Monster Hunter Rise: Everything We Know

Monster Hunter World may have skipped out on the Switch, but Nintendo's hybrid console is receiving its own new Monster Hunter game this year: Monster Hunter Rise. Developed on Capcom's RE Engine, Rise is a sprawling new entry in the action-RPG series, featuring seamless environments and a handful of brand-new mechanics that give the game a more fluid, action-oriented feel than previous installments. To help you prepare for what's ahead, we've rounded up everything we know about Switch's new Monster Hunter title below.

Release Date

Monster Hunter Rise launches on March 26, 2021.

Platforms

Monster Hunter Rise is initially launching only on Nintendo Switch. However, a PC version is slated to release sometime in 2022.

Review

GameSpot gave Monster Hunter Rise a 9/10 with critic Richard Wakeling saying that the game's "moment-to-moment combat is as impeccable as it's ever been and puts Rise on a pedestal as one of the feathers in the Nintendo Switch's cap."

Trailers

Capcom has given us a few glimpses at Monster Hunter Rise since it was officially announced in September's Nintendo Direct Mini presentation. During TGS 2020, the publisher shared an expanded version of the game's reveal trailer, showcasing more of Rise's expansive environments and its major new gameplay mechanics, particularly wall-running, the lasso-like Wirebug, and the new Palamute companion. The video also introduced a couple of new monsters debuting in the game, including Magnamalo, Rise's flagship monster.

The publisher shared another trailer during the 2020 Game Awards. This one focuses more on the game's story. As it explains, Kamura Village is being threatened by a monster stampede known as the Rampage, and players will need to protect the village and discover the reason this event keeps occurring.

Capcom released yet another new trailer for the game during January's Monster Hunter Digital Event. This one introduces another new local, the Frost Islands, an arctic expanse that's home to a brand-new monster known as Goss Harag. The trailer also gave us a glimpse at a new mechanic called Wyvern Riding, as well as more returning monsters, namely the Tigrex, Khezu, Barioth, Lagombi, and Mizutsune.

Beyond those trailers, Capcom has also shared an assortment of videos highlighting each of the game's 14 different weapon types, from the Great Sword to the more eclectic Insect Glaive. You can watch these videos and more on the official Monster Hunter YouTube channel.

New Features

Monster Hunter Rise introduces a couple of new gameplay elements to the series, chief among them the Wirebug. This lasso-like insect functions as a sort of grappling hook, allowing players to propel themselves around the environment and even latch onto monsters. Capcom confirms that players will have two Wirebugs at their disposal, and they can be used in conjunction with the game's various weapons to unleash acrobatic attacks.

Rise's other big addition is the Palamute, a new type of canine companion. Much like the Palico, the Palamute can join players on hunts and offer backup when battling monsters. Whereas the Palico is more of a support companion, however, the Palamute specializes more in offense, and players can even ride it to traverse environments more quickly.

Confirmed Monsters

Monster Hunter Rise features an assortment of brand-new monsters as well as many returning fan-favorites from previous entries in the series. While Capcom has not yet revealed the full monster list, the publisher has already shown off a variety of new and classic monsters that will be making an appearance in the game. Here are all the monsters that have been confirmed thus far:

• Aknosom
• Almudron
• Anjanath
• Arzuros
• Barioth
• Barroth
• Basarios
• Bishaten
• Chameleos
• Diablos
• Goss Harag
• Great Baggi
• Great Izuchi
• Great Wroggi
• Jyuratodus
• Khezu
• Kula-Ya-Ku
• Lagombi
• Magnamalo
• Mizutsune
• Nargacuga
• Pukei-Pukei
• Rajang
• Rakna-Kadaki
• Rathalos
• Rathian
• Royal Ludroth
• Somnacanth
• Tetranadon
• Tigrex
• Tobi-Kadachi
• Volvidon
• Zinogre

Multiplayer Details

Like previous Monster Hunter games, Rise supports up to four players locally or online. As is the case with most other Switch games, you'll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to take advantage of online play. Individual memberships cost $4 for one month, $8 for three months, and $20 for one year, while an annual Family Plan runs for $35 and covers up to eight Nintendo Accounts.

Although Capcom has shared few details about Rise's multiplayer content, the basics remain the same as in previous Monster Hunter games. You'll be able to party with up to three other players and embark on quests together. These missions entail hunting or trapping fearsome monsters and gathering resources, which you can then use to fashion new weapons and armor for your hunter.

Free Demo And Booster Pack

Capcom released a second free, limited-time Monster Hunter Rise demo on the Nintendo eShop on March 19. The demo features two training missions and two hunts from the previous demo, as well as a new "advanced" quest to hunt the game's flagship monster, the Magnamalo. As before, the demo will have a play-count limit; you'll only be able to collectively play the three hunts 30 times.

It's worth noting that if you have demo save data on your system when you start the full game, you'll unlock a free item booster pack, which includes the following items:

• Mega Potion x20
• Pitfall Trap x5
• Energy Drink x10
• Mega Demondrug x5
• Mega Armorskin x5

DLC/Microtransaction Details

Capcom has not yet announced any DLC for Monster Hunter Rise, although some sort of post-launch content is expected to arrive for the game. Previous Monster Hunter titles have received free crossover gear and quests based on other video game series (the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild armor in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate being one such example), and that tradition will likely continue with Rise. Capcom, however, is not ready to discuss any crossover plans yet:

"[Collaborations have] obviously become a staple of the series, so we're looking into what we can do with this game, but we haven't really decided on anything yet, and the team is still very much hard at work on getting the actual main game finished, so that's our priority right now," producer Ryozo Tsujimoto told GameSpot.

Beyond potential collaborations, there's also the possibility of some paid DLC. Monster Hunter World set a precedent for this when it received its big Iceborne expansion, which introduced an entirely new world to explore and many new and returning monsters to hunt. It remains to be seen if Rise will likewise receive a paid DLC expansion, but given Iceborne's success, it's certainly possible.

Amiibo

Monster Hunter Rise is launching alongside three new Amiibo figures of the Palamute, Palico, and Magnamalo. Each one unlocks a special set of Magnamalo armor in the game. However, the standalone figures will be sold exclusively at GameStop (in the US) and EB Games (in Canada). You can see the armor sets each one unlocks below.

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