Monster Hunter Now is a mobile adaptation of the popular monster hunting franchise, and it's a simplified venture into a usually complex setting. Niantic, the developer most known for Pokémon GO, has created a similar AR game in collaboration with Capcom. This new addition to the Monster Hunter lineup is an opportunity to make the game even more accessible to those who enjoy the convenience of mobile gaming.

Monster Hunter Now brings monsters into the real world, allowing players to get out and take advantage of their day-to-day activities by pausing occasionally to see what may be lurking around. While this is likely to encourage a new wave of players to introduce themselves to the franchise, it may not be a great choice for those who weren’t too impressed by Monster Hunter World.

Perfect For Beginners, But Lacking Some Key Aspects

Monster Hunter Now does a great job of establishing the story out of the gate and most of the general mechanics are pretty straightforward. Simply put, this is something that would be pretty easy for players of various ages and skill levels to pick up and enjoy. However, that may also be its greatest flaw. Though it’s unlike any other title in the lineup, it is likely to fare better with those who prefer Monster Hunter World to classic Monster Hunter.

here’s no way to get around the fact that Monster Hunter, in any form, is a grinding game. Several hours are put in at a time to hunt down specific monsters to make stronger gear to then hunt down stronger monsters and make even better gear and the cycle continues on and on. Though it is a never-ending cycle, it’s a satisfying one that many players enjoy because they see the real payoff of their hard work, and they can plan according to their goals. With Monster Hunter Now, one of the core aspects is to encourage movement and exploration in the real world by having location directly correlate to what monsters are available. While this is great, in a sense, it also takes away from that planning and sense of accomplishment that many Monster Hunter players are looking for.

A Solid Start With More To Come

Moving away from the content and looking at things from more of a technical perspective, there’s no doubt that Niantic knows how to make something that feels faithful to a popular franchise. Everything from the audio to the visuals feels authentic to the Monster Hunter fans know and love. Not only that but certain aspects have been included to enhance the player experience that feel authentic.

For example, many may remember the days of teaming up with a group of friends to commence an all-out hunt. On mobile, players have the option to team up once again with their friends to take down monsters. This is quite a nice touch and not something that may have been expected for something that is a much more simplified version of the games.

That being said, it may not feel as necessary as it would have in classic Monster Hunter, since combat is pretty straightforward, consisting of mainly simple taps and swipes. Though this is to be expected of a mobile game, it can still feel a little disappointing nonetheless. However, different monsters will still pose different threats and this is only the beginning, so things are likely to develop as the game receives updates and new content.

Though it’s unlikely Monster Hunter Now will see the same success as that of Pokémon GO, there is no doubt that this still holds the potential to be a great game. While the startup is a little slow as it moves through the standard tutorial and the monster and weapon choices are currently limited, it is likely that the game will continue to see updates that bring in more monsters and content from the series. So long as the updates come regularly, this could become a longtime favorite for many mobile players.

Microtransactions Aren’t A Problem, For Now

When it comes to mobile gaming, one of the first things on everyone's minds is whether a game is loaded down with microtransactions. Luckily, though there are options for microtransactions in the game, it doesn’t seem that they’re very necessary, at least not this early on. Therefore, players can enjoy the game without worrying that they will reach a point of being forced to pay or stop making progress.

However, as it is still early, it can’t be said definitively that this will not change in the future, though players can likely expect a similar level of microtransactions that occurred in Pokémon GO. Given that much of what makes Monster Hunter enjoyable is done through grinding, and this game is fairly simplistic, it’s unlikely that any microtransaction will ever feel like a necessity for players as this isn’t meant to be played nearly as intensely and should be more of a casual enjoyment.

Final Thoughts & Rating

All in all, Monster Hunter Now is great for beginners but lacks Monster Hunter’s beloved complexity. On one hand, there is no need to worry about hours spent grinding away, but on the other hand that is exactly what makes these games so appealing to many. Additionally, while Monster Hunter World fans are probably more likely to find this game desirable than classic players will, there is no denying that care was put into the design that pays tribute and creates something that feels authentic to Monster Hunter.

Any player that is either a longtime fan or looking to dip their toes in for the first time should consider giving this a chance, but a real thorough one, which means getting out there to experience all that it truly has to offer, especially for those who truly enjoyed the style of play of Pokémon GO.

Source: Monster Hunter Now/YouTube

Monster Hunter Now releases on September 14, 2023 for iOS and Android. Screen Rant was provided with an iOS code for the purpose of this review.