Hunting action

Hunting action games are a style of typically mission-based action RPGs, popularized by the Monster Hunter [モンスターハンター] series. The focus of these games is to defeat, or "hunt", large monsters in an effort to gain experience or resources to enhance the player's stats and equipment. Influenced by the online boss battles and RPG mechanics of Phantasy Star Online [ファンタシースターオンライン] (2000), Monster Hunter [モンスターハンター] (2004) was created with the intention of putting these boss battles to the forefront. Due to this influence, online matchmaking or capabilities are a staple in the genre. The term "hunting action" comes from the original Monster Hunter and is the most frequently used term for the genre in Japan; however, in the West, the genre is mostly delegated to "Monster Hunter-likes".