Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Monster hunting goes subzero in this red hot expansion.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
What's It About?
The hunt continues in MONSTER HUNTER WORLD: ICEBORNE, a densely packed, icy expansion to the original Monster Hunter World experience. Players will join the Research Commission as it takes flight to explore Hoarfrost Reach, a previously undiscovered snow-covered region of the world. This untouched landmass seems to be the source of a new disturbance, as the creatures of the Ancient Forest seem drawn here for some unknown reason. You'll need to bundle up and brave the cold to discover what secrets lie frozen in Hoarfrost Reach. While survival's always a challenge, you've got a few new tricks up your sleeves to help tip the odds a bit more in your favor. Your weapons and traps have been upgraded to increase your arsenal of moves, and the new Clutch Claw allows you to swing into the fray and grapple with your prey in uniquely exciting ways. And after a successful hunt, you can return to your new headquarters hub of Seliana and warm up in one of the hot springs or steam rooms of its grand spa. But don't rest on your laurels too long. After all, a Hunter's work is never done, and there's always something new to discover.
Is It Any Good?
This new chapter in the popular adventure game brings new content, new territory to explore, and new glory to hunters around the world. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is the first full expansion to the original game, and when Monster Hunter World debuted, it basically served as a sort of reboot, re-introducing the niche franchise to a global audience. It was a hit and left fans new and old eager for more. Iceborne brings with it a whole new icy land to explore, complete with new creatures to hunt, new weapons and ways to use familiar weapons, and most importantly, more of what everyone loved about the original experience. The expansion's smart enough to add just enough new to keep things fresh without ditching any of the fun that keeps hunters coming back.
Admittedly, the Monster Hunter series has always been a complex game that takes a lot of practice. And while Monster Hunter World streamlined things a bit, Iceborne adds new combos to all of the existing weapons, increasing their effectiveness in the field. Couple that with the new Clutch Claw's grappling capabilities and it opens up a lot of new strategies, but also adds an extra layer of complexity that can frustrate early on. One other key thing for players to keep in mind is that Iceborne is designed mainly as additional endgame content. While players can still get the hang of the new weapon combos and the Clutch Claw in the main game, the new hunts in Hoarfrost Reach are generally reserved for those Master Rank hunters that have seen the main game through to completion. But even if you've just started exploring the territory of the original game, the frozen lands of Iceborne has plenty of hot gameplay to keep you coming back for more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about working with nature. What are some of the ways that humans can work to preserve nature and work with the animals within it? What are some things we can learn from the behavior of wildlife and how they are impacted by the environment?
What are some things to look out for when playing with an online community? What are some signs to look out for and what should you do when confronted with toxic or offensive behavior?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Capcom
- Release date : September 6, 2019
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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