Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Review: Capcom’s Gorgeous RPG Delivers

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It’s been amazing to see the Monster Hunter Stories games develop over the last ten years. Starting with its simple origins on the Nintendo 3DS and then improving significantly with Wings of Ruin on the Switch, the series has consistently gotten better in how it plays and looks. Now, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection takes things even further and is the strongest entry in the series so far.

Twisted Reflection offers the most compelling story in the series so far, with a noticeably more mature and thoughtful approach. While it still maintains the fun the series is known for, it tackles heavier themes like the threat of war and the extinction of monsters. The game boasts both a satisfying main storyline and engaging side stories that give each character a chance to develop, and I was really impressed by how much the series has evolved over time.

Fans of the series will find the gameplay familiar, as Capcom hasn’t made radical changes. Instead of just hunting monsters, you build relationships with them, and these monsters – called Monsties – look better than ever. They’re also helpful outside of battle; I used my Rathalos to fly around and quickly travel, and other monsters to swim. The game has a polished look and is the most visually stunning in the series, with both the creature designs and the environments being particularly impressive.

Okay, so the fighting is still that classic type where different attack styles counter each other – basically, it’s like rock, paper, scissors. You’ve got power attacks, speed attacks, and technical attacks, and each one is strong against another. It’s actually pretty fun! The more you play, the more you realize there’s a lot of strategy involved, like targeting specific body parts to get an advantage. And the boss fights? They’re really challenging. You definitely need to come prepared, or you’ll probably have to spend some time leveling up before you can beat them!

Twisted Reflection really encourages you to explore. Riding monsters is enjoyable, and the changing day-night cycle makes the world feel more alive – and more challenging as night falls. You’ll be rewarded for taking your time with side quests, finding hidden collectibles like lookout points and poogies, and generally interacting with the world instead of rushing through the main story.

Beyond its focus on the environment, the game rewards players for releasing fully grown monsters back into the wild, helping them repopulate their natural habitats. Seeing the ecosystems you impact evolve and change is incredibly satisfying, and it unlocks new battles. This also motivates players to collect monster eggs and discover unique variations of monsters they already know, which is especially exciting for longtime fans.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 Review: Final Verdict

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a fantastic addition to Capcom’s role-playing series. The game boasts a vibrant world that’s fun to explore and a surprisingly engaging story. The combat feels smoother and more satisfying than ever before, and with plenty of content to discover, it’s easily the best game in the Monster Hunter Stories trilogy.

SCORE: 9/10

According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a score of 9 means ‘Excellent.’ This rating is reserved for entertainment that represents the very best in its category – the standard all creators strive for.

We received a PlayStation 5 copy of Monster Hunter Stories 3 from the publisher for the purpose of this review. This review is based on version 1.000.000 of the game.

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2026-03-09 18:11