GameOrder.gg — Monster Hunter Checklist
GameOrder.gg — free franchise play orders and collector guides
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Franchise Directory
The Monster Hunter franchise has 11 entries. Play in Release Order for newcomers, Chronological Order for lore completionists.
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| OwnedYour shelfOwn | # | Title | Year | Platform | CIBComplete In BoxCIB $ | WarningsFakes · Region · Audio | Find / Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monster HunterOptional | 2004 | PS2 | —— | — | ||
| 2 | Monster Hunter FreedomOptional | 2005 | PSP | —— | — | ||
| 3 | Monster Hunter Freedom UniteRecommended | 2008 | PSP | —— | — | ||
| 4 | Monster Hunter 3 UltimateOptional | 2013 | Wii U | —— | — | ||
| 5 | Monster Hunter 4 UltimateRecommended | 2015 | 3DS | —— | — | ||
| 6 | Monster Hunter Generations UltimateRecommended | 2018 | Switch | —— | — | ||
| 7 | Monster Hunter WorldEssential Best entry point for newcomers | 2018 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 8 | Monster Hunter World: IceborneOptional | 2019 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 9 | Monster Hunter RiseEssential | 2021 | Switch | —— | — | ||
| 10 | Monster Hunter Rise: SunbreakOptional | 2022 | Nintendo Switch | —— | — | ||
| 11 | Monster Hunter WildsEssential Current entry — best starting point | 2025 | PS5 | —— | — |
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Essential marks the installments that carry the spine of Monster Hunter's main story and world-building — the ones collectors and lore-focused players treat as must-play for the core narrative. On GameOrder, Essential titles include Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Monster Hunter World.
Recommended entries meaningfully enrich the franchise — strong stories, fan favorites, or connective tissue that pays off after the essentials, without being strictly required. Recommended picks here: Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.
Optional games are fair to skip for continuity; they are side paths, experiments, or lighter fare that fans can pick up when they want more, not when they need the main plot. Optional tagged titles: Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Monster Hunter Freedom, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, and Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
Spinoff titles sit apart from the primary saga — different genres, timelines, or branding — and are best treated as extras after you know the heart of the series. No Spinoff tags appear on these rows.