Monster Hunter Stories for Android

Quick overview

Monster Hunter Stories is a turn-based role-playing spinoff from the Monster Hunter franchise, developed by Capcom and originally released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016. This remastered edition lets you bond with and raise monsters rather than hunting them, trading the series’ typical action combat for a JRPG-style, turn-based battle system. The new release improves the visuals, adds additional voice work in both Japanese and English, and includes previously unavailable content.

The premise and your role

In this game you play as a Rider — a member of a people who live alongside monsters rather than slaying them. Riders use a mysterious artifact called Kinship Stones to form deep connections with beasts. Your core loop is exploration (tracking down monster dens and gathering eggs), bringing eggs back to your village for hatching, and raising those monsters to fight alongside you.

How exploration works

• Trek through forests, caves, and other diverse environments to locate monster nests.
• Bring any eggs you find back to your settlement so they can hatch under your care.
• Raise and train your monsters so they can participate in battles and help you earn rewards.

Combat and partnership mechanics

Battles are turn-based, and both you and your partnered monster take part in each encounter. Each combatant can choose from three attack types that form a rock–paper–scissors relationship:

• Technique (beats Speed)
• Speed (beats Power)
• Power (beats Technique)

You’ll also outfit yourself with a variety of weapons that influence how you fight:

• Hunting Horn
• Hammer
• Sword & Shield
• Great Sword

Choosing the right attack type and weapon, and coordinating with your monster, is key to victory.

Customizing monsters: genes and ceremonies

Monsters gain new skills and stat changes through Bond Genes. To unlock and transfer these attributes, you perform a Transmission Ceremony that passes genes from one creature to another, allowing you to shape each monster’s abilities to match your preferred playstyle.

What’s new in the remaster

This updated edition bundles all original updates and adds fresh features:

• Commentary tracks, extra music, and other archived materials.
• An expanded audio presentation with new English and Japanese voice recordings.
• A Museum Mode containing over 200 previously unused pieces — from concept work to extra soundtrack selections.
• Included post-game content and monsters like Teostra, Rajang, and Kushala Daora, plus areas such as the Tower of Illusion and themed customization items.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re new to Monster Hunter Stories or revisiting it, the remaster is worthwhile: the monster-raising premise offers a different, more whimsical take on the Monster Hunter universe, and the additional content and enhanced presentation make it appealing even to longtime fans.