Monster Hunter: World

This beautifully implemented port is a perfect PC introduction to the joys of Monster Hunter.

Monster Hunter World successfully proves that it's both about size and how you use it.

Monster Hunter opens up for the most accessible, most detailed and most magnificent entry yet.

Monster Hunter: World's thrilling fights with fantastic beasts never get old, even if they require tiresome item management during downtime.

The other key loop in the game lies in all the armor you can craft, and the massive trees of weapon upgrades available. Most armor comes from harvesting parts from monsters, with some extra bits of ore or bone thrown in for good measure. Each set of armor comes with strengths to different types of elements, but what will surely sway many players between one piece and the next is the look; there are certain sets I still covet. Since there is no feasible way to get a full five-piece set from killing a monster one time, it takes multiple kills to collect all the scales, membranes, quills and pelts required.

A triumph for the series and one of this generation's greatest games yet. Monster Hunter World takes the beating heart of a vital, niche franchise and elevates it toward universal appeal.

Monster Hunter's attempt to reach the PC audience performs beautifully and plays well

Pitting you against everything from fire-breathing dinosaurs to fluffy bird-wyverns, this is destined to be one of 2018's best games

The truth is, Monster Hunter has always been brilliant – but it's always been niche. Monster Hunter World feels like the right game to finally crack that – a game that makes smart changes that might finally mean that a wider audience will at last fully understand, experience and enjoy that brilliance.

If you've been skipping out on Monster Hunter games for a while because they seem to blend together, jumping into World is your chance to get in. Just know that Capcom hasn't really shaken up the formula enough to piss off veterans or appeal to people who don't welcome grinding with open arms.