Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak Set (Nintendo Switch) Review: Portable Perfection for the Brave (and the Over-Prepared)
You know a game’s serious when your first weapon weighs more than you do. Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak Set on Nintendo Switch isn’t just a game; it’s a lifestyle. A commitment. A promise to spend the next 200 hours chasing flying lizards while wearing suspiciously fashionable armour.
This complete set gives you the base game and the massive Sunbreak expansion, meaning you’re not just hunting monsters — you’re enrolling in an elite postgraduate course in monster elimination.
Setting the Scene: Kamura Village and Beyond
Monster Hunter Rise begins in Kamura Village, a peaceful hub full of people who seem oddly relaxed considering their neighbours include screaming wyverns. It’s your base for crafting, cooking, and chatting with a talking cat that takes your lunch order.
Then there’s Sunbreak, the colossal DLC that whisks you to the Elgado Outpost, introducing new monsters, mechanics, and a boss roster so tough it should come with a health warning.
Together, the two create one of the most content-packed adventures on the Switch — think of it as Rise with extra teeth, claws, and reasons to panic.
Gameplay: Chop, Dodge, Repeat (with Style)
Combat in Monster Hunter Rise is as addictive as ever, balancing strategy, precision, and mild panic. Each weapon feels like a distinct playstyle — from the graceful Insect Glaive to the Great Sword, which swings slower than British public transport but hits like a truck.
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Wirebug mechanics let you zip through the air like Spider-Man with medieval anxiety.
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Palamutes (your canine companions) make traversal faster and more fun — plus, they let you drift like it’s Mario Kart with fangs.
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Sunbreak introduces new Switch Skills and Silkbind attacks, offering even more ways to stylishly flatten monsters.
It’s a constant loop of hunt → carve → craft → brag. You’ll spend as much time admiring your gear as you do fighting for your life.
Performance on Switch: Smooth, Sharp, and Surprisingly Polished
Capcom somehow managed to squeeze an entire ecosystem of monsters into the Switch without making it melt. The game runs beautifully in both handheld and docked mode. Visuals are crisp, environments lush, and monster animations fluid enough to make you forget you’re on a handheld console.
Even Sunbreak, with its massive new maps and intricate monsters, keeps performance steady. Load times are quick, and online co-op is as smooth as a Palico’s fur coat.
Visuals and Sound: Roars, Rumbles, and Rousing Tunes
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Art direction: Gorgeous Japanese-inspired design meets gothic grandeur in Sunbreak.
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Monster design: Each creature feels alive — terrifyingly so, in some cases.
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Soundtrack: The kind of heroic orchestra that makes even a routine bug hunt feel like the climax of a film.
Whether you’re slashing through bamboo forests or scaling castle ruins, it’s a visual feast that somehow never stops feeling fresh.
Pros
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Two games in one: Rise + the huge Sunbreak expansion.
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Deep combat with endless replay value.
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Seamless solo or co-op play.
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Smooth performance on Switch, even in chaotic hunts.
Cons
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You’ll spend too long organising your inventory.
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Steep learning curve for newcomers.
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The monsters don’t always respect your personal space.
Verdict: 9 / 10 – “The Hunt Never Ends (Thankfully)”
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak is the definitive portable hunting experience. It’s fast, fluid, and constantly rewarding. Whether you’re a veteran slayer or a wide-eyed beginner still figuring out which end of the sword to hold, this bundle gives you everything you need for hundreds of hours of glorious, chaotic fun.
The Sunbreak expansion alone adds dozens of hours of fresh content, terrifying new foes, and enough post-game depth to make your backlog weep.
Ready to Take the Hunt on the Go?
Sharpen your blades, grab your Palico, and head out to conquer the wild.
Get your copy of Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak Set (Nintendo Switch) — new, sealed, and ready to test your reflexes at GameRaid UK.