After releasing last April, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a mega-hit, winning more game awards than any other game in existence. In fact, the game has struck a chord with so many developers that it’s already inspiring new games, including Monster Hunter Stories 3.
Unlike the main series, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories series makes use of turn-based combat instead action, hack-and-slash gameplay. As the third game in the series, the team looked to some of the best RPGs of the last few years to inspire them.
In an interview with Automaton, lead game designer Daisuke Wakahara specifically listed “high-profile turn-based RPG[s] that incorporate unique ideas, such as Metaphor: ReFanatazio and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” as the two main influences behind the new game’s revised turn-based combat.
“We feel there’s a clear preference toward games that let players progress smoothly and quickly, without levelling feeling like a chore,” Wakahara said. “The idea that players should receive some kind of reward for specific actions they take has become quite refined across the industry, and we made a point of incorporating that approach ourselves.”
Despite being turn-based RPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Metaphor: ReFantazio are both titles that don’t waste players’ time with grinding or unnecessary padding, especially the first of the two. With this in mind, the Monster Hunter Stories 3 team looked to the two RPGs to trim some of the fat, and also to make levelling feel satisfying.
Additionally, the team looked to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its tense, “nerve-wracking” battles that, while designed to not be overly difficult, always engaged players. Wakahara believes this is due to the game’s fantastically designed pacing which always makes sure players have what they need to success without needing to go back and grind or waste time gathering resources.
“We believe the most exciting moment in a game is when you win by the skin of your teeth,” the game director said. “That’s the kind of satisfying gameplay we aimed for. Based on the design philosophy of balancing convenience with satisfying battle difficulty, we carefully considered how to manage the player’s resources.”
Monster Hunter Stories 3 is scheduled to release on March 13, 2026 for PC, Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Additionally, a free demo of the game is available right now for players to try out.
