Capcom’s next Monster Hunter game is Monster Hunter Rise, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2021. The new game was announced Thursday during a Nintendo Direct presentation. Monster Hunter Rise will come to Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2021. Pre-orders open on Thursday.
In the trailer, Capcom showed off a bunch of monsters, including Aknosom, Tetranadon, Great Izuchi, and Magnamalo. Capcom showed off more details on gameplay in a Monster Hunter Direct that aired immediately after the Nintendo Direct. In it, the developers explained that the name, Rise, is inspired by a new wall-climbing ability that lets players rise to new heights. There’s also a grappling hook-type ability powered by a small creature known as a Wirebug.
The best news, though? There’s a new dog companion, called Palamute, that you can ride. Palamutes can run without decreasing stamina, but they can also aid your hunter in attacking monsters. Players will be able to take two buddies with them in single-player, and one in multiplayer — any combination of Palamute and Palico.
A Monster Hunter Rise deluxe edition will also be available, with some extras — including a layered armor set and new gestures. For pre-ordering, you’ll get three bonus items: a golden retriever costume for your dog pal Palamute, a forest cat costume for Palico, and “a novice talisman for some extra assistance in the early stages.”
Rumblings of a new Monster Hunter game leaked early on Reddit, suggesting the game is more “open” than others in the action-adventure series. This seems to be confirmed by new information during the Monster Hunter Direct; Developers said Monster Hunter Rise will have a “seamless locale,” opposed to zones that you’ve got to load into.
Monster Hunter: World was the most recent game released as part of the Monster Hunter franchise. Available on PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, Monster Hunter: World was released in 2018. The game was reviewed favorably upon release; Polygon called it “a Monster Hunter game for everybody,” noting that it’s much more accessible than previous titles. A large expansion, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne launched in 2019 — it brought new content, but also additional difficulty.
The franchise began in 2004 on the PlayStation 2 with Monster Hunter, with other games following frequently. A Monster Hunter movie, simply titled Monster Hunter, is expected out in 2021, too.