We all know Monster Hunter Wilds has a content drought situation, and while we’d love for it to be over, sometimes, we need to look for similar games that give us that monster-hunting thrill to feel the Rathalos-sized void. While I could recommend any other Monster Hunter game, including Stories, some might want a break from one of Capcom’s most legendary franchises. If that’s the case, I’ve made a list of five games that are similar to Monster Hunter Wilds in some capacity and should keep you busy until the next update drops.
1. Wild Hearts
Let’s start with the obvious one: Wild Hearts. Believe it or not, this is one, if not the most similar, game to Monster Hunter Wilds and any other entries. While it didn’t have the smoothest of launches, it definitely brought a lot of things to the monster-hunting table. For starters, you can craft many things to help you take down the colossal Kemono. This felt quite refreshing, as hunting involved more than just bringing the best build and executing the same combos repeatedly. Not that there’s something wrong with that.
Furthermore, Wild Hearts is in a much better place now, and it has even landed on the Nintendo Switch 2 with the Wild Hearts S version. The latter includes all the content to date and even features a four-player co-op mode, which the other versions don’t have. So, if you want the closest thing to fighting colossal creatures but a few extra things, now’s the best time to jump into Wild Hearts.
2. Grounded 2
Hear me out, Grounded 2 has a few things that make it feel similar to Monster Hunter. While Grounded is a survival/crafting series, it also has that loop of “killing enemies to wear their skins and parts as armor.” When I say it like that, it sounds creepy, but hey, we all love that drip, don’t we?
In truth, Grounded 2 might not have the combat depth of Monster Hunter or the grindy aspect, but with how many towering insects are in the game, I can’t help but feel I’m playing a Monster Hunter-like game at times. Furthermore, many encounters have unique mechanics that we almost never see in this genre, but definitely resemble some well-known hunting games out there.
3. Warframe
If we talk about launch-day Warframe, then no, it doesn’t feel like a game that’s similar to Monster Hunter Wilds or its predecessors. However, if we take a look at current-day Warframe, especially with the open worlds, then it has a lot of things in common.
Warframe allows you to fight large bosses to help you grind for materials you’ll need for your Warframe. It might not be a 1:1 thing, but it gives many Monster Hunter vibes. However, the thing that makes Warframe feel similar to Monster Hunter is how grindy it is, and I say that in a good way. If you’re into games that will have you facing the same foe countless times, Warframe captures that feeling in almost everything. Oh yes, you can also capture creatures here, just without a net.
4. God Eater 3
It might be a weird game to recommend, but in the eyes of many, God Eater 3 is a more fast-paced Monster Hunter, and you know what? I completely agree. While the levels are much smaller and linear, and the enemies might not be as memorable or as challenging as those in Capcom’s franchise, it still has many similar systems that will make any Monster Hunter player feel right at home.
Beyond that, and this might be a bonus, the whole anime look of it is great, and the character creator allows you to create your dream husbando or waifu. As long as you don’t mind some of the clunky controls at first, God Eater 3 is worth trying.
5. Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Granblue Fantasy: Relink might be an odd pick, especially since you don’t hunt monsters here. However, just like the abovementioned games, this one is quite similar to Monster Hunter in some ways. Instead of controlling one character, you can use many different cast members from the Granblue Fantasy series. Once you finish the surprisingly great campaign, you can start grinding for better weapons and higher difficulty missions.
Some of the quests involve defeating challenging bosses where the combat might resemble a modern JRPG like Tales of Arise or some MMOs like FFXIV. But what made me feel I was playing the Monster Hunter version of Granblue Fantasy is the grind. If you want a new weapon, you need to tag a specific reagent and do the same mission repeatedly or beat the same boss dozens of times. While the player count has dwindled, you can still do everything alone, which will give Monster Hunter players that sense of familiarity.
