11 Best Games Like Monster Hunter: Top Alternatives in 2026
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This list is regularly updated to match what’s trending and in-demand among gamers.
If you’re a like-minded gamer who loves thrilling hunts, stunning visuals, and action RPG combat that gets your blood pumping, I’ve put together eleven of the best games like Monster Hunter. I fell in love with the series back in 2010 – the huge monster roster, the gear you could craft, and those tough, dance-like boss fights hooked me immediately.
The sheer freedom and massive amount of content kept me playing for years. Naturally, I began searching for similar experiences, and the titles below are the best I’ve found. If you want that same excitement, you’re in the right place, and these games won’t disappoint.
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Our Top Picks for Games Like Monster Hunter
A no-nonsense, “only the best” kind of gamer, are you? Take a look at our team’s top picks for the titles we think you’ll enjoy out of all the Monster Hunter-like games out there:
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Buy nowHorizon Forbidden West 2022The strongest all-around pick for Monster Hunter fans, with tactical machine hunts, elemental weaknesses, component targeting, crafting, and a huge open world to explore.
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Buy nowDragon’s Dogma 2 2024A great choice if you love fighting massive creatures, climbing onto monsters, experimenting with different vocations, and tackling battles in your own way.
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Buy nowWild Hearts 2023A strong Monster Hunter alternative, combining giant Kemono hunts, gear progression, co-op, and the creative Karakuri building system.
Didn’t like any of our picks? Well, I wouldn’t worry just yet, as I’ve prepared eight more games that are just as fun and highly recommended for Monster Hunter fans to look at below.
11 Games Like Monster Hunter That Let You Slay Epic Beasts
Here are the eleven best games to play if you like Monster Hunter’s patented gameplay loop, combat system, monster variety, and general immersiveness. Hot take much? Scroll down and see why I put each game on this list and why you should play them next!
1. Horizon Forbidden West [Best Overall Game Like Monster Hunter]
- Platforms
- PS5, PS4, PC
- Release Date
- 2022
- Best For
- Hunters who love tactical fights against huge mechanical beasts
- Length
- Around 60 hours
- Developer
- Guerrilla Games
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Why It’s Similar
- Targeted hunts crafting elemental weaknesses preparation
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Horizon Forbidden West is my top pick for Monster Hunter fans because its biggest machine fights genuinely feel like hunts. Before taking on a Thunderjaw, Tremortusk, or Slaughterspine, you’ll want to scan its weak points, choose the right elemental ammo, and decide which components are worth tearing off first.
Combat gives you plenty of room to experiment, too. Bows, traps, explosive spikes, shredders, and detachable machine weapons all work differently, so tougher fights reward preparation rather than button-mashing. Hunting specific machines for rare upgrade materials also gives the progression loop a familiar Monster Hunter feel.
It’s also one of the most impressive large-scale open-world games in the genre, with deserts, jungles, mountains, underwater ruins, and machine habitats that constantly give you something new to track down.
My verdict: Horizon Forbidden West earns the #1 spot with tactical creature fights, satisfying preparation, and a strong upgrade loop that captures a big part of what makes Monster Hunter so addictive.
GAMES LIKE HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST
2. Dragon’s Dogma 2 [Best Fantasy RPG Like Monster Hunter]
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- 2024
- Best For
- Players who love climbing giant monsters with flexible builds
- Length
- Around 50 hours
- Developer
- Capcom
- Publisher
- Capcom
- Why It’s Similar
- Large creature fights weak-point targeting gear progression combat preparation
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Dragon’s Dogma 2 earns the second spot because fighting its biggest monsters feels wonderfully physical. You can climb onto cyclopes, ogres, and griffins, target vulnerable body parts, knock enemies off balance, and sometimes hang on for dear life while they try to throw you off.
What makes it stand out among must-play RPG games is how much freedom you get in combat. Vocations completely change how you approach fights, whether you’re firing arrows from a distance, climbing onto a monster as a Thief, or using heavy attacks to stagger it. Your Pawn party also matters, especially when different skills and inclinations start working together during chaotic encounters.
There’s less emphasis on repeatedly farming the same creature than in Monster Hunter, but the preparation, weapon experimentation, and huge-monster battles scratch a very similar itch.
My verdict: Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an excellent choice for Monster Hunter fans who want massive creatures, flexible builds, and more open-ended RPG exploration between fights.
GAMES LIKE DRAGON’S DOGMA 2
3. Wild Hearts [Best Modern Monster-Hunting Competitor]
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- 2023
- Best For
- Hunters after a fast-paced, modern take on the MH formula
- Length
- 52 hours
- Developer
- Omega Force
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Why It’s Similar
- Large monster hunts weapon mastery crafting co-op and repeatable battles
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After playing Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, Wild Hearts came just at the right time and gave me countless hours of fun while I was looking for my next big hunt.
It’s a refreshing take on the monster-hunting genre that offers the same gameplay loop, strategic combat, and co-op online multiplayer experience that MH games have, but it certainly wasn’t afraid to deviate from the formula. Fans of intense, skill-based combat may also enjoy browsing some of the best action RPG games, which share similar fast-paced gameplay elements.
I particularly liked the implementation of the Karakuri System here, which allowed for more in-depth crafting than most other Monster Hunter games. With it, you can build your very own base of operations from the ground up and craft all sorts of tools, traps, and fancy gadgets that’ll help you on your hunts and make map traversal easier.
It supports crossplay (PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5), too, which makes it a great MH alternative if you like playing with your friends via co-op.
My verdict: Wild Hearts is the closest modern competitor to Monster Hunter, offering fast, creative hunts with its own identity. If you want something familiar yet refreshingly different, this is an easy recommendation.
4. Dark Souls Remastered [Best Classic Soulslike for Monster Hunter Fans]
- Platforms
- PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Release Date
- 2018
- Best For
- Patient fighters who enjoy punishing combat and iconic bosses
- Length
- 42 hours
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Why It’s Similar
- Methodical combat stamina management boss pattern learning and build variety
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Dark Souls Remastered is a great fit for Monster Hunter fans who enjoy learning enemy patterns, managing stamina, and preparing carefully before difficult encounters. Its combat is slower and more defensive, but every successful dodge, block, and attack feels meaningful.
The game also rewards exploration, equipment upgrades, and build experimentation, giving you plenty of reasons to explore its interconnected world. Instead of repeatedly hunting the same monster for materials, you’ll face a wide range of bosses and enemies while gradually improving your character and gear.
Unlike Monster Hunter, Dark Souls Remastered puts much more emphasis on its interconnected world and punishing progression. Still, both games share a strong focus on mastering combat through patience, positioning, and learning from mistakes.
My verdict: Dark Souls Remastered is a natural choice for Monster Hunter players who want tougher, more methodical combat and iconic boss encounters in a darker fantasy world.
5. God Eater 3 [Best Anime-Style Monster-Hunting Experience]
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC
- Release Date
- 2019
- Best For
- Anime action RPG fans who prefer stylish, fast combat
- Length
- 35 hours
- Developer
- Bandai Namco Studios, Marvelous
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Why It’s Similar
- Mission-based hunts huge monsters weapon upgrades and fast co-op combat
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God Eater 3 will rock your world if you’re into ARPGs with exciting combat mechanics, tough bosses, and a solid story with darker themes. I’ve played one of its oldest predecessors, Gods Eater Burst, quite extensively on the PSP alongside Monster Hunter Freedom Unite way back then.
As someone who leans more towards single-player games with heavier narrative focus, I actually preferred GEB over MHFU (sacrilege, I know). Years later, I was glad to see that God Eater 3 still had the same charms, only now it has more gorgeous anime visuals, smoother combat, and streamlined crafting mechanics.
While I have more love for modern Monster Hunter games these days, getting to wield a God Arc that gets progressively stronger the more Aragami I hunt will always be a blast.
My verdict: God Eater 3 is perfect for players who enjoy quick, stylish, anime-flavored combat rather than slower, heavier battles. It’s a great alternative if you want monster-hunting gameplay that’s energetic and character-driven.
GAMES LIKE GOD EATER
6. Toukiden 2 [Best Mythology-Inspired Monster-Slaying RPG]
- Platforms
- PS4, PS3, PS Vita, PC
- Release Date
- 2017
- Best For
- Solo slayers who enjoy mythology-inspired monsters and melee
- Length
- 32 hours
- Developer
- Omega Force
- Publisher
- Koei Tecmo
- Why It’s Similar
- Large Oni hunts weapon variety crafting and repeatable monster battles
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Speaking of awesome-looking, powerful weapons you can upgrade, Toukiden 2′s vast arsenal of 11 different weapon types, each with their unique movesets, will surely blow you away.
Aside from its impressive weapon variety and focus on intense, melee combat, Toukiden 2 also boasts some of the best boss fights you’ll ever encounter in any monster-hunting RPG. Players who enjoy exploring large, immersive environments may also appreciate some of the best open-world games, which offer similarly expansive adventures.
Sure, even the tougher hunts here aren’t exactly Monster Hunter-level in terms of difficulty, but this actually works in its favor due to the way the story presents your main character.
It’s a solo-friendly game with less-gruelling, yet hype-inducing combat and – more importantly – a badass self-insert protagonist. Nuff said!
My verdict: Toukiden 2 brings intense melee combat, memorable boss fights, and mythology-inspired monsters to the forefront. It’s an excellent choice for players who love crafting, slaying, and exploring at their own pace.
7. Elden Ring [Best Soulslike Option for Monster Hunter Fans]
- Platforms
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
- Release Date
- 2022
- Best For
- Players seeking tough, Soulslike combat against massive foes
- Length
- 100 hours
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Why It’s Similar
- Huge bosses build experimentation precise combat and pattern learning
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If you’re looking for a different, yet still largely familiar kind of challenge as a Monster Hunter fan, then look no further than Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s bigger, more open take on the Dark Souls formula. It features polished combat mechanics and a large interconnected map with different biomes that are inarguably more dreary and hostile than what you’ll generally see in Monster Hunter games.
Simply put, you’ll find the very same formula of “epic battles + tough monsters + buildsmaxxing = tons of fun” here, except Elden Ring implements magic and other fantasy-based elements in both its combat and lore, and has more mature themes consistently present in its storytelling.
My verdict: Elden Ring captures the same sense of danger, reward, and mastery found in Monster Hunter’s toughest battles. If you thrive on methodical combat and colossal bosses, this game will hook you instantly.
GAMES LIKE ELDEN RING
8. Remnant: From the Ashes – Complete Edition [Best Co-op Monster-Hunting Alternative]
- Platforms
- PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Release Date
- 2019
- Best For
- Co-op squads who want challenging gunfights and boss hunts
- Length
- 20–25 hours
- Developer
- Gunfire Games
- Publisher
- Perfect World Entertainment
- Why It’s Similar
- Co-op boss fights gear progression challenging combat and repeatable encounters
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If you enjoy Monster Hunter most when you’re teaming up with friends to take down dangerous creatures, Remnant: From the Ashes is worth checking out. This third-person action RPG combines challenging boss fights, gear progression, exploration, and co-op combat in a dark post-apocalyptic world.
Combat is primarily ranged, with guns playing a much bigger role than they do in Monster Hunter. However, enemies still demand careful positioning and pattern recognition, while bosses often introduce unique mechanics that force you to adapt your strategy.
The Complete Edition also includes the Swamps of Corsus and Subject 2923 DLC, adding new areas, enemies, weapons, and challenges to the base game. With its randomized environments and strong co-op focus, it offers plenty of replay value for players who enjoy overcoming difficult encounters with friends.
My verdict: Remnant: From the Ashes trades Monster Hunter’s weapon-focused melee combat for guns and Soulslike mechanics, but its challenging bosses, gear progression, and co-op hunts make it a natural alternative.
9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt [Best Story-Driven Monster-Hunting Experience]
- Platforms
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
- Release Date
- 2015
- Best For
- Story-driven solo players who enjoy contract-based hunts
- Length
- 103 hours
- Developer
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher
- CD Projekt
- Why It’s Similar
- Monster contracts preparation creature weaknesses and specialized gear
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands proudly among the best single-player games of all time. Its monster-centric elements closely resemble Monster Hunter’s, down to all the pre-hunting preps you need to make for certain bosses, to the contract-based monster hunts you can take via subquests.
This game left such an impact on me that I recommend you play its previous installments, too, as all three games have a phenomenal story, great monster variety, and tons of content for you to explore.
Still, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is undoubtedly the best title in the series, and offers one of the best narratives any Monster Hunter fan is sure to enjoy. It’s the perfect game for all you hunters who like playing solo.
My verdict: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t a traditional monster-hunting game, but its contract system provides some of the genre’s most memorable encounters. Story-driven players who still crave tactical preparation will love it.
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10. The Axis Unseen [Best Indie Monster-Tracking Experience]
- Platforms
- PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date
- 2024
- Best For
- Fans of atmospheric, horror-infused monster-tracking adventures
- Length
- 30 hours
- Developer
- Just Purkey Games
- Publisher
- Just Purkey Games
- Why It’s Similar
- Monster tracking creature hunting exploration and preparation
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Any Elder Scrolls title from Bethesda Game Studios could’ve earned a spot here thanks to its varied creatures and classic RPG systems. But The Axis Unseen takes a more focused approach, coming from solo developer Nate Purkeypile, who previously worked on several of Bethesda’s best-known games.
The Axis Unseen is an absolute must-have for Monster Hunter fans who are also into fantastic indie games made with passion for the genre and pure artistic vision. Here, you get to track down folklore-inspired monsters and hunt them as you explore a massive, atmospheric open world.
Watch out, though, as this one’s also categorized as a heavy metal horror game, meaning you might find the monsters here a bit more…unsettling than what you’re probably used to.
My verdict: The Axis Unseen mixes atmospheric exploration with tense monster tracking, creating a fresh experience for fans seeking something different. Its eerie tone and unique design make it a standout indie pick.
11. Black Myth: Wukong [Best Boss-Focused Action RPG]
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- 2024
- Best For
- Anyone who loves demanding boss fights and build experiments
- Length
- Around 40–45 hours
- Developer
- Game Science
- Publisher
- Game Science
- Why It’s Similar
- Creature-heavy boss fights pattern learning varied builds and precise combat
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Black Myth: Wukong is a great pick if your favorite part of Monster Hunter is learning a huge enemy’s moveset and slowly figuring out how to bring it down. The game throws a constant stream of memorable bosses at you, from towering Yaoguai Kings to fast, aggressive creatures that punish sloppy dodges.
Combat revolves around the Destined One’s staff, but different stances, spells, transformations, spirits, and equipment give you plenty of ways to tweak your approach. Some fights become much easier once you rethink your loadout or learn exactly when a boss leaves an opening, which gives battles that satisfying trial-and-improvement rhythm.
It doesn’t have Monster Hunter’s hunt-and-craft structure, but among the best action RPG games, few deliver quite as many elaborate creature fights in such a short span.
My verdict: Black Myth: Wukong is ideal for Monster Hunter fans who care more about challenging boss encounters and mastering combat than repeatedly farming monsters for gear.
GAMES LIKE BLACK MYTH: WUKONG
My Overall Verdict on Games Like Monster Hunter
Below, I’ve picked the best options based on how well they capture different parts of that experience, from tactical hunts to challenging action RPG combat.
- Best overall → Horizon Forbidden West – hunt huge machines, tear off components, and prepare the right elemental tools for each fight.
- Best fantasy RPG alternative → Dragon’s Dogma 2 – climb massive monsters, experiment with vocations, and tackle fights with a customizable Pawn party.
- Best modern monster-hunting alternative → Wild Hearts – take down giant Kemono using varied weapons, co-op, and the creative Karakuri system.
- Best classic Soulslike option → Dark Souls Remastered – master deliberate combat, learn boss patterns, and build around different weapons and playstyles.
- Best anime-style alternative → God Eater 3 – hunt Aragami with transformable God Arc weapons in fast, stylish missions.
The rest of the list explores different sides of the Monster Hunter appeal, but these five are the easiest places to start depending on whether you care most about hunting, combat, co-op, or progression.
FAQs
Horizon Forbidden West is our top pick thanks to its tactical hunts, weak-point targeting, gear upgrades, and preparation. Wild Hearts is another strong choice if you want a more direct hunt-and-craft loop.
Monster Hunter games are action RPGs that excel in enemy variety, gear crafting, and challenging boss fights that are best experienced via co-op. It emphasizes the hunt-craft – repeat gameplay loop that’s set in several environmentally diverse maps with tons of interactive elements.
Dark Souls Remastered, Elden Ring, and Black Myth: Wukong are the best Soulslike-style picks here, with tough bosses, pattern learning, build variety, and precise combat.
Yes, several alternatives support co-op multiplayer, including Wild Hearts, God Eater 3, and Remnant: From the Ashes – Complete Edition. These games let you team up with friends to tackle challenging enemies and bosses.
Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring, and Dark Souls Remastered stand out for their boss fights, with memorable enemy designs, demanding attack patterns, and combat that rewards patience and precise timing.
