10 Games That Replicate Monster Hunter's Combat, Ranked

Monster Hunter is one of the most popular and hardcore action-adventure titles that players can check out. While the series was pretty niche for the longest time, the successful launch of Monster Hunter World on modern consoles led to many new fans checking out this series for the first time. The crunchy combat coupled with the immense level of customization available to the player made for a great time indeed!

Given the winning formula of this series and how much of a blast it is to play through, it's only a given that several other games would add their own spin to the combat system of Monster Hunter. The following titles are the most notable examples in this regard, with these games being quite perfect for fans of this legendary action RPG series.

Updated on November 19, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Monster Hunter is not going anywhere anytime soon, and Capcom's franchise is still undoubtedly the top dog of its own genre. However, there are a number of games with similar combat systems that are worth mentioning.

Ragnarok Odyssey

A Norse Mythology Twist

Speaking of Monster Hunter clones that many people aren't aware of, another title that deserves a mention is Ragnarok Odyssey. The game uses the traditional Monster Hunter combat system along with a unique Card system to gain various abilities and bonuses.

The game utilized elements of Norse mythology and also received an updated release in the form of Ragnarok Odyssey Ace. However, players who want to play a good game with Monster Hunter's signature combat can do way better.

Wild Hearts

Wild Hearts has had a turbulent life. The game launched to a positive reception that was muddied by performance issues, which made the title difficult to outright recommend without any disclaimers. While garnering a decent peak, the action RPG has struggled somewhat to maintain a playerbase on platforms like Steam, and rumors of EA ending its support have certainly not helped matters. Despite all that, Wild Hearts still manages to impress in a few ways, and it is arguably among the better Monster Hunter-style games on the market.

The title handles its mission structure and progression similarly to Capcom's series, but it is not a direct copy either. Wild Hearts implements a quick building system that allows players to create tools and structures within maps, and the available options expand beautifully throughout the campaign. For all its flaws, this 2023 release gets quite a lot of things right too.

Final Fantasy Explorers

If Monster Hunter & Final Fantasy Had A Baby, Explorers Would Be The Spitting Image Of The Former

Final Fantasy Explorers certainly had a ton of potential. The idea of playing through a Final Fantasy game while tackling its many iconic monsters with a Monster Hunter-inspired combat system sounds like a blast.

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However, where Final Fantasy Explorers fell flat was in its execution. Quests felt vapid and meaningless while the repetition of the gameplay loop became a bit too much to bear, even for hardcore fans of both Final Fantasy and Monster Hunter. That said, the game still offers some fun, especially for younger players who might be looking for an easier and more accessible action RPG cut from the same cloth as Capcom's beloved franchise.

Freedom Wars

A Good First Try

Freedom Wars was one of the surprise hits on the PS Vita, and it was clearly inspired by Monster Hunter's combat system. It was a fun game that players could check out with friends, but there's no denying that the title had some flaws of its own.

Enemy variety was lacking, and even the simplest foes ended up being a pain to deal with in later levels. While these flaws did take away from what could've been a great game, Freedom Wars was and still is a good action romp that fans of Monster Hunter had a great time with. It is a shame that a sequel was never created.

Soul Sacrifice

One Of The Vita's Best Action RPGs

Soul Sacrifice had some of the most ambitious gameplay innovations that really separated it from other titles that were considered to be Monster Hunter clones. Perhaps the most notable inclusion was the fact that players could sacrifice their own body parts for powerful attacks.

All in all, Soul Sacrifice was a delightful title that helped fill the void while Monster Hunter was basically a Nintendo exclusive. That being said, the game can get somewhat repetitive over time, with underwhelming level design and AI serving as major detractors in what is otherwise a great title.

Dauntless

Monster Hunter, But Free

Dauntless is a free-to-play action title that is still going strong to this day. It uses the Monster Hunter template to great effect, with players having to take out powerful Behemoths that are ravaging the land.

The F2P moniker might lead to some people shying away from this experience, but Dauntless has more than enough things going for it that fans of Monster Hunter would love. Landing proper combos and avoiding damage makes for a riveting gameplay loop, with the tight gameplay adding to the overall fun factor.

God Eater

More Anime

God Eater is probably the most popular Monster Hunter clone out there, and it has been successful enough to produce multiple sequels and remasters. Players take on the role of one of the titular God Eaters as they hunt down the various Aragami that are ravaging the landscape.

There's no denying that God Eater has its fair share of flaws, with monster designs blending together within the chaos of the combat. However, the lore and combat of the games are solid and worth checking out for any fan of Monster Hunter. The action largely plays out like a typical entry in this sub-genre, although there are a handful of twists that help set God Eater apart from the crowd. While an argument could be made that the series has yet to produce a truly great game, all the entries are at least decent.

Toukiden

A Heavier Focus On Telling A Story

Monster Hunter has a formula that has worked for decades, and it generally does not involve an in-depth story. In fact, most entries basically forego a narrative or implement a short campaign as a glorified tutorial (Rise). However, games like Toukiden make it clear that a Monster Hunter game with a great story has infinite potential to be successful.

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It helps that the combat of Toukiden is also pretty solid in its own right and makes the narrative that much more engaging. Players who want to check out a great Monster Hunter clone that will keep them hooked till the very end should look no further than the Toukiden series.

Special Mention: Horizon Forbidden West

An Open-World Option

PlayStation has really put its foot down when it comes to launching a series of exclusives to make its console seem all the more appealing. One such exclusive that has become quite successful in its own right is Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Forbidden West. The latter is a marked improvement from its predecessor in pretty much every way. Models animate more naturally, the visuals have been perfected quite a bit, and the combat is just as fluid and engaging as ever.

Now, it should be said that, as overall experiences, Horizon Forbidden West and Monster Hunter share very little in common. The former is an open-world action-adventure title with a fairly in-depth story, and players will be spending plenty of time completing side quests and exploring the map. However, the combat systems share quite a few things in common, beyond just the fact that they generally revolve around taking down mammoth creatures. For one, Aloy gradually builds up a wide arsenal of tools and weapons, all of which should be utilized to make encounters more manageable.

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