Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection unveils more details in the weeks leading up to launch. Discover highlights from the "Go Forth" story trailer and developer walkthrough here.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Dropped Two New Videos on February 21
Story Preview in Go Forth Trailer
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection developer and publisher Capcom released two videos this weekend: a story trailer titled "Go Forth" and a developer walkthrough with lead game designer Daisuke Wakahara. With these, Capcom tells players to expect more news in the weeks to come as they approach March 13, the game's official launch date.
The three-minute "Go Forth" trailer showcases cinematic shots of the Rangers set against the game’s primary conflict, the Encroachment, which threatens the kingdoms of Azuria and Vermeil. Also included in the video are the different monsters they will face, such as the Elder Dragons Ibushi and Narwa from Monster Hunter Rise, the fanged beast Ajarakan from Monster Hunter Wilds, and Lao-Shan Lung, whose appearance in the trailer shocked fans the most.
Lao-Shan Lung is one of the first Elder Dragons that players have to battle in the original Monster Hunter game, and its last appearance was a decade ago in Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. While the trailer only shows the dormant colossus as nothing more than an explorable location, its mere existence in the game alone was enough to spark speculation in the playerbase that it might awaken at any moment.
After the trailer dropped, the game's official website was updated with new information about the new characters and monsters. Clarissa (Queen of Vermeil), Corbin (Hunter and Explorer), and PK (Corbin's Palico) now have their own character profiles.
Heading over to the Monsties and Monsters, there were a few confirmations to the roster displayed on the website as well. The Monsties will have Dreadqueen Rathian once again, while the Monster lineup includes Arkveld, Ajarakan, and Malzeno. Namielle is a Calamitous Elder Dragon, a major boss encounter that can be summoned using certain conditions.
“Story and Gameplay are Equally Important,” Says Devs
Supplementary to the story trailer is the 13-minute developer walkthrough separately posted on YouTube on the same date, with lead gameplay designer Daisuke Wakahara discussing Monster Hunter Stories 3's gameplay, and his occasional "I’ll stop right here to avoid spoilers."
On the topic of basic battles, Wakahara said that they revolve around filling up the Kinship Gauge with Monsties and dealing massive damage to enemies with Kinship Attack. "Raising monsters and forming bonds with them has always been a key part of the series," he stated.
The video also delved into the game’s other systems, such as egg hunting and habitat restoration through the protection of endangered species from invasive monsters. It also introduced monsters with mutations and dual elements. Wakahara shared that they "put a lot of thought into incorporating the Rangers' role of finding and protecting eggs, returning hatchlings to nature, and restoring the ecosystem into the narrative and core gameplay cycle."
Aside from the monster-hunting gameplay, Wakahara tackled the game's artistic direction. He said there was a deliberate choice to shift the Monster Hunter entry to a more mature tone than its predecessors, veering away from the shounen manga art style and making the protagonist older at 19 years old. In comparison, the first Monster Hunter game and its sequel featured protagonists ages 12 and 15, respectively, still under the tutelage of senior riders.
These align with what game director Kenji Oguro has told 4Gamer in an interview earlier in February. He explained that positioning the protagonist as the kingdom's ace rider and captain of the Rangers from the start generates immediate excitement among players. "As a result, I believe we were able to increase the scale of both the story and the gameplay experience," he said, "providing a level of freshness that sets it apart from previous entries in the series."
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is set to release on March 13, 2026, for Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A demo for Switch 2 went live on February 5. To stay up to date with the upcoming game, check out our article below!
Sources:
YouTube | Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - Go Forth Trailer
Official Website | Monster Hunter Stories 3
4Gamer interview
