Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise is renowned for its engaging collaborations, and the latest title, Monster Hunter Wilds, continues this tradition. While Wilds didn’t launch with crossover content, unlike its predecessor **Monster Hunter World**, Capcom has confirmed that exciting new collaborations are on the horizon. The specific series to be featured remains unknown, but fans are eagerly anticipating unique contributions from various iconic franchises.
Over the past 20 years, the Monster Hunter franchise has seen a wide array of collaborations with varying levels of quality and creativity. Now that players have predominantly completed the main story of Wilds and delved into its post-game content, Capcom has a fresh opportunity to introduce new elements that wouldn’t have disrupted gameplay if they had been implemented earlier. It remains uncertain whether Wilds can achieve the same scope and impact as Monster Hunter World’s extensive collaboration events, but the possibilities to surpass previous highlights are indeed exciting.
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Unleashing Link’s Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda
Plenty of Customization Options for The Hero of Time
The collaboration with the iconic Legend of Zelda series is particularly noteworthy as it marks one of the few franchises to feature multiple partnerships across various installments of Monster Hunter, with four unique collaborations so far. While previous titles like Monster Hunter Stories and Generations Ultimate presented engaging content, nothing quite compares to the legendary presence of Link in Monster Hunter 4.
Link’s weaponry fits seamlessly into the Monster Hunter universe. The iconic Master Sword and Hylian Shield translate beautifully into the Sword and Shield gameplay mechanic, while the Hero’s Bow provides a strong backup for this legendary character. One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is the extensive customization available for armor, allowing players to adapt their hero’s appearance to reflect various iterations of Link or his gear. While a Hunting Horn themed around the Ocarina was a missed opportunity, introducing such a beloved character like Link to the monster-hunting world was still a tremendous success.
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Capcom’s Very Own Resident Evil 2 Crossover
Sometimes the Simplest Collaborations Work the Best
The collaboration between Monster Hunter World and the beloved Resident Evil franchise remains one of the standout cosmetics in the game. This partnership offered players the opportunity to complete event quests to earn layered armor resembling Leon and Claire from the Resident Evil 2 Remake, along with an array of room decorations and pendants. There is nothing quite like returning to camp to a hearty meal prepared by your loyal Bioweapon.
Intriguingly, the update also altered the Affluvium status build-up during specific events and introduced consumable zombification emotes. Using these emotes made players appear as zombified hunters, allowing a unique healing process over time while enabling minor damage through biting enemies. One of the most enjoyable elements of this update was the Tyrant-layered skin DLC for the Handler, creating a delightful contrast to a typical camp experience.
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Taking on Otherworldly Threats with Metroid Prime’s Samus
Adding a Welcome Touch of Sci-Fi Style to the Series
During the collaboration with Monster Hunter 4, one of the most notable additions was the presence of Samus from Metroid Prime. Though the crossover was limited in terms of items, it featured the Arm Cannon-themed Light Bowgun and two distinct armor sets inspired by Samus Aran’s Varia Suit and Zero Suit.
The Light Bowgun, embodying Samus’ iconic Arm Cannon, became a formidable weapon against the monstrous foes in the game. Despite its straightforward design, the sci-fi ambiance and nostalgic sound effects made the Metroid collaboration a memorable and exceptional crossover, even inspiring follow-up events in subsequent titles.
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Metal Gear Solid is Still One of the Series’ Most Creative Endeavors
A Collaboration That Deserves a Future Sequel
Although this collaboration did not introduce new weapons, the ability to embody characters like Snake or The Boss enriched the Monster Hunter experience, particularly paired with their unique themed Palico Armors. This crossover’s charm came from its dynamic in-game voice lines and animations activated by specific actions, featuring recordings by the original voice actors from the Japanese edition of Peace Walker.
The collaboration’s real creativity stemmed from its theme, merging the worlds of Metal Gear Solid and Monster Hunter. Players faced off against formidable foes such as Rathalos and Tigrex, culminating in the opportunity to battle a monstrous version of Metal Gear Rex itself. With Metal Gear Solid: Delta set to release soon, the anticipation builds for the revival of this beloved crossover, especially incorporating memorable aspects like the monstrous Metal Gear Rex in Monster Hunter Wilds.
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Street Fighter’s Crossover Brought Unarmed Combat to the Fifth Generation
A High-Quality Addition Worthy of the Fighting Game’s Notoriety
The collaboration between Monster Hunter Rise and Street Fighter was not the franchise’s first encounter but exemplified a faithful recreation of the fighting game’s legacy. This crossover allowed players to unlock the Akuma outfit for free by completing a few event quests, granting access to the sheer power of this legendary character.
The previous Street Fighter events in Monster Hunter World also included themed armor for Ryu and Sakura, alongside purchasable gestures, stickers, and a handler outfit transforming her into Chun-Li. Equipping the Akuma outfit enabled characters to employ special moves, while the best features were displayed when using the Sword and Shield, as these transformed into unarmed combat, adding a unique twist to gameplay.
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Attack on Titan’s Crossover Was a Perfect Fit for the Series
The Levi Comparisons Go Back to the Roots of the Franchise
Monster Hunter’s Dual Blades have often been compared to those from the world of Attack on Titan, highlighting connections beyond mere aesthetics. The crossover with Monster Hunter 3 brought training corps armor and additional weaponry themed after its iconic universe. The Dual Blades in particular complemented the aggressive playstyle inherent in taking down massive monsters.
4
Horizon Zero Dawn’s Collaboration Was Surprisingly In-Depth
Continuously Updating with Worthwhile Content Additions
Initially surrounded by controversy as a PlayStation exclusive, the collaboration with Horizon Zero Dawn set the tone for high-quality crossovers in later titles within the franchise. Introducing Aloy’s weapons and her Palico’s intricately designed sci-fi armor, this partnership was a striking visual contrast to the whimsical worlds of Monster Hunter, showcasing Aloy’s prowess in battling similarly sized robotic adversaries.
What enhanced the collaboration’s appeal was its establishment as an ongoing event. Capcom continuously added new quests and rewards, with significant updates coinciding with the launch of the Iceborne expansion. Although fans wished to see one of Horizon’s sophisticated robotic beasts incorporated into Monster Hunter, Aloy’s gear and weaponry were still fantastic additions to the game. Today, ironically, Monster Hunter World remains one of the few avenues for players to hunt alongside Aloy and friends.
3
Devil May Cry Is Easily One of Monster Hunter’s Coolest Crossovers
The collaboration with Devil May Cry through Monster Hunter World introduced players to the style and flair characteristic of the franchise. First shown in a humorously stylized trailer, the event included a layered armor set for Dante, adapted for both male and female characters. Additionally, a Charge Blade configured to emulate one of Dante’s legendary weapons was made available. The design of the Charge Blade cleverly replaced the shield with a luminous circle, while the sword attained a formidable length upon transformation.
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Dante’s Charge Blade was not only aesthetically distinct, showcasing the power of one-handed swordsmanship wielding magic in the offhand, but it also proved to be powerful when upgraded. Alongside the free additions, there was a purchasable gesture where Dante could aim and fire handguns at his sides, inflicting minimal damage. To complement the event’s thematic nature, players were welcomed with a variety of tracks from the Devil May Cry series as they embarked on quests for Dante’s distinctive gear.
2
Taking On the New World as Geralt from The Witcher
An Immersive Collaboration Not for the Faint of Heart
The second major collaboration for Monster Hunter World was with The Witcher 3, and it certainly lived up to expectations. This free expansion not only introduced two layered armor sets transforming players into Geralt or Ciri but also featured delightful Palico armor reminiscent of the source material. The new questline also boasted high-quality dialogue that felt organic, matching the essence of The Witcher 3.
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In addition to the armor sets, players could wield Geralt’s Igni spell outside of the quest using a runestone or gesture. However, this event had frustrating elements, particularly with the Ancient Leshen’s unpredictable health scaling that could make solo hunting a daunting challenge. Despite this, the crossover provided a captivating experience that blended elements from both franchises seamlessly, possibly influencing the creation of the new protagonist in Wilds.
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Crossing Dimensions with World’s Final Fantasy 14 Collaboration
Offering a Unique Challenge That Encourages Team-Based Coordination
Although the Behemoth encounter is often remembered for its difficulty, the Final Fantasy 14 crossover undoubtedly stands as one of the storytelling high points for Monster Hunter, particularly from a gameplay perspective. Although lacking the narrative depth of the “Witcher 4″crossover, the quest involving Behemoth requires players to adapt MMO-style tactics to manage aggro while dodging area-of-effect attacks in a combat encounter that is genuinely exhilarating.
Fortunately, the rewards from the FF14 crossover made the trials worth it, as the Dragoons’ armor is among the top-tier sets within the game, especially when paired with a stunning dragon-summoning Insect Glaive. Completing the challenging encounter rewarded players with unique mechanics, such as an emote that grants a brief period of invincibility when timed correctly, alongside a whimsical Poogie outfit and a charming moogle design for your Palico.
Besides the Behemoth quest, the collaboration introduced a new storyline filled with cutscenes, kicking off with a hunt for a Kulu Ya Ku that purloined an Aetherite Crystal. Players also encountered Cactuars, which served as natural traps in the environment. While substantial crossover events may take time to return to Wilds, reports of a renewed collaboration with Final Fantasy signal an exciting future for Monster Hunter Wilds and its upcoming crossover ventures.