Monster Hunter Stories 3 Will Take 40-50 Hours to Complete

Same Length, More Cinematic

According to an interview with 4Gamer, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will take players 40–50 hours to complete, matching the length of previous entries in the spin-off series. Executive producer Ryozo Tsujimoto confirmed the playtime estimate despite the game's increased focus on cinematic storytelling.

The confirmation addresses potential concerns that the third entry's more narrative-driven approach might result in a shorter experience. It's a valid worry - we've seen plenty of games sacrifice content for cutscenes. But Tsujimoto's comments suggest Capcom has balanced the expanded cinematic elements with the substantial gameplay length fans expect from the Stories series. For context, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin clocked in at roughly the same range, so this feels like Capcom maintaining consistency while evolving the presentation.

What This Means for Players

The 40-50 hour estimate likely covers the main story campaign. Previous Monster Hunter Stories games offered additional content through post-game activities, monster collecting, and endgame challenges that extended playtime well beyond the initial completion. If you're a completionist who wants to hatch every Monstie variant, build optimal gene builds, and tackle the toughest super bosses, you're looking at potentially double that playtime.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection continues the turn-based RPG spin-off series that reimagines the franchise's monster hunting formula. Instead of hunting monsters, players befriend and ride them into battle using a rock-paper-scissors-style combat system where attack types (Power, Speed, Technical) counter each other. The series has carved out its own identity within the Monster Hunter universe, appealing to JRPG fans who might bounce off the mainline games' action-heavy combat and preparation requirements.

The "more cinematic" direction represents an interesting evolution for the series. While the first two Stories games featured charming cutscenes and character moments, they kept things relatively straightforward. If Twisted Reflection is leaning harder into narrative presentation - think more dramatic camera work, voice acting, and story beats - it could help the series stand out even more distinctly from mainline Monster Hunter. The question is whether that cinematic focus enhances the monster bonding and battling, or just adds flash between the gameplay segments fans actually care about.

Release Details

The game launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC later this year. Capcom has positioned Stories 3 as a more ambitious entry in the series, with enhanced presentation and storytelling while maintaining the core gameplay loop that defined the first two games.

The multi-platform approach is notable. The first Stories game was 3DS exclusive, while Stories 2 launched on Switch and PC. Bringing Stories 3 to PlayStation and Xbox consoles suggests Capcom sees growth potential for the series beyond Nintendo's ecosystem. It also means the game should look significantly better than its predecessors, particularly on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S where the hardware can push more detailed monster models and environments.

Are you planning to dive into Monster Hunter Stories 3 when it launches? If you missed the first two games, Stories 2 is worth checking out - it's still one of the better monster collecting RPGs available, and it'll give you a solid feel for what the series offers before Twisted Reflection arrives.