Do you know those games you keep eyeing in the store for years, only to scroll past them every time without pulling the trigger? For me, that game was always Monster Hunter.
I was well aware of the boundless love many gamers have for the franchise, but every time I turned to YouTube for some gameplay footage, I just wasn’t convinced.
And so, for years, the question lingered in my mind: What is it that everyone sees in this game? A few months ago I finally decided to set my hesitation aside and give Monster Hunter: World a shot. I’d love to say it was the glowing user reviews that won me over, but in reality, it was a hefty discount that finally pushed me across the line. Luckily, my stinginess paid off, because despite Monster Hunter being packed with elements I usually can’t stand, I somehow found myself absolutely loving the hunt.
But why is that?
Here are five things about Monster Hunter that should have made me hate it—followed by why, against all odds, I ended up loving it.
1. A Silent Protagonist
Okay, Monster Hunter Wilds may have finally introduced a talking protagonist, but the game that started it all for me certainly didn’t. In my opinion, a game has never been better because of a silent main character. Sure, there are fantastic games where the protagonist doesn’t speak (Persona, Baldur’s Gate), but I firmly believe they would have been even better if the main character actually had dialogue.
Something that also rubs me the wrong way is when a game lets you choose between different voice options when creating your silent character. But why? Just for a few grunts and battle cries? If that’s all, I honestly don’t care. It’s the same as Cyberpunk 2077 letting you customize V’s genitals. What’s the point if you never actually see them? Not that I needed to see my V’s D, but it’s about the principle.
So right off the bat, Monster Hunter: World was already down 1-0, and it was going to have to work extra hard to turn me into a fan.
2. Grinding
Just hearing the word grinding makes my skin crawl. Grinding should only be allowed in a dance club. I’m not a fan of repetition at all. When a developer expects you to fight the same battle over and over just to make your character stronger, it often feels like a lack of creativity. There are plenty of other ways to challenge players and plenty of tools to help characters grow without forcing them into a repetitive loop.
In my opinion, game designers are doing something wrong if the majority of players feel forced to grind just to defeat a boss. Either the boss isn’t well-balanced, or the previous quests don’t provide enough XP to prepare for the challenge.
I already spend my entire workday doing repetitive tasks, but at least I get paid for it. Grinding in games often feels the same: like work. Some games require you to fight the same enemies for hours just to stand a chance against a tough boss, and that’s not my idea of fun. In those cases, I’d rather swallow my pride and drop the difficulty to easy than spend endless hours grinding. And trust me, that’s not a decision I take lightly as a gamer.
In Monster Hunter, grinding the same monster is a must if you want to craft a full armor set or weapon from it. Monsters drop specific materials needed to forge their gear, but never enough to complete a full set right away. So if you’re aiming for a full outfit, not just for the stats but also for the drip, you’ll have to fight the same beast multiple times. And then you just have to hope it actually drops the rare resource you still need.
3. Lengthy Battles
This ties in somewhat with grinding because failing long battles leads to repetition. And in Monster Hunter, battles are long. They consist of multiple phases, and throughout the fight, the monster will attempt to escape to a different part of the map multiple times (the coward).
A single battle can easily last 20 minutes, depending on your experience level. Normally, I have zero patience for games where you fail right before the end of a long fight, only to have to redo the entire thing. Who has the time or energy for that?
This could easily become frustrating. So why doesn’t it in Monster Hunter?
4. A Thin Story
For me, a strong story is often one of the most important aspects of a game, and Monster Hunter isn’t exactly winning any awards in that department.
The premise? Take down some monsters to restore balance to the ecosystem. That’s it in a nutshell. The characters exist purely to provide you with resources, upgrades, or quests, and they won’t be leaving a lasting impression. Don’t expect any meaningful character development, and the voice acting doesn’t do much to elevate the experience either.
Again, Capcom takes a step in the right direction with Monster Hunter Wilds. They’ve put more effort into the story and characters than in Monster Hunter: World, adding a bit more depth. But even so, neither the story nor the characters managed to grab me, which should logically count as yet another downside.
By this point, you’d think I’d lose interest after an hour and move on to one of the countless other games flooding the market. Strangely enough, that thought never even crossed my mind.
5. It’s Very Challenging
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good challenge. A reasonable challenge. I’m not a Souls player, largely for the same reasons I’ve mentioned here. I have a lot of respect for the fans who memorize enemy move sets and are able to anticipate their every attack, but personally, I’ve never been motivated enough to do the same.
Monster Hunter also has a reputation for being tough. Just like in Souls games, knowing your enemies’ attack patterns is crucial. Their movements and sounds hint at what they’re about to do, and you need to respond accordingly to take them down.
Preparation is just as important. Heading into a hunt with the right items is essential, and throughout the world, you’ll find materials to craft potions, antidotes, and food that provide temporary boosts.
There’s simply a lot to learn and keep track of. And honestly? The older I get, the less eager I am to put in that kind of effort.
By all logic, these five points should make Monster Hunter a game I wouldn’t enjoy at all. So why did it suddenly click for me after about 10 hours in World, and why does it keep getting better with every hour I put into it?
If Monster Hunter Has These Five Things, Why Do I Love It?
If there’s one thing Monster Hunter has taught me, it’s that even I can find grinding and repeating long battles fun. To this day, it’s the only game where I don’t mind grinding.
There are a few key reasons for that. The most obvious one is the gameplay. There’s something incredibly satisfying about hacking away at these massive beasts, severing limbs, and breaking parts (I’m fully aware of how psychotic that sounds, but let’s not sugarcoat it).
And every time I managed to break a part, I realized that the grind was worth it. After all, each piece brings you one step closer to crafting your desired armor. The fact that you still keep those parts even if you fail a quest means it never feels like a total waste of time.
After every hunt, I’d immediately sprint to the smithy to check out my new crafting options. No matter what you do in the game, it always contributes to something; you’re always working toward a goal. And nothing is ever for nothing. Like, you know, losing your carefully collected souls in certain other games.
The Monsters Are a Visual Feast, and They Play Fair
The countless monsters that make your life difficult in Monster Hunter are all stunning in their own way. They’re incredibly diverse in terms of appearance, behavior, and strengths and weaknesses. They feel real, as though they truly belong in the world (even though, well, they don’t. That’s the whole point).
And whenever I fell prey to one of these monsters, I never felt like it was beyond my control. If I studied the monster from a safe distance, I could usually spot patterns or signals to watch out for. This carried through smoothly during the battles. You get to know the monster better and better, which gives you a real sense of progression that makes each subsequent fight a little easier.
What also stood out to me was how accurate the hitboxes are. Opinions on this are a bit divided, but I often found myself admiring how a claw/tentacle/whatever just missed me by mere centimeters, and I got away just in time. Dodging a snapping jaw by milliseconds always feels amazing, even if it’s the third time facing the same monster.
The Long Fights I Normally Dislike Work to Monster Hunter’s Advantage
Because of the massive creatures we face in Monster Hunter, long battles feel entirely appropriate. It would feel odd to bring down a monster that’s big enough for your hunter to fit inside fifty times in just a few minutes.
The lengthy battles feel epic. The real question in Monster Hunter is who can wear the other down the fastest, and that’s exactly how I experience the fights in the game.
Little by little, you (hopefully) see your enemy breaking down, both literally and figuratively. The fact that monsters move to different areas to recharge or take advantage of the environment makes the battles feel even more alive. Every fight becomes a war of attrition, and it feels amazing. So amazing that I have no problem repeating them.
And that’s not even considering the fact that another monster can suddenly join in and start fighting your adversary. When unexpected help arrives in the middle of a fight, it’s a nice bonus. It looks spectacular, and let’s be honest; it’s always great when someone else does some of the heavy lifting for you.
If Even I Don’t Mind the Lack of Story and the Silent Protagonist, It Says a Lot About the Gameplay
For the reasons mentioned above, I didn’t mind the thin story or the silent protagonist in Monster Hunter: World for a second. Despite all the things that normally ruin my enjoyment of a game, Monster Hunter not only gets away with it, it thrives because of it.
Never before have I wanted a story to step aside for more action or wished for characters to stop talking, but Monster Hunter managed to make me lose all desire for a good story.
Finally, I understand why the fanbase is so passionate about this franchise. I’m still a rookie hunter, with plenty of monsters to take down and weapons to try out. But the game has undeniably sunk its claws into me, and I’m certain it won’t let go. This is a game where I can easily sink hundreds of hours into.
