Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Review Roundup - Is The New Expansion Any Good?

Monster Hunter World gained critical acclaim and broke sales records upon launch last year, and Capcom has been keeping eager hunters engaged with a steady stream of updates and live content. The biggest chunk of content, though, is the new Iceborne expansion. The ambitious follow-up introduces new mechanics and monsters, and it's out now on PS4 and Xbox One--but is it any good?

The original Monster Hunter World was named one of our picks for best games of 2018, and the follow-up appears to match that level of quality. GameSpot's Iceborne review-in-progress says it "adds more of what set the base game aside from its predecessors without feeling overcrowded, even if its narrative could have used a little more work."

Several outlets have published reviews or reviews-in-progress for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. We've gathered a sampling of them below to give a range from around the industry. For an even broader look, check out GameSpot's sister site Metacritic. If you're considering buying, make sure to read up our pre-order guide.

• Game: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
• Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
• Developer: Capcom
• Release date: September 6 (PC in January)
• Price: $40 / £35 / $60 AUD

Pre-order Monster Hunter World: Iceborne on Amazon

GameSpot -- Review in Progress

"This expansion is rife with moments like that; all of the tweaking and the improvements feel like they were done with the excellent building blocks of Monster Hunter World in mind, which means that getting to the meat of the matter is quicker and more satisfying than ever. There’s no more fussing about with new systems or worrying about ruffling the feathers of hardcore fans with a direction change in the series; those teething problems have already come and gone. Iceborne is a confident step into the future of the franchise, and it's hard not to think about what might come next." -- Ginny Woo [Full review]

God is a Geek -- 10/10

"As a piece of additional content for an already solid game, Iceborne is an incredible achievement. What was becoming fatigued has been given a shot in the arm, and anyone coming into Monster Hunter World fresh right now is in for a genuine treat with a huge, lovingly-crafted base game and one of the best expansions I’ve ever played. For all the veterans of the game or the franchise, though, it’s business as usual – only bolder, better and beastlier than it was before." -- Mick Frasier [Full review]

USGamer -- 4.5/5

"Monster Hunter World: Iceborne skimps a bit on introducing totally new monsters, but it's still a large expansion filled with very smart refinements. The campaign alone comes close to matching the scale of the base game, and it wisely ditches some of its more tedious elements. If you played through the original and wanted more, then Iceborne is almost everything you could ask for. It's not a full sequel, but it's pretty darn close." -- Kat Bailey [Full review]

Destructoid -- 9/10

"That's what it comes down to, really. These days, there aren't many games I'm willing to surrender hundreds of hours of free time to, but somehow, some way, Monster Hunter found an opening. World laid the groundwork, and now Iceborne is here to carry me through the rest of 2019 and beyond. Mentally, I'm not even ready to start thinking about Capcom's post-launch plans for the expansion." -- Jordan Devore [Full review]

Game Informer -- 8.25

"Stepping back into Monster Hunter World for Iceborne reminded me how much I adore this game, but it also exposes its flaws. Capcom didn’t improve much for the expansion, like once again having a boring tower defense story mission and making you separately watch scenes solo before you can join up in co-op. Even so, surviving together to get that jackpot of materials for better gear hasn’t lost its allure, and Iceborne challenges you to be a better player and teammate with its arduous fights. The return trip is worth it, just don’t expect many upgrades to the experience." -- Kimberly Wallace [Full review]