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Monster Hunter Stories 3 Review: Twisted Reflection Earns Its 8.6 With Smooth Riding

A monster is ridden, not hunted, in this tale of twisted reflection, wherein a score of 8.6 is given unto it.

By mitch·3 min read
A hunter rides a monstrous wyvern amid a stormy sky, bound upon a perilous quest.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection drops players into a world where monsters aren’t just hunted — they’re ridden, befriended, and fought side by side. The latest entry in the series lands on Series X|S, Switch 2, PC, and PS5, and it earns an 8.6 out of 10 from critics who reviewed it.

Trailer, via Monster Hunter.

Riding Monsters

The core loop remains simple: players mount a monster companion and ride through battles, switching between mounts mid-fight to chain combos and dodge attacks. That formula hasn’t changed much since the series began, but the execution here feels smoother than ever. Mounts react faster, animations flow better, and the combat节奏更加流畅,让整个体验都显得更加顺畅.

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New Monsters and Maps

Twisted Reflection adds new monsters and new regions to explore. Players travel across a map packed with varied terrain, from grassy plains to icy mountains, each offering its own set of challenges. The variety keeps the journey from feeling repetitive, even after dozens of hours.

Story and Side Content

The main story carries weight, following players through a twisting plot full of betrayal and redemption. It’s not the deepest narrative in the genre, but it moves at a steady pace and delivers enough twists to keep players invested. Side content is plentiful, with hunts, quests, and activities scattered across the map, giving players plenty to do once the main story ends.

Technical Performance

Performance across Series X|S, Switch 2, PC, and PS5 is strong. Load times are short, and frame rates hold steady during chaotic fights involving multiple mounted companions. The game handles large-scale battles well, with dozens of enemies on screen at once without stuttering. On PC, players can adjust settings to fit their hardware, though the base requirements are modest.

“The combat is smooth, the mounts are fast, and the story carries weight.”

That line sums up the general reception from reviewers.

What Holds It Back

Not everything lands perfectly. Some side quests feel thin, offering little beyond a hunt objective and a small reward. The difficulty curve can also feel uneven, with some late-game bosses requiring precise timing that earlier fights didn’t demand. These issues don’t sink the game, but they keep it from reaching the top tier of the genre.

Final Score

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection succeeds because it builds on a solid foundation rather than reinventing it. The riding system remains the star, and the new monsters and maps give players plenty of reasons to return. It doesn’t break new ground, but it executes its vision with confidence.

Critics have scored the game 8.6 out of 10, and that number holds up on Series X|S, Switch 2, PC, and PS5 alike. For players who love the series, this is another strong entry worth playing. For newcomers, it offers a gentle introduction to the mechanics before the difficulty ramps up. The game earns its score honestly — 8.6 of 10.

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