Monster Hunter Stories is a spin-off series, and it shows in a variety of ways. The world of Monster Hunter is there, the lore is intact, but it transforms the loot-based real-time action gameplay of the mainline series into a narrative, turn-based experience reminiscent of traditional JRPGs. However, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection has now built another bridge between the spin-off and mainline series by finally adding one of its most iconic features.
Cooking has long been a genuinely valuable part of Monster Hunter series since its earliest games Monster Hunter Wilds. In fact, it's such a beloved part of the franchise that many players look forward to it when a new one Monster Hunter the game is announced or released. In many of the series' games, players go to the dining room, select a meal, and then watch a stylized, character-driven animation as their hunters and Palicoes sit down to eat before heading out on the hunt. That whole experience has made it a highlight for many players and helped define it Monster Hunter ritual before the hunt. Now, for the first time in the spin-off series, Monster Hunter Stories 3 has its own fully animated cooking scene, and it's beautiful.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 finally has a fully animated cooking scene
Players unlock the ability to cook in Monster Hunter Stories 3 soon after Eleanor joins the party, as she is apparently the master chef of the group. Then, at a camp or in town, players can choose a meal for Eleanor to cook that provides benefits such as increased stamina or health. When you select one, a fully animated cutscene plays showing Eleanor preparing a dish by cutting up meat and mixing ingredients, all while the Prince (player character) and other companions look on in amazement. And, of course, Palicoes play their part in cooking too.
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Monster Hunter's cooking scenes have always been a beloved feature
What makes a scene like this such a big deal is that, for many players, the appeal of these cooking sequences goes beyond the stat boosts they provide. Monster Hunters cooking animations have always brought a personality and charm to the series that little else can, with the Palicoes and the chefs in particular becoming iconic and beloved symbols of the franchise's identity. Some long-time players have even complained once or twice when modern entries streamline or remove these scenes, largely because they miss that odd, character-driven moment that highlights the loveliness of the world right before a hunt.
In other words, it's how these scenes feel that really matters to most people Monster Hunter fans, and that in itself is as much a reward as the occasional buffs that come from consuming the meals. The visuals of the animations have even been known to make players hungry or genuinely smile while playing. On community forums and threads, players often compare these scenes to some of them Monster Huntermost memorable moments. A Reddit post from 8 years ago, for example, invited other players to share their love of the cooking sequences, with many of them saying things like “It looks so good” and “Feels wrong skipping those cutscenes.”
Previous Monster Hunter Stories games did not feature a cooking scene
And that is exactly why Monster Hunter Stories 3s new cooking scene means so much, as previous games in the spin-off series didn't feature them. Unlike the main line Monster Hunter games, where cooking and meal scenes are a long-standing tradition with fully animated sequences and character progression, the first two Monster Hunter Stories titles did not contain one.
The original Monster Hunter Stories had an easy way to cook cooked meat by visiting a Grillmeister NPC and turning raw meat into patties, but it was handled through menu interaction and a minor timing mechanic rather than a cinematic moment with full character animation. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin likewise lacked a dedicated animated meal sequence, with cooked meat items primarily obtained through quests rather than as a trigger for an eventful cutscene. Because of that, Monster Hunter Stories 3s fully animated cooking scene stands out even more as the first time the spin-off series embraces one of the most recognizable traditions from the mainline games.
Players have already praised Monster Hunter Stories 3's cooking scene If Monster Hunter Stories 3s demo is any indication, the cooking scene is already becoming one of the little details players associate with this post specifically.
And there is no better sign of how beloved this tradition is than the recent cooking animation Stories the game is already being received by the community. Only Monster Hunter Stories 3s demo is out for now, with the full launch not until March 13th, and yet players have already been talking about how excellent the cooking scene is. A Reddit post by MizutsuneMH called the animation “great”, prompting other players to confirm the sentiment with comments such as “Unfortunately, I got distracted by how beautiful everything looks” and “honestly, if Monster Hunter want to use this styling for future core games, I wouldn't be upset.”
That kind of early enthusiasm speaks volumes. Cooking scenes have never been mandatory for success in Monster Hunterbut they've become part of the series' emotional DNA, a little ritual that makes the world feel warmer and more alive before players step into danger. For Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflectionadding that the moment does not reflect the main games. Rather, it reinforces that this spin-off belongs to the same family, even if its combat and structure are different. The turn-based format may separate that mechanically, but a shared lore like this closes that gap in spirit. If Monster Hunter Stories 3s demo is any indication, the cooking scene is already becoming one of the little details players associate with this entry, and when a small detail can spark so much conversation, it shows how powerful a well-cooked tradition can be.
- Released
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March 13, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen/Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, In-Game Purchases
