The *Monster Hunter* franchise is a global phenomenon, celebrated for its critical and commercial success across dozens of mainline titles and spinoffs. At the heart of its appeal lies a compelling gameplay loop: battle colossal, terrifying monsters to earn loot, which allows you to craft superior gear and take on even more formidable foes. This cycle translates beautifully to the tabletop in *Monster Hunter World: The Board Game*, a video game-inspired board game that captures the essence of the series while offering a rich, strategic experience.
Featured in this Article
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game: Ancient Forest
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Wildspire Waste
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Nergigante Expansion
Monster Hunter World The Board Game: Kushala Daora Expansion
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game - Teostra Expansion
Monster Hunter World - Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion
Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game
If you're looking for a quick overview, scroll through the items listed above. For a deeper dive into what each box contains and how it expands your Monster Hunter World: The Board Game experience, read on.
Core Boxes
Each core box in Monster Hunter World: The Board Game serves as a standalone entry point, featuring four hunters and four unique monsters to battle. These sets can also be combined, allowing players to mix and match hunters and monsters from different boxes for added variety.
While most components are exclusive to their respective sets, there’s some overlap—especially with cards used when combining expansions. If you're new to the game, starting with one core box is recommended. Once you're hooked, you can explore smaller expansions or consider adding a second core set to significantly enhance your gameplay options.
Both core sets share the same high-quality production values, ruleset, and addictive gameplay loop. They differ mainly in setting and aesthetic, so choose based on personal preference or fond memories from the video games.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Ancient Forest
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Set in a lush, primeval forest filled with greenery and ancient ruins, this box features a dinosaur-themed lineup of monsters. You’ll face off against the swift Great Jagras, the electrified Tobi-Kadachi, the towering Anjanath, and the aerial menace Rathalos. The hunters include Great Sword, Sword and Shield, Dual Blades, and Bow—classic weapon types ideal for newcomers.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Wildspire Waste
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This box transports you to a rugged badlands environment with rocky cliffs, arid deserts, and murky swamps. Monsters here include the armored Barroth, the aquatic Jyurados, the feathered Pukei-Pukei, and the subterranean terror Diablos. Hunters wield more specialized weapons: Charge Blade, Switch Axe, Heavy Bowgun, and Insect Glaive.
Retail Expansions
Originally launched via Kickstarter, many expansions for Monster Hunter World: The Board Game remain available at retail. Some, like Nergigante and Teostra, are harder to find and sold exclusively through Steamforged Games.
These expansions introduce Elder Dragons—formidable new adversaries with higher difficulty levels and larger miniatures than those found in the core sets. Each comes with new quest content and adds an extra layer of challenge to your campaign.
Due to their cost and limited compatibility, you may want to expand by acquiring the second core set first before diving into these premium expansions.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Hunter's Arsenal Expansion
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This expansion brings six new hunters to the table, each wielding a unique weapon: Light Bowgun, Long Sword, Gunlance, Hammer, Lance, and Hunting Horn. Unlike monster-based expansions, this set offers the most value in terms of variety, giving you six new playstyles and upgrade paths. To use all six hunters, both core sets are required.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Nergigante Expansion
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Nergigante introduces a fearsome spiky dragon that grows additional spikes when damaged, making it unpredictable and dangerous. This expansion allows crafting of new weapons for all existing hunters, including those from the core sets and the Hunter’s Arsenal.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Kushala Daora Expansion
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Kushala Daora is a wind-wielding dragon with the largest miniature in the range, boasting a wingspan over a foot wide. Battling him means contending with powerful gusts and tornadoes, adding environmental challenges to the fight.
Monster Hunter World: The Board Game – Teostra Expansion
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Teostra is the classic fire-breathing dragon, dishing out relentless ranged attacks in the form of fireballs and flames. A familiar foe from the video games, he presents a fiery challenge for any hunter brave enough to enter his lair.
Exclusive Expansion
Originally a Kickstarter-exclusive item, the Kulu-Ya-Ku expansion is now difficult to find unless purchased second-hand at a premium. However, recent campaigns have offered renewed access through the Iceborne Kickstarter.
Monster Hunter World – Kulu-Ya-Ku Expansion
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This quirky creature wields tools and throws rocks at hunters, introducing a missile attack and unpredictability. Resembling an ornithomimosaur, it fits right into the Ancient Forest but can be used with either core set.
Upcoming Content
Following the success of the original releases, Steamforged Games launched a new Kickstarter for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne: The Board Game. While retaining the same core mechanics, this iteration introduces fresh concepts and is only partially compatible with the original sets—ideal for arena-style battles but not full cross-campaign integration.
The Iceborne core box, Hoarfrost Reach, includes four new hunters and four new monsters. Alongside it come Elder Dragon expansions and a Hunter’s Arsenal add-on. Three new monster packs—Absolute Power, Seething Anger, and Overpowering Hunger—each offer four fresh beasts to hunt.
Although the Kickstarter has ended, you can still preorder these items directly through Gamefound.
