Is Monster Hunter Rise Still Worth Playing in 2026? Absolutely Yes, and Here‘s Why

Monster Hunter Rise remains an absolute must-play action RPG in 2024. Nearly two years after its initial release, Rise continues to be an incredible game that I highly recommend to both loyal Monster Hunter fans and newcomers to the series.

In this extensive guide, I‘ll cover why Rise is still totally worth your time and money in 2024. I‘ll discuss the major new content updates, assess the excellent core gameplay, detail what makes it accessible for beginners, compare the PC and Switch versions, evaluate if it‘s worth full price, and more.

Let‘s dive in on why Monster Hunter Rise should still be on your radar!

What‘s New in Monster Hunter Rise Since Launch

Monster Hunter Rise has grown tremendously since first releasing in March 2021, making it a far superior game today. Capcom has supported Rise with huge expansions and continuous free and paid updates. Here‘s an overview of the major additions:

• Sunbreak Expansion – Easily the biggest update, this massive premium DLC launched in summer 2022. Sunbreak adds a completely new storyline taking place after the base game‘s ending. It includes:

  • New main hub – Elgado Outpost with new facilities and vendors
  • Increased max hunter rank – Up to MR 100
  • New locales – Jungle, Citadel, Forlorn Arena
  • New switch skills for all 14 weapon types
  • Over 20 new large monsters
  • 100+ new armor sets
  • 100+ new decorations
  • New follower quests
  • Anomaly monster investigations
  • Aughild armor set bonuses
  • New base camp features
  • And much more!

  Sunbreak essentially doubles the entire amount of content in Rise. It brings the total monsters count to around 80. Most critics praise Sunbreak as a must-have expansion.

• Free Title Updates – Monster Hunter Rise has already received 5 free title updates, adding:

  • New monsters – Lucent Nargacuga (TU1), Seething Bazelgeuse (TU2), Gold Rathian, Silver Rathalos (TU3)
  • New elder dragon – Espinas (TU4)
  • New event quests
  • New armor, weapons, cosmetics
  • Anomaly quests
  • Follower quests
  • Augments for gear
  • Quality of life improvements

  Additional title updates are planned for 2024.

• Limited Event Quests – Capcom continuously adds special limited-time event quests. These provide opportunities to get unique armor, weapons, poses, face paint, titles, and other cosmetic rewards.

• Major New Features – Rise has also seen some gameplay enhancements:

  • Anomaly monster investigations – Special endgame quests to battle powered-up monsters
  • Follower quests – Solo quests with NPC companions
  • Augments – Use materials to add skills and slots to weapons
  • Fresh decorations – New jewels to slot skills into armor

As you can see, Monster Hunter Rise has grown tremendously through major expansions, title updates, events, and new features. This sets it far apart from its launch state.

The Core Gameplay Remains Exceptionally Polished

While all the new content is great, Monster Hunter Rise also shines due to its phenomenal core gameplay. It retains the satisfying loop the series is known for while adding exciting new mechanics.

Diverse Arsenal of 14 Unique Weapon Types

Rise lets you play as one of 14 distinct weapon types, providing diverse combat styles:

• Great Sword – Massive damage per swing but slow attacks
• Long Sword – Quick strikes and spirit blade combos
• Sword & Shield – Fast and mobile with shield for defense
• Dual Blades – Rapid flurries of slashes
• Hammer – Crushing blows to the head to stun monsters
• Hunting Horn – Support through buff songs
• Lance – Defensive with blocks and counters
• Gunlance – Blast enemies using an explosive gunlance
• Switch Axe – Transform between axe and sword modes
• Charge Blade – Morphs between sword, shield, and axe
• Insect Glaive – Agile and airborne kinsect companion
• Light/Heavy Bowgun – Ranged damage and status effects
• Bow – Technical critical distance archery

This variety gives tons of depth to the combat as you master each unique playstyle. It keeps the gameplay feeling fresh as you switch between different weapon types.

New Wirebug Mobility

One of the biggest additions in Rise is the Wirebug mechanic. You have access to two Wirebugs that can pull you around the environment quickly. This gives hunters far more mobility compared to past Monster Hunter games.

Wirebugs also enable Silkbind attacks – powerful new moves unique to each weapon type. Silkbinds open up combo possibilities and provide ways to mount monsters faster.

The Wirebugs lend combat much more fluidity and exhilaration as you zip around the battlefield. Mastering both mobility and Silkbind attacks provides another layer of depth.

Huge Seamless Maps Promote Exploration

Monster Hunter Rise ushers hunting grounds into an open-concept style. The maps feel more immersive as one big interconnected landscape compared to segmented zones.

Environments are brimming with details from wildlife to dense vegetation that all reacts to your actions. Maps have a ton of verticality encouraging you to platform and use your Wirebugs to reach new areas.

Exploring the locales and encountering roaming monsters makes them feel alive. There are also endemic life forms you can collect for temporary buffs and small creatures that provide materials.

Rise‘s shift to expansive maps is an evolution that makes hunting more dynamic and engaging.

Rampage Quests – Tower Defense Style Horde Mode

Rise also introduces Rampage quests – a radically different style of quest compared to standard hunts. During Rampages, monsters invade in waves attempting to destroy the village gates.

You have to set up defenses like cannons, ballistas, and dragonators to fend them off. Between waves, you can mount monsters to attack the hordes or gather materials to fortify defenses.

It‘s a ton of frantic fun fending off swarms of monsters. The Rampages provide a nice change of pace from ordinary hunting quests.

Palamutes – Rideable Canine Companions

Monster Hunter Rise brings a new bipedal canine monster – the Palamute. You can ride Palamutes to traverse maps quicker compared to jogging. This mobility makes Palamutes essential partners.

Bringing both Palamutes and the small support birds called Palicoes gives you advantages like increased healing. You can customize Palamute and Palico appearance, skills, and equipment.

Is Monster Hunter Rise Beginner Friendly?

Monster Hunter games are renowned for dense systems and challenging combat. So how does Rise fare for those new to the series?

Surprisingly well! Rise has a number of quality of life changes that make the learning curve gentler compared to past titles.

In-Depth Training Quests

The initial Low Rank quests in Rise essentially serve as one long tutorial. The first few hunts walk you through core mechanics like gathering, crafting, cooking, and monster research.

Training missions teach essential skills like dodging, item use, capturing, and Wyvern Riding. There are even optional quests to practice hunting specific monsters.

Rise does an excellent job slowly easing in new players instead of throwing them into the deep end. The extended onboarding ensures you understand systems.

More Mobility and Defensive Options

The new Wirebugs grant players far more mobility and evasion capability. Being able to quickly grapple away reduces frustration when learning monster attack patterns.

Many of the Silkbind attacks also have defensive utility through counters, shields, or evasion. Having more defensive tools makes hunting less daunting early on.

Item loadouts can be saved as well, letting you come prepared with healing and support items to every quest.

Rampage Quests Ramp You Up

Low Rank has an assortment of Rampage quests mixed with standard hunts. Rampages act as a gentler introduction against hordes before one-on-one epic battles.

Since you get more setup time during Rampages, they help ease you into observing behaviors and aiming attacks without feeling overwhelmed.

Overall, Rise does a commendable job making the learning phase more palatable through robust tutorials, extra mobility/defense options, and Rampages. This makes it one of the most newbie friendly Monster Hunter games yet.

Should You Get Monster Hunter Rise on PC or Switch?

Monster Hunter Rise initially launched as a Switch exclusive in March 2021. The well-received PC port arrived in January 2022 along with numerous improvements:

Comparison	Switch	PC
Resolution	720p docked, 480p handheld	4K support
Framerate	30 fps	60+ fps
Graphics Settings	Low/Medium	High/Ultra
Price	$60	$40 (sales)
Content Parity	Same updates	Same updates

As expected, the PC version offers significantly better visual fidelity and performance if your rig can handle it. Higher resolution texture packs are available as free DLC as well.

One notable advantage of the Switch version is the ability to play portably and access local wireless co-op. The PC ecosystem also makes modding easier.

Both platforms receive the same content and title updates, so you don‘t miss out either way. PC tends to see steeper discounts during sales too.

I recommend the Switch version if portability or local co-op appeal to you. The PC version is ideal if you want max graphics potential and faster load times. Ultimately you can‘t go wrong between the two!

Is Monster Hunter Rise Worth Paying Full Price?

Let‘s break down whether Monster Hunter Rise is still worth buying at full retail price:

• Base Game – The base Rise game now routinely sells for $40 USD or under. At that discounted price, Rise is absolutely worth it for the hundreds of hours of content available.

• Sunbreak Expansion – This massive DLC sells for around $40 as well. For the sheer amount of monsters, gear, quests, and endgame offered, Sunbreak easily justifies its price tag.

• Bundle – You can commonly find the Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak bundle selling for $60. This combo pack is an incredible value given the sheer breadth and depth of content.

• Sales – Both the base game and expansion can be found even cheaper during seasonal sales on Steam, Switch eShop, etc. I‘ve seen the bundle discounted up to 50% off before.

Paying full MSRP is hard to justify, but at its typical discounted price points, Monster Hunter Rise offers tremendous bang for buck. Keep an eye out for deals!

The Verdict: Still an Outstanding Action RPG in 2024

Nearly two years after launch, Monster Hunter Rise remains an absolute must-play experience that‘s totally worth your time and money in 2024. The core gameplay loop still delivers thrilling, strategic combat against colorful monsters.

Hunting beasts to craft new gear and progressively upgrade your hunter is as satisfying as ever. Several massive content updates have added a wealth of new monsters, quests, weapons, armor, and features.

The Sunbreak expansion takes the game to new heights with its endgame master rank hunts. For both series veterans and newcomers, Monster Hunter Rise stands tall as one of the most engaging action RPGs you can play today. I hope this guide has convinced you to give Rise a shot if you haven‘t already!

Happy hunting!