Summary
Dungeons and Dragonshas been on the rise for a while now, with its profile rising even higher in the past couple of years thanks to a few notable crossovers.Dungeons and Dragonshas ventured into some unexpected territory with recent crossovers likeDestiny 2andDead by Daylight. However, one of the most obvious candidates for crossover is still being left on the table.
Though it has often explored other genres and settings,Dungeons and Dragonsis deeply steeped in the aesthetic of high fantasy. Mileage may vary for each player’s unique experience with their own campaigns, but the general image ofD&Dis one of slaying monsters with the aid of swords and sorcery. If there’s any series completely in line to receive an exciting crossover withD&D, it’sMonster Hunter.
It’s High Time for Dungeons and Dragons and Monster Hunter to Crossover
Monster Hunter and D&D are a Match Made in Heaven
Monster Hunterhas so much potential to crossoverintoD&D, it’s almost inconceivable that it hasn’t happened already.Monster Hunteris a rather self-explanatory series, with the titular activity being front and center at all times. Players go out into the wild to hunt monsters, then return to town after slaying them to use their parts for goods, and these goods will usually just help with hunting more monsters.
Monster Hunterhas risen in popularity in recent times for similar reasons toD&D, chiefest among them being improved accessibility in recent years. With the comparable subject matter and growing popularity of both games, there’s clear crossover potential. Just as players may want to gather around a table for asession ofDungeons and Dragons, those very same players could venture out on a hunt together.
Monster Hunter Fits Right in with D&D
Monster Hunterhas more than enough material to provideDungeons and Dragons. Dragons are half the title for the TTRPG giant, andMonster Hunterhas more than a few to contribute. Of course,Monster Hunter’s Rathaloswould be likely to spearhead any crossover effort on behalf of the series, but there’s no reason to stop at its draconic mascot;Monster Hunterhas plenty more content to give.
Monster Hunterhas hundreds of iconic monstersthatDungeons and Dragonscould pull from. For example, the beautiful Mizutsune and bizarre Khezu seem like prime candidates to place in any Dungeon Master’s toolkit.
The monsters inMonster Hunterare very varied; many would be appropriate for boss encounters, but there are plenty of smaller monsters to populate the game’s setting. In fact, there’s enough content in addition to the series' monsters to fill an entire module. Theweapons and armor sets ofMonster Huntercould easily find their way in. Likewise, it would be an absolute delight to gain access to Palicos as a companion inDungeons and Dragons, just as they accompany the player inMonster Hunter.
D&D Has Plenty to Give Back to Monster Hunter
Just asMonster Huntercan lend material toDungeons and Dragons,D&Dis more than capable of lending inspiration back.TheMonster Manualis one of the most important core rulebooks ofDungeons and Dragons, and it is full to the brim of creatures that could lend themselves well toMonster Hunter’s gameplay.
The Beholder is one of themost iconic monsters inDungeons and Dragons, but may seem a bit out of place inMonster Hunter. With that being said, plenty ofDungeons and Dragon’s other most famous beasts would fit right in. The Displacer Beast is a great example, with its catlike appearance and illusion-based hunting tactics making it perfect for the setting. Of course,D&D’s titular dragons could also find their way in, with named figures like Tiamat serving as particularly menacing foes.
Ultimately,Dungeons and Dragonsshares quite a lot of overlap withMonster Hunter. This makes the two series ripe for crossing over, as both have plenty to provide the other in the form of monsters and more. Both games hold a host of fun for full parties of players, and one can only hope that upcoming updates forDungeons and Dragonscontain a couple nods toMonster Hunter.
