Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: Capcom
Full Name: Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Released on: Android, iOS
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
I’ve always been a fan of Monster Hunter, so when I saw Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest pop up on mobile, I had to give it a try. Combining the monster-slaying mechanics of the beloved series with a match-3 puzzle system? It sounded like an odd combo, but I was curious.
And you know what? It’s not bad. It’s not great either. It lands somewhere firmly in the middle, entertaining enough to keep you engaged, especially in short bursts, but eventually the repetition catches up.
Story and setting
Plot overview
There’s a loose story about joining the Hunters and taking on increasingly difficult monsters across different biomes. The narrative is barebones, and it serves more as a framing device than a true focus.
World building and immersion
The game brings familiar Monster Hunter zones like forests, deserts, and volcanoes into the puzzle world, but only in visual and thematic ways. Don’t expect deep lore or environmental storytelling. This is all about grinding levels and upgrading gear.
Character development
There’s minimal character growth beyond unlocking new gear and companions. You play as a nameless hunter, and while that fits the Monster Hunter theme, it lacks personality.
Emotional impact
None, really. It’s a puzzle game with a Monster Hunter coat of paint.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 6.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
At its core, Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest is a match-3 puzzle RPG. You line up elements on a grid to attack monsters, charge up abilities, and defend yourself. It’s a solid system with monster-specific strategy, elemental matchups, and timed attacks.
Difficulty and balance
The early game is fairly easy and satisfying. Later on, things spike—often artificially—with certain monsters designed to soak damage and deal out special attacks.
Pacing of the game
Fast in the beginning, but slows down significantly past level 300. Grinding becomes necessary to advance, and level progression starts to feel padded.
Innovation and uniqueness
It’s not the first time Monster Hunter has been given a mobile twist, and this isn’t the first match-3 game with RPG mechanics. The unique appeal is how it uses Monster Hunter elements like crafting gear, companions, and fighting iconic monsters.
Controls and user interface
Controls are intuitive. Just tap, swipe, and go. The interface is clean and easy to navigate.
Microtransactions
They’re here, of course. Energy systems, gear packs, companion boosts—it’s all present. But it’s fairly tame compared to more aggressive mobile games.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 7.5.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The art is bright and polished. Familiar monsters like Rathalos, Zinogre, and Lagiacrus look great in their mobile forms.
Technical performances
Runs smoothly on most devices. Load times are minimal, and crashes are rare.
Environment and design uniqueness
While the game draws heavily from Monster Hunter’s world, the environments are mostly static backdrops. There’s not a lot of animation or movement beyond the puzzles.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 7.5.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack is surprisingly well-done, remixing familiar Monster Hunter tunes into lighter, mobile-friendly versions.
Sound effects quality
Attacks have a good punch to them, and monster roars sound satisfying.
Voice Acting
There is some light voicework (mostly from companions or system prompts), but nothing major.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 7.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
There are hundreds of levels. Over 400 as of now. There is likely more to come. Not to mention the extra levels, or quests for the Palicoes.
Extra Content
Events, limited-time hunts, and gear drops give you reason to check in regularly.
Replay value
There’s a lot to do, but it starts to feel repetitive after a while. The core loop doesn’t evolve enough, which can make long-term play feel stale.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest with a 7.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Add more variation in puzzle mechanics.
Reduce the grind curve after level 300.
Add optional story-driven quests for world-building.
Comparisons
It’s very similar to Puzzle & Dragons and Monster Strike, but the Monster Hunter branding gives it a bit more identity. However, Monster Hunter Stories (the full RPG) has much more depth.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
I hit over level 400, and while the core loop was fun at first, it eventually became more of a daily habit than something I looked forward to. The art and polish kept me around, and there’s a certain satisfaction in finally defeating a tough monster by building a perfect match combo. But I found myself wishing there was more variety and less repetition.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with monster Hunter Puzzle Quest, I give it a personal rating of 7.
Last words
Pros
- Fun and responsive match-3 puzzle system
- Iconic monsters and gear from the franchise
- Easy to pick up and play
- Polished art and UI
- Light but enjoyable soundtrack
- Regular events and updates
- Satisfying gear progression
- Respectable balance in free vs. paid progression
Cons
- Becomes repetitive past level 300
- Lack of narrative depth
- Artificial difficulty spikes
- Could use more innovation in gameplay mechanics
Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest is a solid mobile title that delivers an enjoyable match-3 experience wrapped in Monster Hunter aesthetics. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s good for short sessions, monster nostalgia, and surprisingly strategic moments. Just don’t expect deep storytelling or radical gameplay shifts.
FINAL RATING
7.5
Please let me know what you think of Monster Hunter Puzzle Quest in the comments!
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The part about the grind after level 300 sounds a bit rough, guess that’s always the case with these matching games
it is very addictive game. Cuz its more than 400 levels :O
Yeah, it seems like this is just Candy Crush in Monster Hunter wolf’s clothing lol, just another cash grab for MH fans
Candy crush made into hunting monster!
Might be cool for more casual gameplay, let me see a video. PS – Cat again finded his way to be not only on keyboard but in a review 😀
I get the urge to play match-3 puzzles sometimes.
While the core gameplay is just match-3, the visuals and stuff looked really good!🐑
It’s not my style of game but your presentation is good.
Normally not my game genre to go to ^^.
Thanks for the review.
Nah, Monster Hunter should stay away from mobile phones. XD
Even though other releases have scummy DLCs like the one for character edit, microtransactions are just a big no-no.
Lucent Nargacuga looks dope, tho. 🙂
Game looks very cute xD i will try it lol.. looks like a fun passtime!
Looks like a good time killer
I didn’t even know that this game exists. It has a decent art style, it can be a decent game to play.
Loved playing match 3 games on mobile years ago 🙂
The art looks really fun and adorable, but I was hoping for more puzzle types than the generic Match 3 formula! This game sounds like it could be great if they add more gameplay modes and minigames! Give it something more unique 🤔
I like review! I love puzzles and art style in this game.
Definitely not my type of game. Not sure what surprises me more, the fact that Monster Hunter has a spin-off like this, or that you gave it such a high score. I would have probably given it a 2 or 3. 😆