With Monster Hunter celebrating its 20th Anniversary with projects such as exclusive collaborative game chairs with Secret Lab, themed products with MSI, a model of Alatreon, and even a crossover with Street Fighter, fans of the acclaimed monster-hunting franchise may want to reminisce about the "good old days" of chasing monsters with friends with the earlier games' clunkier controls and limited weapons. Now that franchise entries offer new elements such as a fantastical tale with Monster Hunter Stories and more dynamic combat with Monster Hunter Rise, Capcom ensures there's a little something for everyone no matter their pick in the franchise.

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However, fans and newcomers to the series who want to try Monster Hunter's acclaimed co-op offerings may want to go straight to specific games that offer the best multiplayer options. While players can technically team up with others across most Monster Hunter games, which ones have the more worthwhile multiplayer options?

10 Monster Hunter Freedom

Outdated Camera Mechanics Can Make Co-Op Challenging But Fulfilling

• Released: December 1, 2005
• Developer: Capcom
• Platforms: PSP

Considered the first barebones "upgrade" of the original Monster Hunter, gameplay in Monster Hunter Freedom maintained some of the franchise's rougher youthful edges that are largely absent in today's modern entries. In terms of both visuals and features, Monster Hunter Freedom latches onto the series' "hunting" roots. The gameplay itself is plagued by rather bonkers hitboxes, difficulty spikes with monsters, and rather janky maneuverability. However, this did represent an era where Monster Hunter Freedom could be put beside the earlier Souls games in terms of skill ceiling: hunting takes prowess.

As a PSP exclusive, Monster Hunter Freedom multiplayer can only be done with players owning the same console. This is possible through the PSP's Ad-Hoc mode, which allows nearby wireless plays with fellow PSP owners. While the game's limited arsenal of weapons can already make coordinated plays tricky, the dated camera can keep it challenging for players to stay in sync when they always have to re-center their view behind their character. Not to mention, the shared three lives between Hunters can make endgame bosses exceptionally difficult.

9 Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Co-Op Can Be More Engaging With Bow, Hunting Horn Additions

• Released: February 22, 2007 (Japan)
• Developer: Capcom
• Platforms: PSP

Being the first of the second-generation titles to be ported in the West, Monster Hunter Freedom 2 brings the full slate of Monster Hunter 2's game and lore mechanics to the PSP. These include new monsters and their respective mechanics, better climbing spots for exploration, and new weapons like the Bow, Gunlance, Hunting Horn, and the Long Sword. In both single-player and multiplayer experiences, the extra mobility of the Long Sword, despite its weight, as well as the buffs from the Hunting Horn, added more versatility in combat. Meanwhile, the dual-purpose nature of the Gunlance and the ranged-dominating Bow gave players more incentives to stay at a safe distance from more powerful monsters.

As with the original Freedom entry, MHF2 still suffers from lackluster camera controls, which can get extremely detrimental to players in clutch moments. The added weapons also work in line with the game's new mechanics, which in turn extend to more complex resource management with its limited inventory options. Ad-Hoc stays as the main method of accessing multiplayer via the PSP. Regardless of complications in accessing multiplayer, seeing for the first time how the Bow and Hunting Horn changes Monster Hunter meta for the first time can be a delight for well-coordinated teams.

8 Monster Hunter Frontier Z

The MMO That Brought Monster Hunter To New Heights

• Released: June 21, 2007
• Developer: Capcom
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, Wii U

While Monster Hunter World is a multiplayer-focused modern experience, it's by no means a fully-fledged Monster Hunter MMO. This is an honor still held by Monster Hunter Frontier Z to this day, wherein fans still grieve the game shutting down its servers in 2019. Such is the fan reception of the game that private servers are up and running for players who own copies of the game, and much of the MMO's critical acclaim is attached to its features. The MMO seemed like a testing ground for player reception of mechanics that eventually made their way to more modern titles: Monster Movesets, Weapon Styles, and even Siege mechanics, to name a few.

At its core, the game is the only other Monster Hunter entry aside from Iceborne to go past its G-Rank as the highest tier. Whereas Iceborne has the Master Rank, Frontier Z has new missions ordinarily considered overkill in other titles: a 10-person server-wide hunt against a giant monster, killing two monsters at the same time, and even multi-Rage Mode targets. Fans who manage to get into the private server with their copy of the game can join other players to embark on other shenanigans, such as fighting monsters that adjust attacks based on player weapons and quests, using the airborne-dependent Tonfa weapon, and fighting seemingly-reskinned monsters with new behavior.

7 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Perhaps The Most Challenging Of The PSP Entries

Among earlier titles in the franchise, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite struck a balance between serviceable Monster Hunter mechanics and a hunting grind that left much of Quest's success in the hands (no pun intended) of the handheld title. Both classic and modern players can find MHFU quite challenging, especially with how much of the mechanics heavily rely on manual setups. This was during the days of broken hitboxes and aggressive monsters, manual targeting via paintballs, no fast travels and multiple camps, and limited numbers of whetstones per mission. Monsters are also updated with new movesets, as well as the option to have a Felyne comrade to accompany both solo hunters and non-quartet teams.

The above caveats mean co-op in the PlayStation Portable title became an important step in clearing harder missions, as players had to be more coordinated to overcome the game's "manual" hiccups. Being an older title, MHFU's multiplayer component can get tricky to access. Aside from the PSP's Ad-Hoc mode, they can connect the game to their PS3 or PC (via Xlink Kai) to use their wireless access to look for online teammates. The clunky controls and the considerable difficulty of some monsters can make MHFU difficult to get into as a team, although the game's more expanded roster of weapons can help players accommodate each other's weaknesses.

6 Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Underwater Mechanics Add Variety To Hunts

Players may find Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate a polarizing title in combat due to its slower mobility, which makes its monster roster equally challenging and satisfying to fight. Its underwater combat feature has its critics, but it makes for a change of pace compared to classic and modern Monster Hunter titles. The Target Camera option allows players to center the camera on larger opponents instead of themselves, and the touch-sensitive screen can be configured to accommodate various information displays.

As with other classic Monster Hunter titles, MH3U multiplayer can accommodate up to four players who own the same console. In local play, players can talk to Neko and go straight to Port Tanzia to access the Hunter's Guild, whereas in online multiplayer, players need to ask Neko to bring them online first, select or create an available World, and then go to Port Tanzia from there. All Quests in the base game can be solo'd, especially with the player's Felyne companions. However, the added option to play with friends can speed things up significantly, provided everyone can accommodate the game's clunkier mechanics.

5 Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

A Much-Appreciated Middle Ground Between Classic And Modern Entries

When players encounter Gore Magala for the first time in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, they discover the monster is the source of a mysterious illness that causes monsters around villages to

rampage. Compared to MH3U, controls in MH4U are as smooth as they become for its console generation and previous counterparts. Unique monsters maintain an element of challenge for newcomers coming from more modern entries. Of the older entries, MH4U is easier to get into, as this title introduced jumping and mount mechanics to the franchise. However, a lack of proper scaling can transform endgame hunts against powerful monsters into resource management fights as the game simply boosts the enemy's health.

Going multiplayer in MH4U requires all players to own a Nintendo 3DS. Playing with Hunters is possible by creating or finding a Gathering Hall with Local Play, Hunter Search, or even Online Multiplayer. The limited hardware of the 3DS limits chats to text, which by today's standards means less chances of toxicity among players. While not as fast-paced as modern entries, MH4U is the closest to more recent titles in terms of more manageable mechanics. Monster scaling based on HP demands more aggressive plays from teams, encouraging experimentation with the game's assorted weapon types.

4 Monster Hunter Generations

A Celebratory Title That Offers More Combat Flexibility

Despite being an older title, Monster Hunter Generations packs some enjoyable features for a celebration title, such as hold-based gathering, Hunter Arts super moves, and even Prowler Mode to play as a Feline. Hunter Styles heavily diversify weapon gameplay as they provide four distinct playstyle options, such as balanced (Guild), air-based combat (Aerial), better combo access (Striker), and skill-ceiling technical (Adept) options.

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As with other Monster Hunter titles, co-op in Generations is mainly done by joining either private or public Lobbies and then hosting or joining Quests created there. While the requirement of a 3DS for online play becomes a considerable barrier for enjoying Generations, the relative popularity of the console can make it and the game much easier acquisitions compared to other titles. Trying Generations today in a multiplayer setting may be worthwhile, as the variety of Hunter Styles and unique Hunter Arts ensures teammates may likely have different combat preferences even if everyone uses the same weapon.

3 Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

A Modern Take On A Hit Celebratory Title

Technically the expanded version of MHG, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate adds relevant balancing tweaks and QoL features, the much-awaited G-Rank, as well as both variant and returning monsters. The new Alchemy and Valor Style also further diversifies weapon options, making co-op more exciting to experiment with. Newcomers to the Monster Hunter franchise who want to experience other games before Rise could try Generations to get a "feel" on a relative middle ground between traditional-esque MH World and faster-paced Rise.

Perhaps the main caveat of Generations Ultimate is its difficulty, as all Quests are scaled to four players - making some hunts either too easy or too challenging regardless of the party composition. The added Switch support vastly expands on the game's multiplayer offerings, as the Hunter Arts do provide reinvigorated aggression against monsters that the other games lack. Players who begin experimenting with Hunter Arts can find their party transforming into a rhythmic team that defeats monsters in sync, something that other games don't necessarily have.

2 Monster Hunter: Rise

Faster-Paced Gameplay Can Fit Quick But Satisfying Sessions

Considered by many as a more beginner-friendly Monster Hunter entry, the more compact mechanics of Monster Hunter: Rise definitely make the game a more straightforward hunting experience. The Palamute allows players to quickly navigate the game's seamless open-world environment, while the Wirebug adds verticality to Rise's combat mechanics. These alone make battles faster-paced, marking a change of pace to the series' clunkier and more elaborate hunting features.

Players who prefer a faster-paced Monster Hunter experience won't go wrong with Rise. However, smaller maps and simpler environments can become a drag for those looking for immersive experiences. Multiplayer isn't as complicated to get into, as players can join or create Lobbies for players to join before actually inviting them to quests via the Gathering Hub.

1 Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

The Most Immersive Multiplayer Monster Hunter Experience

Practically a massive content update to MH World's overhaul of staple Monster Hunter mechanics, the open-world nature of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne adds icy locales to the game's already-immersive features: pitting monsters against each other, destructible environments, and seamless open-world movement, to name a few. On top of more comprehensive MH World buildsIceborne's flexible multiplayer component can make co-op more customizable to fans. Players can enter lobbies that fit up to 16 Hunters, all of them having the option to join or create both private and public quests. Missions can be stopped mid-way to launch SOS Flares, allowing others to join.

The more comprehensive take on the Monster Hunter experience can make Iceborne a more immersive and feature-complete co-op experience, at least bar its unskippable cutscenes. Players may still need to integrate a mod for a skip feature, the lack of which can make co-op encounters jarring. Save for this, World and Iceborne offer more "traditional" Monster Hunter gameplay, emphasizing more coordinated moves and elaborate use of environments against monsters.

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