Monster Hunter Now is a brilliant adaptation of the core loop that has made the franchise a legend, expertly tailored for the mobile experience. Niantic has managed to condense the epic, often lengthy hunts of the console versions into snappy, 75-second skirmishes that fit perfectly into a morning commute or a quick walk. The touch controls are surprisingly deep—swiping to dodge and tapping to unleash combos feels tactile and responsive, maintaining that signature weight and deliberate pace the series is known for.
What truly sets this apart from other location-based games is the 'Paintball' system. If you spot a Rathalos while you're busy, you can mark it to hunt later when you're back home, which is a massive quality-of-life improvement. The AR mode is more than just a gimmick; seeing a life-sized Diablos emerge in your local park is genuinely breathtaking. While the grind for rare materials remains as punishing as ever, the thrill of the hunt and the seamless multiplayer matchmaking make it a must-play for both veterans and newcomers.
As a long-time fan of the Monster Hunter series since the PS2 days, I approached 'Now' with a healthy dose of skepticism. To its credit, Niantic and Capcom managed to condense the combat into something that actually feels like Monster Hunter on a touchscreen. The timing for dodges and the weight of the weapons are surprisingly intact. However, the 'Niantic Formula' is a double-edged sword. While it’s fun to see a Rathalos in the local park, the reliance on real-world movement is a chore for anyone who actually wants to sit down and play a game.
The real issue here is the progression wall. Once you hit the mid-tier monsters, the grind becomes glacial unless you’re willing to open your wallet for health potions or specialized materials. In the main games, failure means learning the monster; here, failure often means waiting for your health to regenerate or paying to keep playing. It's a solid 15-minute diversion while walking the dog, but it lacks the soul and depth of its console siblings. It’s too good to be called 'trash,' but too greedy to be called 'great.'
Performance: Battery hog; requires high-end hardware for 60fps; GPS drift can be an issue.
Buy if: You love Monster Hunter and want a reason to go for a walk.
Skip if: You hate microtransactions or live in a rural area with few spawns.
Available on: iPhone, iPod
Version 128.0Fri Sep 11 2026
Thank you for playing Monster Hunter Now.
Main updates
・The loading screen art has been changed to the Ashes of Ignition key visual.
・The app icon has been updated to the Monster Hunter Now 3rd Anniversary theme.
・Adjustments made to the position of the icon that indicates that a monster is a subspecies or rare species variant.
・As such, adjustments have also been made to UI related to monsters in the field.
The thrill of the hunt is calling. Begin your hunting adventure now!
Hunt monsters in the real world:
Embark on a global quest to track down and hunt some of the most formidable monsters from the Monster Hunter universe as they appear in our world. Forge powerful weapons and team up with fellow hunters to track down larger-than-life monsters and take them head-on.
Authentic hunting action carefully adapted to mobile:
Discover a variety of monsters depending on the habitat around you – Forest, Desert or Swamp – and engage in thrilling hunts solo, or band together with fellow hunters to take on these large monsters. The simplified tap-based controls and high-fidelity graphics enable you to engage in enjoyable hunting action wherever you go.
See monsters around you with the AR Camera:
Experience what it’s like to have these iconic monsters appear in the real world with exclusive AR Camera features.
Master the hunt in 75 seconds:
Can you complete the hunt within 75 seconds? Master the weapons, craft armor sets and hone your skills – exploit weaknesses and utilize every element at your disposal to take on the hunt.
Mark monsters even with your phone in the pocket:
With Adventure Sync, you can use a Paintball to track monsters while you explore your town and bring the hunt to your doorstep afterwards. As you explore, your Palico can mark passing monsters with Palico Paintballs, even while you aren’t actively playing, allowing you to return to them later, ensuring that the action never stops.
Requires iOS 14.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad Air Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 4 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (9.7‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (2nd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (2nd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (8th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (6th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (A16) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, and iPad Air 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular.The thrill of the hunt is calling. Begin your hunting adventure now!
Hunt monsters in the real world:
Embark on a global quest to track down and hunt some of the most formidable monsters from the Monster Hunter universe as they appear in our world. Forge powerful weapons and team up with fellow hunters to track down larger-than-life monsters and take them head-on.
Authentic hunting action carefully adapted to mobile:
Discover a variety of monsters depending on the habitat around you – Forest, Desert or Swamp – and engage in thrilling hunts solo, or band together with fellow hunters to take on these large monsters. The simplified tap-based controls and high-fidelity graphics enable you to engage in enjoyable hunting action wherever you go.
See monsters around you with the AR Camera:
Experience what it’s like to have these iconic monsters appear in the real world with exclusive AR Camera features.
Master the hunt in 75 seconds:
Can you complete the hunt within 75 seconds? Master the weapons, craft armor sets and hone your skills – exploit weaknesses and utilize every element at your disposal to take on the hunt.
Mark monsters even with your phone in the pocket:
With Adventure Sync, you can use a Paintball to track monsters while you explore your town and bring the hunt to your doorstep afterwards. As you explore, your Palico can mark passing monsters with Palico Paintballs, even while you aren’t actively playing, allowing you to return to them later, ensuring that the action never stops.








Monster Hunter Now brings the global phenomenon to mobile, allowing you to hunt majestic creatures like Rathalos and Diablos in your own neighborhood. Developed by Niantic and Capcom, the game features streamlined 75-second hunts designed for one-handed play. Use the Paintball feature to tag monsters on the go and hunt them later, or team up with nearby hunters for intense Group Hunts. With AR Camera mode, the monsters of the Great Sea come to life right before your eyes.
75-second bitesize hunts
Intuitive one-handed controls
Global Paintball tagging system
Real-world AR Camera mode
4-player local multiplayer
Event news and update logs.
Diablo heads to Netflix and Monster Hunter Now's $336.9m mobile milestone | Week in Views Pocket Gamer.biz
Pocket Gamer.biz - Fri Sep 18 2026
Monster Hunter Outlanders unveils more monsters as 5m pre-registrations achieved Pocket Gamer.biz
Pocket Gamer.biz - Thu Sep 17 2026
'Monster Hunter Now' Launches Season 11... Volcano Habitat Added Inven Global
Inven Global - Wed Sep 16 2026
Monster Hunter Now makes $336.9m in three years on mobile Pocket Gamer.biz
Pocket Gamer.biz - Mon Sep 14 2026
Monster Hunter Now 3rd Anniversary Event Kicks Off September 14 Inven Global
Inven Global - Thu Sep 10 2026
'Monster Hunter Now' Season 11 Kicks Off Sept. 17 for 3rd Anniversary Inven Global
Inven Global - Wed Sep 02 2026
Monster Hunter Outlanders opens pre-registrations with Elder Dragon Ruger Aidal unveiled Pocket Gamer.biz
Pocket Gamer.biz - Tue Sep 01 2026
First Real-World Event in Two Years! Monster Hunter Now Carnival 2026: Osaka to Be Held on November 14 & 15! Saiga NAK
Saiga NAK - Tue Sep 01 2026
Get Ready for Season 11: Ashes of Ignition! Monster Hunter Now
Monster Hunter Now - Mon Aug 31 2026
Monster Hunter Outlanders Game's Trailer Reveals Ruger Aidal Anime News Network
Anime News Network - Tue Aug 25 2026
Hunts are limited to 75 seconds. Success requires targeting specific monster parts to cause 'breaks,' which yield extra rewards. Utilize Special Skills once your gauge is full for massive damage. Switch between weapons like Long Swords, Hammers, and Bows to exploit elemental weaknesses.
While the game encourages movement to find monsters, the Paintball system allows you to tag monsters while out and hunt them later from a stationary location.