A brand new Monster Hunter Stories game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, as shown in today’s Nintendo Partner Direct.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection opened the Direct today, showing off the new story-focused game set in a kingdom seemingly at war. We see shots of a big monster egg on the cusp of hatching, various characters fighting against something called “the Encroachment,” and what appears to be the main character – the “sole Rathalos rider” in the kingdom.
From a press release, we learn that Monster Hunter Stories 3 follows the story of two nations, Azuria and Vermeil, both of whom are facing destruction from a “crystal encroachment.” However, a mysterious egg is discovered that hatches into twin Rathalos, creatures thought to be extinct. The Rathalos bear the same mark as a creature known as the twin Skyscale Rathalos, which are regarded as signs of destruction and war.
You play as the heir of Azuria, the only remaining Rathalos Rider in the kingdom, who begins investigating the threats to the kingdom and the world. You team up with Eleanor, the princess of Vermeil who has offered herself as a hostage to Azuria to improve diplomatic relations amid threat of war.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 will come not just to Nintendo Switch 2, but also to Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam, sometime in 2026.
We’re pretty big fans of the Monster Hunter Stories games. We gave the first one an 8.9/10, and the second got an 8/10. We said Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was “a beautifully presented JRPG with a plethora of fun things to do and deep systems I happily got lost in – but a few issues leave it short of being flawless.”
You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Nintendo Partner Direct right here.
