Monster Hunter - the best video game?

Introduction

I have selected the main aspects that, in my opinion, make Monster Hunter (MH) the best game series in the world!

Aspects

1. Unique gameplay. A verified set of mechanics that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the world of a monster hunter
2. Monsters. Each monster occupies its place in the ecosystem and this place determines its essence
3. Realism. Monsters get tired, limp and run away during battle. Hunters can freeze, get hungry or go blind from a bright flash - everything is like in life

Photo: screenrunt / Monster Hunter
4. Living world. The world was alive from the beginning and with each new generation of the series it becomes more and more alive. Everything is interconnected and lives its own unique life
5. Scale. In addition to "chamber" battles, there are also global ones, when a monster threatens not just one hunter, but an entire settlement! Some monsters that you have to fight reach the size of a volcano...
6. Crafting system. By defeating a monster, the hunter receives its power in the form of weapons, armor, and other hunting gear
7. Weapon types. Each weapon gives the hunter a completely new experience. You can specialize in one or all 14 types of weapons

Photo: gamerant / Monster Hunter
8. Co-op. MH is equally good to play alone or in a company. Alone - maximum immersion, company - maximum fun
9. Training. From simple monsters to complex ones. With each defeated monster, the hunter's skill grows and develops. Some skills can even be useful in real life! Like, for example, regularly looking around
10. Tactics. Monster design involves studying their habits and exploiting their weaknesses: vulnerability to the elements, weak points, destructible body parts
11. Battles. Fights with monsters are intense and can last up to 50 minutes

Photo: Alpha Coders / Monster Hunter
12. Story. There is always a mystery in the story that the hunter has to solve
13. Replayability. High variability of events makes each fight with a monster special
14. Demanding. The game does not forgive mistakes, but also teaches you to be better. In fact, you are not in the game - you are on the hunt!
15. Detailing. The game is worked out to the smallest detail. This applies to both the visual component and the sound
16. Characters. Many charismatic, memorable characters who fill the gaps between hunts with their stories

Photo: nintendowire / Monster Hunter
17. Companions. The hunter is not alone, there is always someone who can come to the rescue. Felynes, palamutes, followers, etc...
18. Game duration. True hunters can play up to a thousand hours in each individual MH series
19. Community. There are many fans of the MH series in the world who are always ready to help. There is also a separate direction of players who perform "speedruns". They achieve the most effective results in hunting and you can learn a lot from them, since they deeply know the game and understand the monsters
20. Music. Almost every monster has its own special soundtrack
    

    Photo: X / Monster Hunter
21. Customization. The appearance of the hunter and assistants is customizable, and becomes more and more perfect with each generation of the series. Thanks to the advanced character editor, you can create your own digital "clone" right in the game!
22. History. The series has come an incredible way, 20+ years long. There have been ups and downs, but the spirit of hunting has been preserved at every stage. The breakthrough was "Monster Hunter World", which turned a niche project about hunting into a world bestseller. The fan base grew 5 times and MH took its place of honor on the Olympus of the best game series
23. Spin-offs. In addition to the flagship MH game series, there are also branches that master other game genres to attract new players. One of the most popular branches of the series is "Monster Hunter Stories"
24. Mini-games. In addition to hunting, the game has a variety of mini-games masterfully integrated. Cooking a steak, mounting monsters, fishing
25. Events. Regularly held events keep hunters motivated to enter the game. Often, there are collaborations with various popular franchises as part of the events, such as "Street Fighter", "The Witcher", "Final Fantasy"

Photo: gamespot / Monster Hunter
26. Arena. For those who want to compete with other hunters in combat skills, there are arenas - specially created zones for battles with monsters for a time
27. Evolution. The MH series really evolves and deepens with each generation. Two teams of developers are constantly trying new things and improving the existing ones. Underwater battles, wyvern riding, the rampage, and so on and so forth. Not everything takes root, but everything gives its impetus to the development of the series
28. Cult status. More and more other games are borrowing MH mechanics, which confirms the authority of this series in the gaming community
29. Technical execution. MH games are always famous for their almost perfect technical implementation
30. Endgame. Like any other modern top-tier game, MH has a "grind". It's pointless and merciless, but if you missed the main content and the hunt doesn't let go, you can always kill an extra 10-20-100 hours of your life for a 1% damage increase... Tempered monsters in one form or another are our everything!

Photo: icyveins / Monster Hunter

Conclusion

All these aspects are present in other games in one way or another, but such perfect ratio and implementation is not found anywhere else.