Monster Hunter Stories Review, Guide & Beginner Tips

Monster Hunter Stories transforms Capcom's creature roster into a colorful turn-based RPG with egg hunting, gene customization, and a lengthy campaign. Combat is approachable, while repetitive dens and hidden gene complexity slow the adventure.

Monster Hunter Stories is a turn-based spin-off in which the player becomes a Rider rather than a traditional Hunter. Riders form bonds with creatures called Monsties, hatch eggs found in dens, and travel with a party while investigating a spreading Black Blight. Combat uses a Power, Speed, and Technical relationship similar to rock-paper-scissors.

Predicting an opponent's attack type wins head-to-head exchanges, while weapons, elemental weaknesses, skills, items, and the Kinship gauge add further choices. Riding a Monstie after building Kinship unlocks a powerful joint attack. The collection system has more depth than its bright presentation initially suggests.

Eggs vary by weight, smell, species, and gene layout. The Rite of Channeling transfers genes between Monsties, allowing passive bonuses, elemental changes, and bingo patterns that strengthen a build. A favorite creature can remain useful with thoughtful gene planning.

Exploration includes villages, fields, monster dens, gathering points, quests, and turn-based battles. Dens become repetitive because many use similar corridors and resource nodes, but the possibility of a rare egg gives each visit a purpose. The story is earnest and family-friendly compared with mainline Monster Hunter, while still using familiar monsters and materials.

The original mobile edition remains a substantial premium RPG, though players should compare it with the newer remastered release on supported platforms. Cross-platform features, graphics, voice options, and saved data differ by edition. Regardless of version, Stories succeeds through team building and readable combat rather than action hunting.

Learn the attack triangle: Power beats Technical, Technical beats Speed, and Speed beats Power. Watch each monster's behavior and record its usual pattern. Winning a head-to-head reduces incoming damage and builds momentum.

Switch between available weapons according to the enemy part and weakness. Use items before health becomes critical, and fill the Kinship gauge through successful attacks. Ride the active Monstie when the healing or Kinship Skill will meaningfully change the battle.

Explore monster dens for eggs, but compare inventory space and gene potential before keeping every find. Heavier or better-smelling eggs can indicate stronger genes. Use the Rite of Channeling carefully: the donated Monstie is consumed, so transfer rare genes only after deciding which creature belongs in the long-term party.

Complete subquests that overlap with normal gathering and battles. Upgrade weapons and armor from materials without exhausting items needed for important quests. Build a party with different field abilities and attack tendencies.

Before buying, verify whether the original mobile edition or the newer remaster better matches the desired platform and features.