Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection TGS 2025 Hands-On Preview With Gameplay Video: An Anime-like Adventure In The World Of Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection PS5 Preview. Monster Hunter is a rich world filled with many creatures, weapons, characters, and more. So it only seems natural that Capcom would expand Monster Hunter into other kinds of media and games. Unsurprisingly, the franchise received its own turn-based RPG spin-off line in the form of the Monster Hunter Stories series. Originally starting on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2016 in Japan, the Stories sub-series has since gone multi-platform. Capcom is currently developing Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, and I had the pleasure of having some hands-on time with it at Tokyo Game Show 2025.

In the Monster Hunter Stories games, you play as a ranger whose occupation is akin to that of the wildlife rangers of our real world. Rangers try to help conserve the environments and habitats of monsters. Instead of hunting the monsters, they instead will try to befriend and raise them, even from the time they hatch from eggs. While being in the same world, each Monster Hunter Stories game has a standalone story with its own protagonists. My demo featured rangers Captain Leo and Simon as they take new recruit Thea on her first mission.

Now not all monsters are friendly and want to help the rangers. When fighting enemies, Monster Hunter Stories 3 features the turn-based combat style of previous Stories games, featuring a rock-paper-scissors concept for its three attack types: power, technical, and speed. Speed beats Power, Power beats Technical, and Technical beats Speed. Choosing the correct attack type over your opponents’ will result in more damage delivered and decide whether or not you successfully hit the enemy in Head-to-Head attacks.

Monsties, ally monsters that rangers ride while traveling, also join in battles and can team up with the rider characters to do Double Attacks to deal more damage. Additionally for more powerful strikes, you can select Skills, more powerful attacks but use your limited stamina meter. Enemies can be staggered and then toppled. Once toppled, you can do an all-out attack called Synchro Rush. While a lot of these turn-based concepts are familiar, I still enjoyed the battles, in part thanks to their snappy pacing and simply being set in the Monster Hunter universe.

Outside of battles, the rangers must explore the vast open world, and exploration is made all the more fun and speedier by riding their companion monsters aka Monsties. Some Monsties are fast on the ground, some can climb, and others can fly or glide. As a ranger, you’ll sometimes have to switch which Monstie you’re riding in order to reach certain places. As you explore, you can gather usable resources, such as fruit, plants, and ores.

Monster Hunters Stories 3 dons a similar cel-shaded, anime art style as seen in its predecessors. It’s a pleasantly different look to the more realistic and grittier look of the mainline Monster Hunter Games. Environments in this art style are beautiful and colorful, like something you would see in a Studio Ghibli film. Characters are equally as colorful in their costume designs and look cute or charming. By targeting current generation consoles, the game is allowed full environments, as well as detailed characters and costumes.

I was surprised to discover Monster Hunter Stories 3 is running on the RE Engine, the same engine used for the recent Resident Evil and Monster Hunter games. In fact, it’s the first game in the sub-series to use the engine. It really goes to show the versatility, even in visual styles, that the RE Engine has. From the more realistic renderings of Resident Evil titles and Pragmata to the more stylized, cel-shaded looks in Monster Hunter Stories 3 and the Street Fighter games, RE Engine continues to impress.

Honestly, I have grown fond of Monster Hunter Stories 3 after my over half an hour playtime. The game is shaping up to be another entertaining entry in the esteemed franchise. Ever wanted to go on an anime-like adventure in the world of Monster Hunter? MHS3: Twisted Reflection is up your alley.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches March 26, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.