Review: 'Wild Hearts' proves to be a true 'Monster Hunter' rival

The premise and fantastical Japanese setting give Wild Hearts an identity that stands out. — EA Originals

For a long time, Monster Hunter had no rivals. Capcom’s action role-playing game carved a distinctive niche in the video game landscape, but as it grew in popularity, more games followed the path it blazed.

Bandai Namco tried to capture some of its magic with the God Eater series while Capcom’s title was a clear inspiration behind Phoenix Labs’ free-to-play game Dauntless. Although these efforts had their own take on the Monster Hunter formula, they felt more like copycats or odes to the iconic series than legitimate competitors.