For many players, the thrill of Monster Hunter is unparalleled. That perfect blend of strategic combat against colossal beasts, the satisfying loop of crafting gear from your hard-won trophies, and the camaraderie of cooperative hunts creates a special kind of magic. But what happens after you've conquered the New World, or simply crave a new hunting ground? The good news for 2026 is that the gaming landscape is richer than ever with experiences that capture that same exhilarating spirit. From sprawling open worlds filled with mythical creatures to loot-driven adventures and cooperative raids, there are countless worlds waiting for a hunter like you to explore. Let's dive into the top titles that will perfectly scratch that monster-hunting itch.

10. Destiny 2: Cooperative Raids and Endless Progression

Look past the controversial corporate decisions of years past; the core gameplay loop of Destiny 2 in 2026 remains a fantastic draw for cooperative-minded players. Much like gathering your hunting party in Monster Hunter, Destiny 2 shines when you team up with others. Forming a Fireteam to tackle challenging raids and dungeons against punishing bosses is where the game's heart lies. The pursuit of exotic weapons and perfectly rolled armor creates a grind that will feel intimately familiar. There's a constant drive to improve your build, master new subclasses, and take on ever-greater challenges with friends, making it a persistent world of cooperative combat and progression.

9. Diablo IV: Loot-Driven Adventures in an Expansive World

While its perspective is different, Diablo IV shares Monster Hunter's DNA in its relentless focus on loot and character progression. Exploring its vast, semi-open zones feels akin to embarking on a new expedition. The thrill of battling world bosses and diving into nightmare dungeons with other players provides that essential cooperative challenge. You'll constantly be tweaking your skill tree, hunting for legendary gear, and refining your build to tackle tougher content. With regular seasonal updates introducing new mechanics, gear, and enemies, Diablo IV offers a constantly evolving end-game grind that will keep any loot hunter engaged for hundreds of hours.

8. The Axis Unseen: A Mythological Hunting Simulator

This indie gem offers a uniquely atmospheric take on the hunting genre. Developed by a veteran of legendary open-world games, The Axis Unseen presents a vast, eerie landscape teeming with creatures from global folklore. The hunt here is more solitary and tense, focusing on tracking, preparation, and exploiting each mythical beast's weaknesses. You'll need to upgrade your gear and master magical abilities to survive. It’s a slower, more deliberate experience that emphasizes the "hunt" over the all-out brawl, perfect for players who enjoy the strategic preparation phase of Monster Hunter.

7. Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dynamic Climbing and Colossal Foes

The name says it all. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is built on the foundation of fighting enormous, fantastic creatures in a truly reactive open world. The combat is famously dynamic, allowing you to climb onto monsters Shadow of the Colossus-style to target specific weak points—a feature that feels incredibly rewarding. You'll battle Chimeras, Griffins, Ogres, and, of course, Dragons across a sprawling world. The loop of defeating monsters, gathering materials, and crafting or enhancing your gear and skills is central to the experience. With deep class customization and the unique Pawn system for AI companions, it offers immense replayability alongside its epic campaign.

6. Horizon Forbidden West: Strategic Battles Against Mechanical Beasts

If you love Monster Hunter's strategic combat but crave a massive, narrative-driven open world, this is your game. Horizon Forbidden West trades biological monsters for awe-inspiring mechanical ones. Each machine has specific components, weapons, and weaknesses you must learn to exploit, making every encounter a tactical puzzle. You scavenge parts from downed machines to upgrade your arsenal of bows, slings, and traps. The game even lets you "tame" certain machines to use as mounts or allies. With a wealth of end-game content like the Arena and hunting grounds for rare machines, it provides a lengthy and satisfying progression grind in a stunningly detailed world.

5. Wild Hearts: Monster Hunting Meets Instant Fortification

Wild Hearts is the most direct competitor to Monster Hunter's core formula, and it distinguishes itself with a brilliant twist: the Karakuri building system. You hunt giant nature-infused beasts called Kemono in beautiful, semi-open zones. The core loop of hunting, gathering materials, and crafting new gear is instantly familiar. The game-changer is your ability to build structures mid-fight—springboards for aerial attacks, walls to block charges, or even giant hammers to slam down on a monster. This layer of tactical construction adds a fresh, dynamic element to the hunt, and the varied weapon types ensure plenty of gameplay diversity.

4. God Eater 3: Anime-Style, High-Speed Hunting

Think of God Eater 3 as Monster Hunter injected with anime adrenaline. The combat is significantly faster and flashier, focusing on swift combos and dramatic special attacks against the Aragami. You'll tackle missions from a hub, ranking up to face stronger foes and earn better gear. The skill customization, while more streamlined than Monster Hunter's, allows you to tailor your God Arc (a transforming weapon) and abilities to your preferred style. Be prepared for a story delivered through plentiful dialogue and cutscenes, but if you enjoy a narrative-driven hunt with a stylish, over-the-top combat flair, this is a fantastic choice.

3. Toukiden 2: A Classic Hunter in an Open World

Often considered Monster Hunter's most direct spiritual sibling, Toukiden 2 perfected the formula with its own identity. It features a large, seamless world to explore, filled with resources and Oni (demons) to hunt. The progression is classic and satisfying: defeat monsters, gather their parts, and craft stronger weapons and armor to take on greater challenges. The combat is fluid and offers a huge arsenal of weapons, each with unique mechanics. Like its inspiration, Toukiden 2 is built for multiplayer cooperation, where teamwork is essential for bringing down the massive, end-game threats.

2. Dauntless: Free-to-Play, Streamlined Hunting

Dauntless is the accessible, free-to-play gateway into the hunting genre. It distills the core Monster Hunter loop into a more streamlined package. You'll choose from a variety of distinct weapons and head to shared Hunting Grounds to take on Behemoths. The combat is all about skill: learning attack patterns, mastering dodges, and executing combos. As you hunt, you'll gather materials to craft and upgrade your gear, unlocking new abilities and modifiers. It's cross-play enabled, making it easy to squad up with friends, and its seasonal model provides regular new content and Behemoths to master.

1. Elden Ring: The Ultimate Solo Hunt in a Masterful World

At its core, Monster Hunter is about the triumph of preparation and skill over a seemingly insurmountable foe. No game embodies this feeling in a single-player, open-world context better than Elden Ring. The Lands Between is a vast, mysterious playground filled with terrifying and magnificent bosses. Each encounter is a hunt in itself, requiring you to learn patterns, exploit weaknesses, and potentially tweak your build or gear. The deep customization of spells, weapons, and ashes of war allows for countless playstyles. The drive to explore, find better gear, level up, and finally conquer that boss that defeated you a dozen times delivers a thrill that every Monster Hunter fan will recognize and adore.