Here's our Monster Hunter Outlanders (MHO) review. We give it 9.5/10, with scores for graphics, ease of play, combat and controls. Below are the pros and cons, whether it's worth playing, whether it's pay to win, and our impressions of each part of the game.
Our Review Score
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 9.5/10 |
| Graphics | 5/5 |
| Ease of play | 5/5 |
| Combat | 4.5/5 |
| Controls and comfort | 4/5 |
Monster Hunter Outlanders scores 9.5/10 in our review. It already played like a polished game in the closed beta, and the released version adds new characters and weapons. The controls and UI were also adjusted with players in mind.
It's a Monster Hunter for phones with the same kind of hunting combat as the main series. Radiant monsters, new to this game, and hunting alongside original characters make it a Monster Hunter you can only play here.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Real Monster Hunter combat on your phone, with the series' weapons and their core moves
- Large open fields to explore freely, with minigames and buildings that make getting around fast
- Hunting in a squad of four, with Ultimates and Squadmate Skills, makes combat flashy
- Adventure Mode lets newcomers jump right in, and Classic Mode gives experienced hunters full control
- Free to play, and weapons and armor are crafted from monster materials, not pulled from the gacha
Cons
- Adventurers come from recruitment (the gacha), so free players have to choose which limited adventurers to go for
- Hunt Requests, the main source of upgrade materials, cost Energy, which recovers over time, so upgrades take a while
- Classic Mode has no combo assist, so it takes practice on a touchscreen
- It's a big download (iOS: about 20 GB / Android: about 16 GB), and the recommended specs are high-end
See also: Gacha & Monetization / Energy (Stamina) / Controls / System Requirements
Is It Good? Is It Worth Playing?
Yes, if you want to hunt monsters on your phone. Outlanders keeps what makes Monster Hunter fun, from the weapons to hunting with friends, and the controls are easy to pick up. It's worth a try for these players:
- Monster Hunter fans who want to hunt anywhere
- Players new to Monster Hunter or action games (Adventure Mode picks your moves for you)
- Players who enjoy collecting and building up characters with their own skills
- Players who want to hunt with friends (up to 4 players)
If you'd rather avoid a gacha entirely, keep in mind that adventurers come from recruitment. Weapons and armor, though, are crafted as in the main series.
See also: Beginner Guide / Reroll Guide / Multiplayer
Is It Pay to Win?
Not in the usual sense. There's no direct PvP, weapons and armor are crafted rather than pulled, and paying mainly speeds up how fast you get adventurers and upgrade them. The developers say free players can play all the content, but you'll still have to pick which limited adventurers to go for. The guide below breaks down the gacha, currencies and every paid item.
See also: Gacha & Monetization / F2P Guide
Gameplay Review and Impressions
Vast Open Fields to Explore Freely
You can roam freely across several fields, each with its own character. As in the main series, you gather items and hunt monsters all over them, and you can also take on minigames for rewards.
See also: Interactive Map
Building Makes Exploration Easy
Exploring the big fields is easier with building. Link up a Zip Line to travel fast, or fly far through the air with a Wind Platform or a Catapult. Setting up a Camp creates a fast-travel point, too.
See also: Research List
Play as the Characters You Like
You can fight as the characters you meet in the story. Each has their own traits even with the same weapon, so besides playing your favorite weapon as the Fated Adventurer, you can also enjoy hunting as your favorite character.
See also: Character Tier List / Character List
Build a Squad of Four and Fight Together
Hunts are basically done as a squad of four: the character you control plus three squadmates. Adventurers have a type (Assault, Disruptor or Support) and an element, so finding combinations that work well together adds a layer of strategy.
See also: Best Teams
Ultimates and Squadmate Skills Make Combat Thrilling
Combat adds two systems: Ultimates and Squadmate Skills. You charge up an Ultimate to unleash a powerful move of that adventurer's own, and a Squadmate Skill is support from a squadmate triggered by certain actions of the character you control. Together they make combat more exhilarating than in the classic games.
See also: Co-op, Squadmate & Ultimates
8 Weapon Types at Launch
At launch, there are 8 weapon types: Great Sword, Long Sword, Dual Blades, Lance, Hammer, Charge Blade, Heavy Bowgun, and Bow. Their core moves are kept from the series and adjusted to be easy to use on a phone, so both newcomers and veterans can enjoy the fights.
See also: Weapon List / Weapon Tier List
Beginner-Friendly Control Modes
There are two control modes. Adventure Mode chains combos for you, so even newcomers to Monster Hunter or mobile games can fight with ease. If you're confident in combat or want more freedom, Classic Mode lets you choose every action yourself as the fight unfolds.
See also: Controls
Radiant Monsters Bring New Fights
Outlanders adds Radiant monsters: frenzied versions of familiar monsters. They attack more fiercely than the normal ones and have moves of their own, which makes for fresh fights.
See also: Radiant Monsters
An Original New Monster: Ruger Aidal
Ruger Aidal, a new monster original to Outlanders, appears in the main story. It's a powerful Elder Dragon, so expect a challenging fight.
This review reflects the game as of November 3, 2026.