Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Reviews
Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a monstrously huge JRPG packed with epic scenes and powerful emotional moments. There's so much to explore and experience in a stunning world set to inspiring music. Missing multiplayer is definitely a blow, and for some, a potential dealbreaker, but what’s here is an outstanding, incredibly fun experience that feels like the start of a lasting legacy. Capcom should take note of what this team has pulled off; the future looks bright, and Twisted Reflection sends a clear message: this spin-off could potentially supplant the main series.
Gameplay-wise, there's not much here to win over those who aren't already fans of this Monster Hunter spin-off series, but thanks to numerous gameplay enhancements, a more mature story and full voice acting, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is undoubtedly a cut above its predecessors.
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Review in Spanish | Read full review
It is hard to shake the feeling that Monster Hunter Stories 3 is going to slip under the radar, and that would be a real shame. This is not merely a charming sidestep for Monster Hunter fans. It is a confident, ambitious JRPG in its own right, with strong storytelling, smart systems, and a clear identity. For the first time, the spinoff feels every bit as essential as the main series.
As Capcom continues its winning streak at full throttle, Monster Hunter has raised the bar back to its former glory after the bittersweet Wilds.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is definitely the most ambitious, prettiest and most mature instalment in the series, which finally rises above the label of a ‘small spin-off’.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Maintaining the structure that made the series famous and without abandoning its roots, while also evolving within what it used to become different as a spin-off, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an excellent game and the high point of the trilogy. Although it lacks a slight refinement in parts of its gameplay, it's a worthwhile title for any Monster Hunter fan.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is best described as a refined and improved Monster Hunter Stories 2. It doesn't really change the core concept, but pretty much every change in the game is for the better. The new story is easier to engage with, the combat system is more fun than ever, and in general, it's a great leap forward without losing anything that made the previous games fun. Only some minor frame rate issues drag down the Switch 2 experience, and they're not enough to sour an otherwise fantastic game.
The story wound up being a highlight, but even the streamlining of monster dens couldn't solve the heavy-handedness of monster collection and enhancement. If you want to painstakingly tweak the dials on habitats and splice monster genes while dealing with an acquired taste of a combat system, you'll find a better time than I did in this game. Maybe at the end of the day, the twisted reflection was a metaphor for the entire game.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Twisted Reflection deserves to be studied as a benchmark for how to craft a spin-off. It fully embraces the DNA of the traditional experience while confidently iterating on its formula with creativity to make a sick JRPG first and a great MH experience second
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection captivates players with its powerful story and charismatic characters. The combat is taken to the next level with a complexity that moves away from the simplicity of the first two installments, offering many possible options and strategies. At the same time, its changing and explorable world allows us to exploit all possible tools to get the Monstie of our dreams. The result? A new installment that improves on its predecessors in every way and can be enjoyed like an anime once you get the hang of its combat.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Simply one of the best monster collectors ever made: Capcom's title features an excellent and challenging combat system, and an addictive Monstie capture system.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an impressively challenging RPG with an engaging story and enjoyable adventuring mechanics that will make you want to keep exploring its gorgeous world which is filled with memorable environments, creatures, and characters. 🐶
Ultimately, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection marks a significant evolution for the series, which has grown in maturity and depth, though at the cost of being slightly less accessible than before. Driven by a more engaging narrative, a rich gameplay system, and particularly polished art direction, the game manages to stand out as much more than just a simple spin-off. This increase in complexity, combined with some occasionally abrupt spikes in difficulty, may, however, surprise—or even discourage—players less familiar with its mechanics. Despite this, the game remains solid and highly satisfying over the long haul. For me, it is undoubtedly the most accomplished entry in the franchise to date.
Review in French | Read full review
As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter Stories series I was absolutely delighted to have enjoyed my time as much as I did. Comparing this to Pokémon isn’t even right. This is what I’ve always wanted Pokémon to be, a deeper RPG with an important story that was a bit more mature in theme. I absolutely loved my time with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and there is even more I can go back and do with the ecosystem gameplay. I’m happy I finally decided to give this a chance, because in some way I almost prefer this over the regular Monster Hunter series.
Meanwhile, the Monster Hunter Stories series can place itself neatly next to its bigger brother with Twisted Reflection and manages to deliver a beautiful story with in-depth gameplay.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection represents the culmination of a remarkable journey that few would have predicted when it began nearly a decade ago. Capcom has pulled off yet another feat in a gaming generation worth celebrating, elevating a spin-off series born from a successful IP to the very pinnacle of excellence. A sumptuous JRPG, as mature in its storytelling as it is layered and satisfying in its gameplay, it’s already a contender for one of the best games of 2026. We don’t know what the future holds for this series, but one thing is certain: missing out on this adventure would be a mistake as big as a Rathalos.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a good game that I’m ultimately left conflicted on. While it’s the biggest, most polished, and most mechanically thoughtful a Stories title has ever been, it’s also at the cost of what I feel was the series’ unique personality. While the series has been aging with its audience ever since the previous game, Stories 2 struck a much more resonant emotional balance, embracing something more somber and thoughtful while still respecting the oftentimes silly and satirical nature of the original Stories game. Stories 3, in its push to appear as more grown up, abandons a lot of that in favor of an okay but more generic narrative that doesn’t manage to leverage what makes the Monster Hunter series tonally unique. On the gameplay side of things, Stories 3 is broadly a success. Changes to combat keep its simplicity, while the more punishing boss battles still push it towards being something where you really have to think more than before. It’s also perhaps the most beautiful Monster Hunter game ever made, with tasteful watercolor visuals applied to superb modeling and animations. There is plenty of good here, despite my prior complaints. That said, Stories 3 only feels like half a victory, where it has its own accomplishments but feels dragged down by some of the same things currently plaguing the mainline games. It doesn’t feel finished, performance is wonky, and despite the want for a more involved narrative, in the end it misplaces what made Monster Hunter really work in the first place.
MHS3 is a great game for anyone who wants a slightly chill version of Monster Hunter after the nice teleporting Rathalos. Sure it’s a single player experience, but know that it’s a cozy more laid back version of Monster Hunter. I honestly felt like I was doing the world a favor with not only bringing back extinct creatures. But assisting with creating new combos or creatures with some pretty useful skills. It helped a lot with certain invasive monsties which get more difficult with each species. I give Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection seamlessly blends Monster Hunter's classic combat systems with traditional turn-based RPG mechanics, complemented by a compelling story and an exploration system that encourages players to scour every corner of the world, making Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection the definitive RPG entry in the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review