Monster Hunter Stories 3 adds Royal Monsters, a harder final battle, and the Rudy side story. See new content, features, and gameplay updates.
CAPCOM has released a major free update for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, coinciding with the June 25 CAPCOM Spotlight broadcast. The update introduces Royal Monsters, a new harder final battle, and the Additional Side Story: Rudy, expanding both gameplay and lore for the latest entry in the Stories spin-off series.
Table of Contents
- What Is Included in the New Update
- Who Is Rudy in Monster Hunter Stories 3
- What Is the New Final Battle
- How Do Royal Monsters Work
- What Is Monster Hunter Stories 3 About
- How Does Combat Work
- What Is Habitat Restoration
What Is Included in the New Update
The update adds two major features:
- Royal Monsters, a new tier of powerful creatures
- Additional Side Story: Rudy, expanding the lore of the royal Felyne
Players who own the Deluxe or Premium Deluxe editions automatically receive the Rudy side story.
Who Is Rudy in Monster Hunter Stories 3
The new side story explores the origins of Rudy, a royal Felyne whose lineage traces back to Navirou, one of the most iconic companions in the Monster Hunter Stories series.
The story follows:
- Rudy’s connection to Navirou
- Their first encounter
- A new battle against Nergigante, one of the franchise’s most famous Elder Dragons
This content adds emotional depth and ties Twisted Reflection more closely to earlier entries.
What Is the New Final Battle
After completing the main campaign, players can load their finished save file to unlock a harder version of the final battle. Defeating this challenge is the key to unlocking Royal Monsters throughout the world.
How Do Royal Monsters Work
Once the enhanced final battle is cleared:
- Nearly all monsters in the game can appear as Royal Monsters
- Royal Monsters feature higher stats, unique traits, and rarer rewards
- They serve as late-game challenges for advanced Riders
This system significantly expands endgame content and team-building possibilities.
What Is Monster Hunter Stories 3 About
The story takes place in the kingdoms of Azuria and Vermeil, where peace collapses after twin Rathalos hatch from the same egg. At the same time, a phenomenon called Crystal Encroachment spreads across the world, altering ecosystems and threatening natural balance.
Players explore the world as a Rider, forming bonds with Monsties and uncovering the mystery behind the encroachment.
How Does Combat Work
Combat retains the signature turn-based system of the Stories series, built around:
- Power attacks
- Speed attacks
- Technical attacks
Each type has an advantage over another, similar to rock-paper-scissors. Winning head-to-head clashes is essential for building Kinship and unleashing powerful abilities.
Exploration continues to use Riding Actions, allowing Monsties to traverse regions through climbing, swimming, gliding, and more.
What Is Habitat Restoration
One of the major new systems in Twisted Reflection is Habitat Restoration, which allows players to return monsters to nature to repair damaged ecosystems.
As the Ecosystem Rank increases:
- New egg types appear
- Monsters gain new elemental traits
- Team customization expands
This system encourages long-term progression and strategic monster management.