11 Hardcore games like Monster Hunter: World that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Monster Hunter: World does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and skill tree progression. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is historical setting.

What carries over from Monster Hunter: World is strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is visuals: 3D presentation.

What brings it close to Monster Hunter: World is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, world and progression. To that it adds a third-person camera and fantasy world. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings magic-based combat and historical setting.

On paper it is what Monster Hunter: World is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on fantasy world and single-player focus. The distance is in game mode and setting — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.

The genre is the same as Monster Hunter: World’s, and with it strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting and 2D presentation.

The genre is the same as Monster Hunter: World’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting and pixel art.

If Monster Hunter: World worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. Both also lean on co-op play and skill tree progression. The distance is in setting — its own ground is an anime aesthetic.

The genre is the same as Monster Hunter: World’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds a third-person camera and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and progression: this one brings loot and gear systems, and an anime aesthetic.

Same family as Monster Hunter: World: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on a third-person camera and single-player focus. The distance is in game mode and progression — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and an anime aesthetic.

Genre puts it alongside Monster Hunter: World, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and an anime aesthetic.

If Monster Hunter: World worked for you because of deep RPG systems, punishing difficulty and open world exploration, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in game mode and setting — its own ground is an anime aesthetic.