I'm literally shaking as I type this. It's 2026, Monster Hunter Wilds has devoured my social life whole, and Capcom has just teased that the first collaboration event is finally on its way. No more waiting, no more datamined rumors — the real deal is coming. But which franchise will get the honor of slamming its iconic weapons and characters into the Forbidden Lands? While my insider sources remain tighter than an Ajarakan's grip, I've spent the last few weeks revisiting every soul-shattering, mind-bending crossover the series has ever delivered. Let me tell you, the bar is set so high it's brushing a Dalamadur's spine.
The Monster Hunter franchise doesn't just "do" collaborations — it criminalizes mediocrity. Over two decades, we've seen Link, Samus, Dante, Geralt, and even a zombified Handler turn the hunting grounds into a pop-culture slaughterhouse. With Wilds already a GOTY contender and its post-game loop devouring my sleep schedule, Capcom has the perfect opportunity to unleash something so wild it makes the Behemoth look like a docile Kulu-Ya-Ku. Strap in, because I'm about to rank the absolute most legendary crossovers of all time — and predict which one is about to return to melt our consoles.
The Legend of Zelda: When Hyrule's Hero Became a Monster-slaying God
Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepares you for the sheer perfection of watching Link walk into a Monster Hunter arena. In Monster Hunter 4, the Master Sword and Hylian Shield weren't just reskins — they were a divine blessing. The Sword and Shield set allowed you to parry a Rathalos fireball with the exact same pixel-perfect elegance as deflecting a Guardian laser. And the pigment customization? I spent hours tweaking my armor to match every single Link incarnation from Ocarina of Time to Twilight Princess. The only thing missing was an Ocarina Hunting Horn that could play the Song of Storms mid-hunt. Capcom, if you're reading this, I will empty my bank account for a Zelda collaboration in Wilds. Do you hear me? Empty.
Resident Evil: I Became a Zombie and Bit a Teostra
Monster Hunter World's Resident Evil crossover was an absolute fever dream. Completing those quests gave me Leon and Claire layered armor so detailed I could practically smell the Raccoon City decay. But the real insanity? The zombification emote. I turned my hunter into a shambling, groaning undead that healed faster and could bite monsters for damage . I once took down a Great Jagras using only zombie chomps while my friends cried laughing. And my Handler dressed as a Tyrant? Perfection. There's something deeply therapeutic about returning to camp after a brutal hunt and being greeted by a seven-foot bioweapon serving you a well-done steak.
Metroid: Samus Aran's Arm Cannon Blew My Mind
When Samus landed in Monster Hunter 4, my brain chemistry altered permanently. The Arm Cannon-themed Light Bowgun wasn't just clever — it was a sacred relic. The Varia Suit and Zero Suit armor sets made me feel like I was hunting interdimensional horrors instead of simple wyverns. The classic Metroid sound effects triggered every time I fired a shot, and the sci-fi contrast against the primal landscapes created a dissonance so beautiful I still haven't recovered. This crossover was so iconic that it received a spiritual successor in Generations Ultimate, and I'm begging Wilds to resurrect it. Give me a full-on Metroid Dread collab with an E.M.M.I.-themed Palamute. I'll sell a kidney.
Metal Gear Solid: Snake vs. Rathalos — A Tactical Espionage Extravaganza
Playing as Snake or The Boss in Monster Hunter Portable 3rd was a gift from the gods. The Palico armor alone deserved its own museum exhibit. But the true genius was the reciprocal event in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, where Snake could fight Rathalos, Tigrex, and even a weaponized Metal Gear Rex itself. Original Japanese voice actors recorded new lines! And with Metal Gear Solid: Delta dropping this year, I am manifesting a dual-franchise revival where we can hunt a mecha-Rex in Wilds. Imagine crouch-walking through the Scarlet Forest before unleashing a CQC combo on an Arkveld. This isn't a want — it's a necessity.
Street Fighter: I Punched a Rajang to Death with My Bare Fists
Monster Hunter Rise's Akuma collaboration didn't just break the mold — it performed a Shun Goku Satsu on it. The outfit was entirely free, unlocked special moves, and when you equipped Sword and Shield, the weapons disappeared. I was literally fighting monsters bare-handed, throwing Hadoukens and uppercuts like a caffeinated demigod. The animations were straight out of Street Fighter V, and the satisfying crunch of landing a Tatsumaki on a Magnamalo's face still echoes in my dreams. If Wilds doesn't give me a Chun-Li layered armor with lightning-fast Insect Glaive spins, I'm going to riot in the Gathering Hub.
Attack on Titan: Dual Blades That Made Me Feel Like Humanity's Last Hope
The Attack on Titan crossover in Monster Hunter 3 was so thematically perfect it felt illegal. The Training Corps armor and the Dual Blades modeled after the Omnidirectional Mobility gear made every hunt against oversized monsters feel like a desperate battle for survival. Slicing the nape of a Deviljho? Pure catharsis. Even the Aberrant Deviljho in Monster Hunter Explore — a skinless, steaming nightmare — was a missed opportunity that should have been in the main game. I'm still salty we never got a Colossal Titan siege quest. Wilds, please fix this injustice. I need to soar through the air and scream "SHINZOU WO SASAGEYO" while carving a Zorah Magdaros-sized threat.
Horizon Zero Dawn: Aloy Proved PlayStation Exclusives Can Slay
World's pre-launch collaboration with Horizon Zero Dawn was controversial for being PlayStation-exclusive, but goodness, did it deliver. Aloy's weapons and her Watcher-themed Palico armor were so beautifully detailed that I forgave the platform lock. The sci-fi elements meshed with Monster Hunter's ecology surprisingly well, and hunting alongside Aloy felt like a multiversal prophecy fulfilled. Even after the multiplayer project cancellation, World remains one of the only ways to role-play as Aloy with a full squad. I'm still holding out hope that Wilds gets a Thunderjaw or a Tideripper hunt. Capcom, call Guerrilla Games. Now.
Devil May Cry: Dante's Charge Blade Made Me Cry Stylish Tears
This collaboration is the reason I main Charge Blade. In World, Dante's layered armor and his signature weapon — the Force Edge — were pure SSStyle. The shield transformed into a glowing runic circle while the sword elongated into a demonic blade, and the paid gesture let me fire dual handguns with zero damage but infinite swag. During the quest, the battle music changed to Devil May Cry tracks based on your weapon type. Hunting an Anjanath, Odogaron, and Teostra while "Devils Never Cry" blared in the background? I ascended. If Wilds adds Nero's Red Queen with Exceed system mechanics, I might never leave my chair.
The Witcher 3: A Full Story Expansion That Felt Like a Lost CD Projekt Red Masterpiece
This wasn't a mere event quest — it was a miniature RPG campaign. Geralt and Ciri layered armors, a grotesquely adorable Nekker Palico, and a storyline with actual dialogue choices transported me straight to the Continent. The Ancient Leshen fight was brutally unfair for solo hunters (I still have PTSD from its root attacks), but unleashing Igni via runestone while hunting in the Ancient Forest felt like forbidden magic. The fact that this crossover's writing quality and voice acting may have inspired Wilds' own protagonist storyline gives me chills. Imagine a Ciri collaboration in Wilds where she can blink-dodge between dimensions mid-hunt. I'd pay anything.
Final Fantasy XIV: Behemoth Taught Me the Meaning of Pain and Glory
The FFXIV collaboration was designed by sadists, and I mean that as the highest compliment. The Behemoth forced MMO-style team tactics with aggro management, meteor dodging, and environmental AOEs that wiped entire squads. Dragoon armor and Gae Bolg Insect Glaive were so gorgeous I almost forgave the 50+ failed attempts. The Cactuar traps, the adorable Moogle Palico, and the leaping emote with invulnerability frames were rewards forged in fire. With rumors of another Final Fantasy event brewing, I'm fully prepared for Wilds to introduce a Bahamut raid that requires coordinated supernova dodges. My therapist is already on speed dial.
As I sit here in 2026, staring at the Wilds collaboration announcement poster, my mind races with possibilities. Will Capcom revisit these titans? Will we finally get a Bloodborne trick weapon? A Berserk Dragonslayer Great Sword? The Horizon Zero Dawn machine hunt that never was? The confirmed first collab is coming soon, and I'll be the first in line — dual blades sharpened, Layered Armor pigments ready, and my heart screaming for a Monster Hunter reunion with Link or Dante. One thing's certain: if any of the above legends return, the Forbidden Lands are about to become the most glorious battleground gaming has ever seen.