The Monster Hunter franchise has captivated gamers worldwide with its thrilling gameplay loop of battling colossal monsters to acquire loot, which in turn allows players to upgrade their gear and take on even more challenging beasts. This addictive cycle has been successfully translated into the tabletop realm with Monster Hunter World: The Board Game, offering a variety of engaging experiences that echo the essence of the video game series. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the franchise, here's a comprehensive guide to navigating the diverse offerings of this board game adaptation.
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### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest
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### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
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### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
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### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
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### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
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### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
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### Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku
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### Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
0See it at GamefoundFor those looking for a quick overview, you can browse all the items featured in this article. For a deeper dive into what each box offers, continue reading.
Core Boxes
Each core box of Monster Hunter World: The Board Game is a complete standalone game, featuring four hunters and four monsters to hunt. These core boxes can be combined, allowing you to mix and match characters and monsters across sets. While most components are unique to each set, there's some overlap, and additional cards are included for combining sets.
If you're new to the game, starting with a single core box is advisable. As you delve deeper into the game, consider adding smaller expansions or a second core set if your passion for the series grows.
The quality of the core sets is uniformly high, featuring the same engaging gameplay loop and exceptional production values, including large monster miniatures that enhance the game's immersive experience. The choice between sets should be based on aesthetic appeal or personal nostalgia from the video game series.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Ancient Forest
### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest
0See it at AmazonSet in a primeval forest, this box features lush green and brown game boards and monsters inspired by dinosaurs and tropical animals. You'll encounter the lizard-like Great Jagras, the furred and scaled Tobi-Kadachi, the tyrannosaur Anjanath, and the dragon Rathalos. The hunters equipped with Great Sword, Sword and Shield, Dual Blades, and Bow are ready to take them on.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
0See it at AmazonThis set transports you to a badlands setting with rocky outcrops, desert, and swamp. Face off against the armored Barroth, the monstrous swamp-fish Jyurados, the bird-like Pukei-Pukei, and the underground behemoth Diablos. The hunters here use more exotic weapons like Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.
Retail Expansions
Following the Kickstarter campaign, several expansions were available for pre-order, many of which are still accessible at retail. However, the Nergigante expansion is scarce, and the Teostra expansion is exclusive to Steamforged Games.
Expansions like Nergigante, Kushala Daora, and Teostra introduce Elder Dragons, adding new quest content and a higher difficulty level. These expansions offer larger miniatures and extend your campaign with mega-boss challenges. However, they are costly, and some features are specific to one core box or the other, making a second core set a valuable addition for more content.
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis expansion introduces six new hunters, each named after their unique weapons: Light Bowgun, Long Sword, Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. It's an excellent addition for those looking to increase variety in their gameplay, offering new upgrade paths and six new characters. However, to fully utilize all six hunters, both core sets are required.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
0See it at Steamforged GamesFor those seeking a single dragon to enhance their campaign, Nergigante is a compelling choice. It allows crafting of additional weapons for all available characters and features a unique, spiny colossus that grows spikes to attack hunters.
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
### Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
0See it at AmazonKushala Daora, a wind dragon, challenges hunters with powerful storms and boasts the largest miniature in the range. Its wind and tornado attacks add an extra layer of difficulty to the hunt.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
### Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
0(SFG Exclusive)See it at Steamforged GamesTeostra, the classic fire dragon, unleashes ranged attacks with fireballs and blasts, making it a formidable foe in its fiery lair.
Exclusive Expansion
Originally exclusive to the Kickstarter campaign, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now available through a subsequent campaign for the Iceborne boxes.
Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion
### Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku
0See it at GamefoundKulu-Ya-Ku is an intriguing creature with the ability to use tools, such as throwing rocks at hunters. Its unpredictable nature and ornithomimosaur-like appearance make it a fitting addition to the Ancient Forest, though it's compatible with either core box.
Upcoming Content
Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
### Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
0See it at GamefoundFollowing the success of the original lineup, Steamforged Games launched a Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. This iteration retains core mechanics but introduces new concepts, offering partial compatibility with the original boxes for arena games but not for campaigns.
The Iceborne content includes one core box, Hoarfrost Reach, with four monsters and four hunters, along with Elder Dragons and a Hunter's Arsenal expansion. Three monster expansions, Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger, each with four new monsters, are also available, along with additional unlocked content from the campaign.
Although the campaign has concluded, you can still order from the Iceborne range via Gamefound before the game ships.
