Summary
TheMonster Hunterfranchise simply wouldn’t be what it is without mobile games. Although it saw success in Japan since the start of the series on PlayStation 2, its availability on PlayStation Portable starting withMonster Hunter Freedomturned it into a phenomenon. The series didn’t see nearly as much success in the West until it hit the 3DS withMonster Hunter 4 Ultimate.
However, if players want aMonster Hunterexperience today without having to lug around a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, they’re in luck. There are plenty of games where players can re-experience the fun of hunting monsters and crafting armor from their phones, making these titles perfect for long car rides, public transportation, or just a brief check-in once or twice a day.
Android, iOS
Genre
Action RPG
If one has ever played aMonster Huntergame and wished that, instead of fighting draconic monsters, they were fighting aliens? Well, that’s exactly what players get inYeager: Hunter Legendfor iOS and Android, an action RPG with graphics that look made for consoles. It offers a similar gameplay loop asMonster Hunter, that is hunt monsters, obtain materials, craft armor, and level up.
Hack n' slash
True to its title,Every Heroallows players nearly limitless possibilities as to how they can fight off hordes of monsters in this roguelike RPG. The gameplay resemblesMonster Hunterin form and function; players attack and dodge monsters and customize their loadouts before every fight, making every battle a unique experience for players.
The gameplay is a lotsimpler than a typicalMonster Huntergame, which emphasizes combos, but for mobile games on this list, that’s no outlier. Some players bemoaned the amount of grinding that’s required to level up characters and acquire new equipment, but if fans don’t mind that sort of gameplay loop, thenEvery Heromight have everything they ever wanted.
Strategy RPG
Just by glancing at the gameplay forBotworld Adventure,Monster Hunterfans might see no similarities. However, look beyond the top-down perspective and art style, and they’ll see quite a familiar gameplay loop toMonster Hunter. InBotworld Adventure, players choose between one of four character species and set out into an open world to build and collect bots to battle with.
Essentially,Botworld Adventureis like ifMonster Huntersomehow combined the monster hunting mechanic with the weapon building mechanic. The robots players build will be patchworked from scraps they acquire out on the field, whilethe battles themselves are more strategic arena matchesthan action-based hack-and-slashes.
Action RPG
Dawnlandsis more of a traditionalMonster Hunterclone, featuring an expansive open world that’s rather impressive for iOS and Android (though not for PC). Exploring the landscape isakin toThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with puzzles and artifacts hidden all around as players travel, battling monsters and gathering materials to build armor, weapons, and even bases.
In a way,Dawnlandsis likeMonster Hunterwith the additional mechanics ofMinecraft, making it surprising it hasn’t caught on the way the other two franchises have yet. If fans ever wanted to play aMonster Huntergame that de-emphasizes taking on quests and focuses more on traversing an open world, thenDawnlandsis the game for them.
iOS
Shooter
This is one for theMonster Hunterfans who are frequent users of the Light or Heavy Bowgun.Dino Squad: Online Actioncombines the action-packed hunting of the Capcom franchise with shooter mechanics, as players battle each other on mounted prehistoric creatures, armed with high-tech weapons and fighting for the survival of the fittest reptiles.
The game has struggled with online connectivity and crashes in past iterations, but after many updates, it’s a fun alternative to theMonster Hunterfranchise. The character designs aren’t as inventive as theMonster Huntergames given they’re all real monsters, but hopefully, there are some dinosaur fans out there who will enjoy this for what it is.
Although it has theMonster Huntername and features many monsters from the series' history,Monster Hunter Nowis a much different experience than the mainline series. Taking more inspiration fromPokemon GO,Monster Hunter Nowencourages players to hit the streetsof the real world to encounter monsters, find gathering spots, and complete quests while growing all the more powerful.
Additionally,Monster Hunter Nownot only allows for easy connectivity with players either across the world or in the same room, but most hunts barely go on for longer than a minute, making it a quick and easy play in waiting rooms. However, it’s not the best choice for those who want to hunt on the go, as it will detect fast movement and limit gameplay, so apologies to all inconvenienced passengers.
Monster Hunter Storiesmay not have originated on iOS or Android, but saw a mobile release in 2017, the same year as its 3DS debut. This RPG spin-off ofMonster Hunteris a properPokemonclone, allowing players to collect a party of up to six rideable monsters, who they then engage in battle with against other hunters and their steeds.
The gameplay is much more simplistic than evenPokemon, with only four different weapon types, but for the originalStories, there are over 100 “Monsties” that players can ally with, from Barroth to Lagiacrus, to even Elder Dragons.Although its 2021 sequel has yet to see a mobile game release, the original 2017 game is still available on iOS and Android for those who want to check it out.
