Fans of the Monster Hunter games have an opportunity to try the new Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch ahead of its March 2021 arrival, but only for a limited time. Capcom released a demo of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch exclusive on January 7, and players can download it and play now through the end of the month. Monster Hunter Rise takes players to a new location, the Frost Islands, where they can find and slay both new and fan-favorite monsters, play with their friends in local and online multiplayer, and even learn to tame and ride some of their favorite creatures.
The demo version of the game allows players to test drive both single and local multiplayer modes, as well as online multiplayer as long as the player has a Nintendo Switch Online membership. They will have access to all 14 weapon types to figure out which they like best and what has changed from previous versions. They will also have access to four quests that allow them to slay a Great Izuchi and Mizutsune, train with their weapons, and learn to ride a Wyvern. Though it cannot be downloaded and played indefinitely, it should provide a taste of what is to come that will tide excited fans until the full game's release. Here's how to download and play the Monster Hunter Rise demo for Nintendo Switch.
How to Get The Monster Hunter Rise Switch Demo
The Monster Hunter Rise demo will only be available to download and play from January 7 to February 1, 2021 at 3 p.m. EST. After that time, it will be disabled, and players will have to wait for the full release. It has been a popular download, crashing the Nintendo eShop for a time upon release.
To download the Monster Hunter Rise demo, players will need a valid Nintendo Account and 1.66 GB of free space on their console or microSD card. They will need to then visit the Monster Hunter Rise page on the Nintendo website or via the eShop. They can also select the Game Demos icon and find the listing for Monster Hunter Rise, or use the search bar. From here, players can select Download Demo, then Next, and finally Download. They may be asked to log into their account if they aren't already logged in. Then, players can launch the game and get started.
It is unfortunately not possible to keep playing the demo indefinitely. Players are allowed to complete 30 quests before the demo will no longer work. If the trial period ends before players run out of available quests, they can continue playing, but only via Local Play.
Monster Hunter Rise looks like it will be a promising addition to the bestselling Monster Hunter franchise. While story details are currently scarce, the gameplay trailers showcase both familiar and innovative elements, including the addition of Wyvern riding. Players can also look forward to taking on the new flagship monster, Magnamalo, a lion-shaped creature with prickly armor who can rain purple fire on players during battle.
Monster Hunter Rise releases exclusively for Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2021.