Capcom used today’s Nintendo Direct to unveil Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, a brand-new entry in the RPG spinoff series. The turn-based title is set to launch in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Twisted Reflection picks up with two nations—Azuria and Vermeil—on the brink of collapse due to a crystalline blight spreading across the land. Amid this looming catastrophe, a mysterious egg hatches, revealing not one, but two Rathalos—an ominous callback to a civil war fought two centuries ago. The twin wyverns bear the same ancient marks as the Skyscale Rathalos, long viewed as harbingers of destruction.
Players will step into the role of Azuria’s royal heir, a Rider who becomes the leader of the Rangers and the kingdom’s sole Rathalos partner. Gifted with special powers, the protagonist is duty-bound to protect monsters and investigate bizarre geological anomalies known as “egg quartz.” Their mission turns personal after a tragic event propels them toward the dangerous lands beyond the northern Meridian in search of answers.
The Rider’s journey won’t be a solo one. Eleanor, the princess of Vermeil, chooses to become a diplomatic ‘hostage’ in an effort to prevent war between the two realms. With her trusty Monstie, Anjanath, she joins the player’s quest to uncover the truth behind her sister—the enigmatic Queen of Vermeil—and the source of the ecological collapse threatening their world.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection promises a sweeping narrative, deep turn-based combat, and new Monsties to raise and ride. The announcement trailer is now available on the official Monster Hunter YouTube channel, and fans can explore additional assets on the Capcom Press Center.
Expect more details to emerge in the coming months as Capcom prepares to bring its next monster-riding epic to life.
