During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Nintendo was basically the go-to platform for Monster Hunter enthusiasts. At the time, many of the major installments in Capcom's iconic franchise were released exclusively on Nintendo systems, both handhelds and home consoles. Monster Hunter 3 and 4 made their debuts on the Wii and Nintendo 3DS, respectively, while Monster Hunter Generations and Stories were first released on the Nintendo 3DS. Although Monster Hunter wasn't that popular in the West back then, the fact that these games were exclusive to the Wii and 3DS was enough to get some gamers in Japan to buy both systems.
In recent years, Monster Hunter has largely lost its association with Nintendo and has turned into more of a multi-platform franchise. While some recent Monster Hunter games have been timed Nintendo Switch exclusives, they've all made their way to other platforms eventually. A few of the mainline titles in the franchise, on the other hand, like Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Wilds, have skipped Nintendo consoles entirely. Despite the fact that Nintendo is no longer the home of Monster Hunter, there are still a couple of great games in the series on Nintendo Switch, and one of them is available to play for free this week.
NSO Subscribers Can Play MH Stories 2 for Free This Week, But Only in Select Countries
Nintendo announced a few days ago that a game trial for Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, one of the series' most acclaimed spin-offs, would be available to those with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership starting on August 22. The trial, which will last until August 28, allows players to download the game in full and experience it from start to finish at no additional cost. Unfortunately, though, this promotion is not available in all regions. As Nintendo itself confirmed, gamers can only take advantage of this trial if they live in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, or the U.K. Those who live in other countries, like the United States and Canada, are sadly out of luck.
Players Who Can't Access MH Stories 2's Game Trial Should Check Out Its Demo
Although it's disappointing that Monster Hunter Stories 2's game trial isn't available worldwide, there is another alternative for Nintendo Switch gamers who can't access it. Monster Hunter Stories 2, for those who don't know, currently has a demo available on the Nintendo eShop. Unlike the game trial, however, this demo does not contain the full game. Instead, it only allows players to play the opening portion of the title. That said, the demo can last for about 3 to 5 hours, and players can play through it as many times as they want.
Monster Hunter Stories 2's free demo is also available on PC, but it strangely isn't playable on either PS4 or PS5.
MH Stories 2 is Currently on Sale on the Nintendo eShop
If players check out Monster Hunter Stories 2, either through its demo or limited-time trial, and like what they play of it, they may want to grab a copy of the game in the near future. Luckily for those people, the Nintendo Switch version of the game is currently at a 50% discount on the Nintendo eShop the next two weeks or so. At the time of writing, Monster Hunter Stories 2's Deluxe Edition can be purchased for a mere $25. Meanwhile, the Monster Hunter Stories Deluxe Collection, which contains both Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2, is available for only $35.
Switch Owners Should Check MH Stories 2 Out Before Its Sequel Releases Next Year
Although Monster Hunter Stories 2's game trial comes with a big catch, it has arrived at perhaps the perfect time. Last month, Capcom announced that a sequel to the hit spin-off, titled Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, would be released next year. The game, which will feature a largely standalone story and a more mature tone, is going to launch on all current-gen platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. Even though it isn't necessary to do so, it would probably be best for Nintendo Switch owners to give Monster Hunter Stories 2 a shot before its sequel comes out, so that they can familiarize themselves with the series.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 86%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- MT Framework
- Genre(s)
- RPG, JRPG, Exploration, Creature Collector
