Monster Hunter Rise has been a big success on Switch, and its legacy is only going to grow. Not only is the game coming to PC next year, it will also be receiving a massive expansion in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. Before either arrive, Capcom has been busy adding event quests for fans to unlock unique cosmetics based on its other properties, such as Mega Man and Okami. Sometime this month the first cross-developer collab will drop featuring Sonic the Hedgehog.
This Monster Hunter Rise and Sonic the Hedgehog collab is coming to celebrate Sonic's 30th anniversary, but it also opens the door for more non-Capcom cosmetics and weapons going forward. Past Monster Hunter games have featured numerous crossovers, including Metal Gear Solid, The Witcher, and Attack on Titan. However, its entries on Nintendo consoles are also rife with Nintendo-themed collabs, and Rise could use some following Sonic's introduction.
Mario - Super Mario
Mario remains the de facto mascot of Nintendo as a brand, and as a result it's hard not to imagine him coming to Monster Hunter Rise alongside Sonic. A Super Mario collab in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate let Palico wear Mario or Luigi outfits while wielding a hammer, and soon after a Felyne skin was added to Super Mario Maker. However, even if this idea is feasible to try again, it would also make sense to have a hunter's layered armor based on the portly plumber. It may not work as well to replace the model as with Rise's Street Fighter collab adding Akuma, but players' kunai could be replaced with fireballs like Akuma's Hadoken.
Link - The Legend of Zelda
Despite Mario's frontman status, Link from The Legend of Zelda has had more crossovers in Monster Hunter; which makes sense given his franchise's fantasy sword-and-sorcery roots. A classic green tunic Link appears in Monster Hunter 4 and 4 Ultimate, wielding both the Master Sword and a bow. However, Generations Ultimate on Switch instead went with a Breath of the Wild-themed Link. The Legend of Zelda also has more unique Palico, with 4 Ultimate adding a Toon Link skin wielding the Wind Waker and Generations Ultimate adding a Korok skin.
Any of these ideas could work again, though it would be fun to see Link from a different game like Majora's Mask get some love, perhaps wearing the Fierce Deity Mask. The introduction of rideable Palamute companions also opens the door to a more extreme change like Epona or Breath of the Wild's Master Cycle Zero - though it might be silly to watch them climb up walls.
Samus Aran - Metroid
Intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran is another character who has previously graced Monster Hunter. Armor based on Samus wearing her Zero Suit and Varia Suit from Metroid: Other M appeared in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Generations, including the Arm Cannon as a Light Bowgun. A modern take on Samus could be similar, though it's easy to imagine armor advertising Metroid Dread rather than Other M given the latter title's infamy. Based on Capcom's modern collab design philosophy, a hunter's kunai could even be replaced with Samus' missiles.
Lucina - Fire Emblem
Though many words have been said about the abundance of Fire Emblem characters and other "anime swordfighters" in Super Smash Bros., collabs with Intelligent Systems' tactical RPG franchise fit well in Capcom's monster-slaying universe. Lucina is perhaps the easiest choice as a recognizable, modern protagonist who isn't a self-insert character akin to Robin, Corrin, or Byleth. However, the Falchion as a Long Sword or Sword and Shield could also be wielded by Marth (who appeared in Monster Hunter Generations), Chrom, or Alm - not to mention other aspects of Fire Emblem's weapon triangle like axes that could sub in for a Hammer.
Of course, these are not the only options Capcom has to choose from regarding Nintendo-themed collabs in Monster Hunter Rise. There are plenty of protagonists who could fit as layered armor sets, including Captain Falcon from F-Zero or Pit from Kid Icarus. A hunter's animal companions also have plenty of potential, such as a Palamute resembling Isabelle from Animal Crossing or a Palico replaced by Pikachu from Pokemon. After Sonic, the crossover possibilities are nigh-endless, and it will be worth seeing what comes during the wait for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now on Switch, with a PC port releasing January 12, 2022. Sunbreak releases summer 2022.