MONSTER HUNTER RISE: SWING ON THE WIREBUG, HUNT IN THE SKY

8.5 of 10 bananas. The fastest, friendliest Monster Hunter, and with Sunbreak it gets the depth veterans need.

By the Alpha. Nintendo Switch listing with Sunbreak. Updated Oct 12 2026.

Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from launch reviews, critic consensus, patch history, and what is known about the game today. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.

Platforms: The Amazon button is Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak for Nintendo Switch, the base game plus the expansion. At my check it was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon. Check the seller and price before you pay. It is also on PC on Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, where the Switch version's lower resolution goes away.

Sit with me a moment. I have spent more hours in Monster Hunter than I will admit to the troop. Rise is the one I hand to newcomers. The first time I wirebugged up a cliff, landed on a Palamute, and rode straight into a fight, I knew Capcom had cut the boring parts and kept the joy.

What It Wants To Be

Capcom's 2021 hunt, built first for Switch, takes the series to Kamura Village, inspired by Japanese folklore. You hunt giant monsters with fourteen weapon types, craft gear from their parts, and repeat. Wirebugs add grappling and new attacks, Palamutes let you ride across maps, and the 2022 Sunbreak expansion adds Master Rank, new monsters, and new skills.

What Works

Speed is the gift. Wirebugs make traversal and recovery smooth, and Silkbind attacks give every weapon fresh tricks. Palamute riding means less walking and more hunting. Co-op works well, locally and online. Sunbreak adds real endgame depth, switch skills, and some of the best monsters in the series. On PC and newer consoles it runs and looks great.

What Breaks

Listen well. The base game's endgame was thin at launch, and Rampage defense quests felt like a tower defense detour most players did not love. The Switch version runs at a lower resolution and frame rate, so big fights get muddy on a TV. The story is light. And the grind is still the grind: if crafting loops bore you, nothing here will change your mind.

Who Should Play

Play if you are new to Monster Hunter, want co-op on the go, or loved World and want something faster. Get Sunbreak with it. Skip if repetition for gear is not your idea of fun.

Related: Monster Hunter: World, Monster Hunter Wilds, Monster Hunter Stories 3.

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