Product Info

Platform

Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC

Publisher

Capcom

Developer

Capcom

Series

Monster Hunter Stories

Genre

Action, Adventure, RPG

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

29.3 GB

Release Date (NA)

Mar 13, 2026

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the third installment in the Monster Hunter Stories series, a spin-off of the popular Monster Hunter franchise. Stories 3 is considered one of the most visually stunning games, with deep gameplay mechanics that make it even more intriguing. However, newcomers may find it challenging. Regardless, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a contender for the best role-playing game (RPG) of the year.

A Cat-astrophe!

Players will control a rider who is the Captain of the Rangers, a group of riders that befriend monsters known as Monsties, as they try to uncover the mystery of the monsters turning feral due to the Crystal Encroachment occurring around the world. However, your father, the king of Azuria, is on the brink of war with its neighboring kingdom, Vermeil. You also ride one of the twin Skyscale Rathalos, named Ratha, a species that was considered extinct and linked to a horrific civil war from 200 years ago. You and your team of Rangers will uncover secrets of the disappearance of your mother with the other twin Rathalos, the dark history of the war 200 years ago, the Elder Dragons, and more. Those who have not played previous Stories titles shouldn’t be concerned and feel lost with Stories 3 as its story stands on its own and is easy to follow for anyone to explore. However, those who have played previous titles will find some connections that will make them smile.

The game’s story progresses slowly, gradually revealing information, and at first, it may feel a bit slow-paced along with the learning curve, leaving you wanting more. However, during larger-scaled events, you are given more details that offer mystery rather than answers. The story delves into some dark plots, but the progression of the story is very intriguing. You may find yourself playing more for the story than for the extras. Nevertheless, players should not skip the side quests as there are plenty of things to do.

The process to reach the events involves some detour paths, but completing these will help increase your and your Monstie’s levels and skills. For example, you will encounter a few Feral Monsters that are much stronger than their original versions. Defeating them will require strategic thinking and time, but the end result is satisfying. However, defeating Elder Dragons is even more rewarding as it feels like a more story-driven battle.

Pounce to New Places

Monster Hunter Stories 3 feels like an open world, but with some constraints. It’s not quite as expansive as Skyrim or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You are free to roam within reachable areas, but landscapes like mountains and waterfalls may limit your exploration beyond certain territories. As you progress through the game’s story and unlock new areas, you can still revisit previous ones. The Catavan service, a fast-travel option provided by cats, makes traveling much easier (and cute). Simply find saved points scattered around the map and you can travel to them at any time. If you’re ever stuck, just call the Catavan! There’s a lot of cat puns in the game, so be prepared.

Monsters will roam these areas, and many of them will attack you on sight, regardless of your strength. If your level is high enough, you can take on an aggressive monster and defeat it without entering a turn-based battle. If you accidentally engage a weaker foe in battle, the game offers a shortcut to end the battle quickly, which is a convenient option for players.

Players can easily swap their “equipped” Monsties with the press of a button on the controller. Not only is swapping simple, but it’s done in a fluid and visually appealing way. Watching the Monsties swap roles is visually entertaining. Some Monsties are specifically designed to help players explore areas by flying (gliding) across platforms or climbing up mountains.

 For a more in-depth look at the game’s exploration, battle mechanics, raising endangered monsters, and more, check out our preview of the game. Our overall review of these mechanics is explained below.

Playing Cat and Monster

The battle mechanics in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection feel deep and strategic and players are required to process rather than just mash commands. There is not only a variety of weapons you can choose from, but also different types of Monsties you can use, your partner and their Monstie, and the monster you are fighting. Be aware, players control only their protagonist and Monstie. There are various Ranger partners that carry a unique skill set and their weapon of choice, but only one partner and their Monstie are allowed in battle.

Battles are turn-based, with each character taking a turn. Attacks are heavily based on a rock-paper-scissors style combat. Power beats Technique, Technique beats Speed, and Speed beats Power. When a monster initiates one of these three attack types against someone on your team doing the same, a cutscene will occur. If your attack type beats the other, the enemy’s attack is nullified. The same goes for your team. Sometimes it’s difficult to predict the outcome until everyone inputs their attack for the turn. You can sometimes see what your partner will do to determine the attack style you should use, though you shouldn’t always rely on it. There’s also another attack style that does not align with any of these three and is not involved with the rock-paper-scissors style and your attack won’t be nullified, unless you are toppled or your health gauge is depleted. 

A misstep can quickly turn the battle in the wrong direction. You and your Monstie, as well as your partner and their Monstie, will have three hearts. If you or your Monstie fall in battle with your health bar completely depleted, a heart is taken away. If your playable character and Monstie lose all their hearts, the battle is over. If your partner and their Monstie lose all theirs, they are inactive for a short time and then back in action with a full set of hearts. Event-based battles will ask players if they want to retry the battle or go back before the battle occurs if adjustments need to be made to equipment or partners, a quality of life feature like the Catavan’s fast travel to make the game more enjoyable to play.

Weapon carries its own unique setups to take advantage of. The hunting horn in Stories 3 allows players to use a buff spell and attack at the same time. Additionally, notes will appear near your character’s stats at the bottom of the screen. Set up your colorized notes to unlock a skill to use. Notes are based on the color of the attack type you used. If you win in a head-to-head scenario or a two-attack with you and a Monstie, the note is a rainbow (a wild card color). Set up the notes correctly to unlock a unique skill to use in battle. It’s like playing a mini-game inside a battle. Players should be aware to make sure you have enough stamina to execute these unique skills.

Some weapons, like the hammer, are straightforward with their skill set and are used more to take down the monster’s Wyvernfell. Wyvernfell is another mechanic in battle that players will need to focus on to cause staggers, topples, and interruptions. These are key to getting through tough battles and preventing monsters from initiating large-scale attacks on your team.

There is also a wide variety of weapons and armor you can create and upgrade, each with its own unique set of stats, including strengths and weaknesses to elements, which can be crucial in specific battles. I have never seen so many options that can benefit your character in multiple ways in just about any situation. Typically in many RPGs, you equip the best equipment with the best stats. In Stories 3, you create the equipment based on your needs, giving you the tools to do what you want. Many materials are needed from your exploration, defeating monsters, or scattered across the environment to be gathered from boulders or trees.

Feeling Pawsitively Rewarding

Outside the story, there are more Feral Monsters roaming in various areas during your travels. While some are approachable, there are a handful that you should avoid until you and your team are at a high enough level. These monsters are indicated by colored icons above them. A yellow icon represents a more challenging but winnable battle at your current state, while red icons indicate much stronger monsters with a very slim chance of victory. If you accidentally engage in battle with one of these powerful monsters, the game allows players to escape and provides a few seconds of a head start to quickly move away from the deadly beast in the open world.

You have the option to change the time of day you want to explore, unless you are in the middle of a side-story quest with your partner. Exploring at night can make monsters more difficult to defeat, and there are some incredibly powerful monsters that roam at night, making your chance of winning almost zero. These monsters are known as Invasive Monsters. When approaching one closely, you must avoid being targeted and collect enough “tracks” nearby to determine the monster’s weakness. Once you have enough information, you can attack them and prepare for a long battle, focusing on their weakness to make the enemy escape. Winning these battles can earn great rewards, especially when rescuing an endangered monster. Enter the den where the Invasive Monster escapes to, retrieve the egg, and return to camp.

As a Ranger, your task is to help endangered monsters return to the wild. By hatching them and choosing to release them, you can increase their rank in the ecosystem of the area. The higher the rank, the more monsters will roam, and hatching more of their eggs will improve their original stats.

There is more to do than just rescuing monsters and just explaining this much feels like scratching the surface. Players can also take on side quests with local inhabitants and engage in side-story quests with each of their Ranger partners. While side quests involve earning money and items like in any RPG, side-story quests offer more depth. You will uncover background stories with each Ranger, and unlock bonuses that will be useful in battles and exploration. For example, Eleanor, the princess of Vermeil who joins the Riders, can learn new recipes for cooking, new weapons, and improve their Monstie’s battle skills.

Looking Good, Feline Good

Monster Hunter Stories 3‘s visuals are more vibrant and detailed than its predecessors, with a cel-shaded style that gives it a Studio Ghibli feel of elegance and a colorful palette. It truly feels like a higher evolution and sets the bar for the Stories series. The user interface is also detailed and clean, with stylized menus from equipment screens to each Monsties. One of the most stunning games of the year.

Character customization is surprisingly deep. Not only can you adjust many features of your protagonist, but you can also change any equipment’s color palette to your liking. Riders and your cat companion have outfits that can be swapped, but many are behind paywalls. Your protagonist can switch from its “male” or “female” body style, along with additional features, at any time during the game, but only at specific locations in specific towns. The customized protagonist and their outfit will carry on through story cutscenes, making it feel truly organic and user-friendly. The only downfall is that you cannot change other body features such as height and weight.

Outside of your character, Riders and other side-story characters are visually great with their own unique characteristics and cosmetic styles that stand out. Watching the cutscene of Eleanor and fellow felines cooking up tasty meals is always enjoyable with its gorgeous animations. It never gets old. Overall, impressive character designs and customization the game offers. The world of Stories 3 is beautiful with a vast variety of sceneries. If you enjoy cats, this game is filled with fellow felines helping adventurers and carrying puns through the dialogue.

The game’s orchestrated soundtrack is not to be missed. It features strong, thematic, high-quality scores that give each style of battle a unique feel. Feral Monsters have a tense combat style with some techno elements, while more intense battles like Elder Dragons feel dramatic and intense. Exploring feels whimsical and soothing as you travel with your Monstie companion. The soundtrack doesn’t skip a beat, and players shouldn’t mute the game.

The Final Meow

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection delivers a visually stunning RPG with deep strategic combat, an engaging story, and exploration that rewards players for their efforts. While its complex mechanics may be challenging for newcomers, its beautiful presentation and gameplay systems make it a standout and a contender for the best RPG of the year. It’s pawesome!

A PlayStation 5 review code provided by the publisher for this review. Monster Hunter Stories 3 arrives on the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 13, 2026. Fans can visit the game’s official website for additional information and purchasing options.