Monster Hunter: Wildlands is one of the most anticipated games of 2025, and for good reason. The first two games in the series, 2018’s Monster Hunter World and 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise, were both well received by critics and audiences, and both broke sales records, with World still topping the charts with over With 26 million copies sold, it ranks as Capcom’s second best-selling game of all time.
However, Monster Hunter has been around for a long time and has many The games that preceded World and Rise ushered in a new era for the series. Although the “Monster Hunter” series was already very popular in Japan before the world began, “Monster Hunter” has an even more enthusiastic following in North America. But the game has always been good.
Fans curious to try out some older games can now purchase several classic Monster Hunter cartridges at retail prices on Nintendo Switch and 3DS—the best place to start is Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate Edition. You can pick up the Switch version for $10 via the eShop (normally $40), while those who prefer to buy physical media can pick up a copy on Amazon for $43.54. Generations Ultimate is now out of print, so physical copy prices fluctuate regularly. You can think of Generations Ultimate as a greatest hits album, as it brings together an incredible amount of monsters and locations from across the series’ history and around the world. If you just want an old Monster Hunter game, Generations Ultimate is ideal.
Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate Edition for Nintendo Switch
Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate is considered the last entry in the series to feature “old Monster Hunter” gameplay, with all the lag and charm that comes with it. Monster Hunter Capcom released Generations Ultimate on Switch in 2018, significantly expanding the game’s adventure content. For players new to World or Rise, the game’s 3DS origins and hardcore classic Monster Hunter design will be obvious. However, Generations Ultimate offers a more approachable formula than its predecessor, with small quality-of-life tweaks and faster, more varied combat.
Even though its original version is nearly a decade old, Generations Ultimate still has the most things to do (and the most monsters to hunt) among the Monster Hunter games. Seriously, this is packaged with content. It has hundreds of quests and nearly all the monsters, maps, and town centers from all previous games. There are over 90 large monsters to hunt, including some new monsters.
World and Rise turned Monster Hunter into a multi-platform series, but Generations Ultimate remains a Switch exclusive. If you want to play the game but don’t have a Switch, you can buy the Nintendo Switch OLED and handheld Switch Lite at a discount on Amazon.
Now, let’s go back another generation and hunt down stereoscopic 3D rendered monsters.
Monster Hunter game for Nintendo 3DS
The Monster Hunter game has been released in two versions in the past – a base game and an expanded “Ultimate” version released about a year later that included new monsters, armor, hunting levels, and more. Kind of like old-school Pokemon. Capcom typically skips the North American version of the base game, choosing to only release the English-language upgrade. While Generations Ultimate is the better of the two, Generations is still reasonably priced at $45.59 new at Amazon, making it worth buying if you don’t own a Switch and want to ditch your trusty 3DS or 2DS.
A quick note about playing Monster Hunter Wilderness on 3DS: With the Switch eShop closed, the price of the physical version will likely continue to climb as the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds gets closer. Additionally, Monster Hunter plays best on the New Nintendo 3DS XL or 2DS XL due to the addition of the C-stick, a weird little second “analog stick” that looks like an eraser. If you don’t have the newer model, there’s an accessory that can add a second Circle Pad to your 3DS or 3DS XL. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find the Circle Pad Pro at a reasonable price these days, unless you happen to own a Japanese Nintendo 3DS LL (the XL’s name in Japan).
Generations isn’t the only traditional Monster Hunter game released on the 3DS. During its lifetime, the 3DS was the only home for the series. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was released in North America in 2013, followed by Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate in 2015.
While these games have less overall content than Ultimate Generation, they offer a more authentic “classic Monster Hunter” experience. Both are highly regarded by long-time fans, especially 4 Ultimate, which ranks high on GameSpot’s Monster Hunter series rankings.
If you want to play these games but don’t have a 3DS, it’s worth noting that Amazon has a number of 3DS and 3DS XL handheld devices available through its Renewed program. Although video game consoles and handheld devices tend to be more expensive on Amazon than on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, you get the added benefit of Amazon’s 90-day warranty. If the product doesn’t meet expectations, you can return it and get a full refund.
For those completely unfamiliar with the series, Monster Hunter World and Rise and their massive expansion packs remain the best places for new players to get started in the series before Outlander comes out. Physical copies of all of these games are available on Amazon. You can also buy the turn-based RPG spin-offs Monster Hunter Story and Monster Hunter Story 2: Wings of Destruction on Switch at a discount. It’s also worth mentioning that Nintendo’s official Monster Hunter Amiibo figures for Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Story 2 are still available for purchase on Amazon and GameStop. Amazon is also offering several discounts on Monster Hunter art books and new character pre-orders.
Let’s not forget that the next game, Monster Hunter Wilds, will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 28th. Based on the latest preview, it looks like it might be the perfect starting point for new players – so don’t worry if the old game is too intimidating. Pre-orders are open now, and for just $5 more you can get a copy of the game in a limited-edition steel box.
If you play games on your computer, you can Pre-order Monster Hunter Wilds and save 18% In a frenzy. The digital storefront is selling Steam keys for the Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Deluxe editions of Monster Hunter Wilds at a discount. This deal brings the price of the standard version down to just $57.39.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.
