Monster Hunter Stories is a spin-off series, and that manifests in a multitude of ways. The world of Monster Hunter is there, the lore is intact, but it transforms the real-time, loot-based action gameplay of the mainline series into a narrative-driven, turn-based experience that feels 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 treasured part of the Monster Hunter series since its earliest games up through Monster Hunter Wilds. In fact, it is such a beloved element of the franchise, that many players look forward to it when a new Monster Hunter game is announced or released. In many of the series’ games, players go to the canteen, pick a meal, and then watch a stylized, character-driven animation as their hunter and Palicoes sit down to eat before setting out on a hunt. That whole experience has made it a highlight for many players and helped define the Monster Hunter pre-hunt ritual. Now, for the first time in the spin-off series, Monster Hunter Stories 3 features its own fully animated cooking scene, and it’s beautiful.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Finally Features a Fully Animated Cooking Scene
Players unlock the ability to cook meals in Monster Hunter Stories 3 shortly after Eleanor joins the party, as she is apparently the master chef in the group. Then, while at a camp or in town, players can select a meal for Eleanor to cook that offers benefits like increased stamina or health. Upon selecting one, a fully animated scene plays out showing Eleanor cooking a dish by slicing up meat and mixing ingredients, all while the prince (player character) and other companions watch in amazement. And, of course, the Palicoes play their part in the cooking as well.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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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 improvements they provide. Monster Hunter‘s cooking animations have always brought a personality and charm to the series that little else can, with the Palicoes and chefs in particular becoming iconic and beloved symbols of the franchise’s identity. Some long-time players have even complained a time or two when modern entries streamline or remove these scenes, largely because they miss that quirky, character-driven moment that brings out the delightfulness of the world right before a hunt.
In other words, it’s the way these scenes feel that truly matters to most Monster Hunter fans, and that in and of itself is just as much a reward as the temporary buffs that come from consuming the meals. The visuals for the animations have even been known to make players hungry or genuinely smile when one plays. On community forums and threads, players often compare these scenes to some of Monster Hunter‘s most memorable moments. A Reddit post from 8 years ago, for example, invited other players to share their love for the cooking cutscenes, with many of them saying things like “It looks so tasty” and “Feels wrong to skip those cutscenes.”
Previous Monster Hunter Stories Games Didn’t Feature a Cooking Scene
And that’s precisely why Monster Hunter Stories 3‘s new cooking scene means so much, as previous games in the spin-off series didn’t feature them. Unlike the mainline Monster Hunter games, where cooking and mealtime scenes are a long-running tradition with fully animated sequences and character flourishes, the first two Monster Hunter Stories titles didn’t feature one.
The original Monster Hunter Stories did have a simple way to prepare cooked meat by visiting a Grillmeister NPC and turning raw meat into steaks, 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 3‘s fully animated cooking scene stands out even more as being the first time the spin-off series embraces one of the most recognizable traditions from the mainline games.
Players Have Already Been Praising Monster Hunter Stories 3’s Cooking Scene
If Monster Hunter Stories 3‘s demo is any indication, the cooking scene is already becoming one of those small touches players associate with this entry specifically.
And there’s no better sign of just how beloved this tradition is than how the cooking animation in the latest Stories game is already being received by the community. Only Monster Hunter Stories 3‘s demo is out at the moment, with the full launch not happening until March 13, and yet players have already been talking about how excellent its cooking scene is. One Reddit post by MizutsuneMH called the animation “great,” prompting other players to affirm the sentiment with comments like “Sorry, I got distracted by how pretty everything looks” and “Honestly, if Monster Hunter wants to use this styling for future core games I would not be upset.”
That kind of early enthusiasm says a lot. Cooking scenes have never been mandatory for success in Monster Hunter, but they have become part of the series’ emotional DNA, a small ritual that makes the world feel warmer and more alive before players step into danger. For Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, adding that moment does more than mirror the mainline 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 it mechanically, but a shared tradition like this closes that gap in spirit. If Monster Hunter Stories 3‘s demo is any indication, the cooking scene is already becoming one of those small touches players associate with this entry specifically, and when a detail that minor can spark this much conversation, it shows just 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
