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If you want Monster Hunter Rise-style hunts and gear crafting on a phone, Monster Hunter Now is the closest currently available match. Its trade-off is that hunts are built around real-world exploration and short, tap-based encounters rather than a self-contained console-style campaign. Monster Hunter Stories is an option if you want a Monster Hunter RPG instead of action combat, while Monster Hunter Outlanders is announced for October 29, 2026, but is not available yet as of October 7, 2026.
Which mobile game is most like Monster Hunter Rise?
Monster Hunter Now is the strongest verified current choice for players looking for real-time monster hunts followed by weapon and armor crafting. Capcom describes the series as hunting action games pitting players against giant monsters in natural environments, and Now brings that core loop to iOS and Android. Its official site describes the game and its current features at Monster Hunter Now; the current Google Play listing describes hunt and crafting features at Google Play.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Monster Hunter Rise - Nintendo Switch Standard Edition | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Edition - Nintendo Switch Deluxe Edition | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Monster Hunter Rise - Nintendo Switch (Renewed) | $29.77 | Buy on Amazon |
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The key difference is how you play: Now is location-based, so exploration is tied to the real world. It uses simplified, tap-based controls and is designed for brief sessions rather than the broader campaign structure of Rise. Choose it if the hunt-and-equipment loop matters more to you than a traditional, self-contained action game.
Mobile hunting games compared
| Game | Status as of October 7, 2026 | How it compares with Rise | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter Now | Current iOS and Android game | Closest confirmed match for action hunts and equipment crafting | Location-based outdoor play, short encounters, and tap controls |
| Monster Hunter Stories | Current smartphone listing | Shares the Monster Hunter world and monsters, but is an RPG rather than a direct action-hunting substitute | Focuses on recruiting and bonding with monsters; some features are absent from the phone release |
| Monster Hunter Outlanders | Announced for October 29, 2026; not yet released | Promising mobile hunting-action premise, but not playable yet as of the date above | Wait for launch and check local availability and device compatibility |
Monster Hunter Now: the closest current fit
Capcom said Monster Hunter Now launched worldwide on iOS and Android on September 14, 2023, as a free-to-play, real-world hunting action RPG with in-app purchases. Capcom also reported more than 3 million preregistered players at launch; that is a historical preregistration figure, not a current player count. See Capcom’s launch announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- The debut of the new “wirebug” mechanic allows for wire-based grappling actions that can be used to scale cliffs and other hard-to-reach areas, providing new traversal and aerial attack options.
- The game will introduce magnamalo, a menacing new flagship monster, as well as other new monsters like the shape-shifting aknosom, the amphibious tetranadon, and more.
- New hunting partners called palamutes can be personalized and used to ride across the terrain, providing players with all-new traveling and attack options.
- In addition to the plethora of solo and multiplayer quests, the immersive story mode will task aspiring hunters with discovering the secrets behind the puzzling “rampage” events that threaten kamura village.
- Play solo, or join up to three other hunters in local or online co-op play. The Nintendo Switch system also allows for hunting anywhere, anytime and with anyone!
What carries over from Rise
- Find and hunt large monsters, alone or with other players.
- Gather materials from hunts and use them to craft weapons and armor.
- Take on encounters in short sessions: the Google Play listing describes large-monster hunts with a 75-second target. That is the listing’s design target, not a measured average or a guarantee that every hunt lasts exactly that long.
The official site currently says there are over 50 monsters to hunt. Roster counts can change, so treat that as a snapshot rather than a permanent total.
What changes on a phone
Progress and exploration are connected to real-world movement and locations, not a conventional map-and-mission campaign. That makes Now a better fit for players who welcome quick hunts while out and about than for someone who wants to settle into long sessions in a fixed game world. Before installing, check whether location-based play suits your routine and whether the app is available for your phone and region.
Rank #2
- The debut of the new “wirebug” mechanic allows for wire-based grappling actions that can be used to scale cliffs and other hard-to-reach areas, providing new traversal and aerial attack options.
- The game will introduce magnamalo, a menacing new flagship monster, as well as other new monsters like the shape-shifting aknosom, the amphibious tetranadon, and more.
- New hunting partners called palamutes can be personalized and used to ride across the terrain, providing players with all-new traveling and attack options.
- In addition to the plethora of solo and multiplayer quests, the immersive story mode will task aspiring hunters with discovering the secrets behind the puzzling “rampage” events that threaten kamura village
- Play solo, or join up to three other hunters in local or online co-op play. The Nintendo Switch system also allows for hunting anywhere, anytime and with anyone!
Monster Hunter Stories: choose RPG, not action-hunt combat
Monster Hunter Stories is the clearest alternative if you want a mobile game from the same franchise but are open to a different genre. Its emphasis is on recruiting and bonding with monsters, so it should not be treated as a phone version of Rise’s real-time hunting combat.
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The Google Play listing says the smartphone edition carries the handheld version’s story, but some features are absent. Network Battle ceased to be available on March 31, 2020. Check the current listing for local availability and details: Monster Hunter Stories on Google Play.
Rank #3
- The debut of the new “wirebug” mechanic allows for wire-based grappling actions that can be used to scale cliffs and other hard-to-reach areas, providing new traversal and aerial attack options.
- The game will introduce magnamalo, a menacing new flagship monster, as well as other new monsters like the shape-shifting aknosom, the amphibious tetranadon, and more.
- New hunting partners called palamutes can be personalized and used to ride across the terrain, providing players with all-new traveling and attack options.
- In addition to the plethora of solo and multiplayer quests, the immersive story mode will task aspiring hunters with discovering the secrets behind the puzzling “rampage” events that threaten kamura village.
- Play solo, or join up to three other hunters in local or online co-op play. The Nintendo Switch system also allows for hunting anywhere, anytime and with anyone!
Monster Hunter Outlanders: an upcoming option
Capcom announced Monster Hunter Outlanders for iOS and Android, with a release date of October 29, 2026. As of October 7, it is forthcoming, not a game you can download today. Capcom calls it “Survival Hunting Action,” describes exploration and monster hunting alongside companions, and says its controls are optimized for mobile. Those details make it worth watching, but they do not establish how closely its finished combat or progression will match Rise.
Capcom’s release notice says the mainland Chinese version is scheduled from 2027 onward. Availability elsewhere and device compatibility should be checked after launch. See Capcom’s Outlanders announcement.
How to choose
- Pick Monster Hunter Now for currently available mobile action hunts, cooperative play, and crafting, provided you are comfortable with location-based exploration and short encounters.
- Pick Monster Hunter Stories if the Monster Hunter setting appeals to you more than recreating Rise’s action combat, and you want an RPG centered on monster relationships.
- Watch Monster Hunter Outlanders if you want to see how a new mobile hunting-action game plays, but wait for its announced launch and confirm regional and device availability.
There is not enough verified evidence here to recommend a broader list of current, globally available phone games with Rise-like real-time hunts. Be cautious with lists that include older or region-limited games unless their current store status has been confirmed.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
