding your companions across vast lands creates an endearing, readable loop. The warm art direction and orchestral music charm. The intro is slow and the early difficulty gentle. But over time, the riding and collecting systems reveal real richness, and the whole thing ages with a great deal of grace for newcomers and series fans alike.
