Monster Hunter Stories 3 preview: as grand and complex as Wilds

After 12 hours with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, the game already feels as grand and deep as a mainline Monster Hunter. Set to launch on March 13, Capcom’s sequel leans into a bigger story and more involved combat while retaining the series’ bright, whimsical presentation — though it may no longer serve as the gentle entry point its predecessors were.

The structure remains familiar: a turn-based RPG that lets you explore open areas, fight creatures, gather crafting materials, and steal eggs from dens to grow a stable of Monsties. Early areas like Azuria and Cataracts showcase a loop of exploration, cinematic cutscenes, egg collecting and hatching, releasing duplicates to repopulate species, and breeding traits to craft stronger armor and weapons.

Combat has grown markedly more complex.

monster hunter, stories 3, twisted reflection, capcom, turn-based rpg, monsties, egg collecting, hatching, crafting materials, combat complexity