Monster Hunter Stories 3 kommer til Switch 2 med gigantiske egg, flygende drager og et dødsdømt kongerike

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is officially happening. Capcom announced the turn-based RPG during the July Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, confirming that it’s coming in 2026—exclusively for the new Nintendo Switch 2. The trailer introduces a darker, war-torn setting, an unknown disaster called “The Encroachment,” and one very large, very suspicious monster egg. There’s also a main character flying through the sky on a Rathalos and something about saving an entire kingdom solo.

This is the third mainline entry in the Stories spinoff series, which focuses on turn-based combat and monster collecting instead of the usual real-time hunts. The first game launched on 3DS in 2016. The sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, came to Switch and PC in 2021. Now, Capcom is building a full follow-up for the upgraded Switch 2 hardware.

Nintendo also revealed that Star Wars Outlaws hits Switch 2 in September.

The short trailer doesn’t reveal many details, but it gives just enough to show the tone is shifting. There’s less color and comedy and more grim, urgent atmosphere. The footage shows flashes of a kingdom under siege, shadowy monsters in the skies, and a protagonist flying on the back of a Rathalos through it all. The central mystery seems to revolve around an enormous glowing egg that’s close to hatching. The trailer gives it a slow, cinematic close-up, with voiceover teasing a threat called “The Encroachment” that might be tied to what’s inside.

The full title of the game is Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, which already hints that things might not be so heroic this time. If Wings of Ruin was a classic coming-of-age story about chosen riders and ancient beasts, this new game feels like a broken-mirror version of that idea. Same creatures, same flying mounts, but with the added weight of a ruined kingdom and an egg that might destroy what’s left.

Capcom hasn't shared gameplay specifics yet, but the core formula is likely staying the same. That means classic turn-based combat based on a rock-paper-scissors mechanic—power beats technical, technical beats speed, speed beats power. You ride monsters, hatch eggs, and build a party of fighters known as Monsties. It’s a slower, more methodical way to experience the Monster Hunter universe, focused on collecting, upgrading, and bonding with your team.

If it follows the style of Wings of Ruin, there will also be exploration, crafting, and long stretches of grinding between big story beats. That’s part of the appeal. These games have carved out a niche as the most chill way to interact with the franchise. They keep the monsters, gear, and worldbuilding of Monster Hunter, but swap out real-time weapon combos for light RPG systems, cinematic finishers, and an anime-style plot.

In Wings of Ruin, players took on the role of a new Rider trying to protect a baby Rathalos with destructive power. The grind-heavy gameplay loop had players ride from town to town, fight monsters in turn-based battles, and explore dens to steal new eggs. Stories 3 will likely build on that same structure, just with new monsters, maps, and whatever this whole “twisted reflection” theme turns into.

This reveal was one of the standout moments from Nintendo’s Partner Showcase. The event focused entirely on third-party games, giving updates on major releases headed to both Switch and Switch 2. Capcom’s trailer didn’t come with a specific release window beyond “2026,” but the fact that it’s branded for Switch 2 means this will probably be one of the system’s bigger RPG titles next year.

Also, during the presentation, Nintendo confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Switch 2 in September, which means the new console is getting some massive cross-platform support. That game is set to launch on September 5, with early access starting on September 3. Ubisoft has already shown Outlaws running on PS5 and Xbox Series X, so bringing it to Switch 2 is a big sign of the new system’s upgraded specs.

Other highlights from the showcase included Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Switch 2, Hades 2, and a new look at Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. But Monster Hunter Stories 3 still stood out as one of the most ambitious projects announced.

Capcom didn’t reveal much about the development team or how far along the game is. But a full title, teaser trailer, and confirmed platform mean things are likely moving at a steady pace behind the scenes. 2026 might sound far away, but that gives plenty of time for Monster Hunter Stories 2 fans to replay the sequel or check out the upcoming re-release of the first game, which Capcom has been quietly updating for modern platforms.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is one of the clearest signs yet that Switch 2 is getting more than just ports and remasters. With third-party studios like Capcom and Ubisoft going all-in, Nintendo’s new console is already stacking a decent lineup for 2025 and 2026. And Stories 3 brings something rare to the table: a turn-based RPG with dragons, lore, and a giant glowing egg that might destroy the world.

Not a bad way to introduce the next generation.