What is Capcom's fastest-selling game?

By Robert Purchese Published 20 December, 2010

Clue: it's not Street Fighter.

What is Capcom's fastest-selling game of all time? It's not Street Fighter, it's not Mega Man, it's not Resident Evil.

It is Monster Hunter. Specifically, the two-week old Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (or Monster Hunter Portable 3rd as we, the West, know it).

In 17 days, Capcom has shipped an unprecedented three million copies of the game to shops across Japan.

Not only is that a record for Capcom but also for the entire region.

The Monster Hunter series has now racked up 16 million sales worldwide, although the majority of business is done in Japan, where a spin-off animated television series and associated mobile games help drive the brand into people's brains.

Not only are Monster Hunter game sales massive in Japan at the moment but, by association, PSP sales are as well. In Monster Hunter Freedom 3's first week on sale, the PSP tally shot up from 75,000 to 325,000.

Nevertheless, the rabid popularity of Monster Hunter in Japan hasn't travelled to Europe or North America. Sony and Capcom gave the last PSP instalment, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, an almighty marketing shove, but only managed a first-week placing in the UK all-formats chart at 25.

Capcom also tried to spread the success of Monster Hunter to Wii with Monster Hunter Tri, but the results weren't as great as on PSP, despite high critical acclaim. Capcom said itself in July this year sales of Monster Hunter Tri had been "sluggish", although the game did manage to spend at least a week inside the UK all-formats top 10.

Whether it will be worth Capcom's while to bring Monster Hunter Portable 3rd to Europe and the US then, remains to be seen. We wouldn't advise getting your hopes up.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JBlokeUK #1 1 year ago

    So why won't they bloody release a Monster Hunter game for PS3/360?

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #2 1 year ago

    @JBloke

    Same reason Pokemon is nowhere near as popular when they do Console releases, its just one of those great handheld experiences.

  • J0rdan_KZ #3 1 year ago

    @JBlokeUK - They are. Well, sort of. They're porting the PC version of MH Freedom (I think?) over to the 360.

  • JBlokeUK #4 1 year ago

    I spent hours upon hours on Monster Hunter on the PS2, always lots online too from what I remember. I do have Monster Hunter Freedom 2 on PSP which is fantastic, just feel that a PS3/360 version would actually do better than the handheld games do outside of Japan.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #5 1 year ago

    I think your right that a console version, as long as the online was done right would do better outside of japan than the handheld version.

    But the japanese just go crazy for some PSP Monster Hunter.

  • CaoSlayer #6 1 year ago

    Monster Hunter is a console game, it needs stable internet and comfortable controls. PSP is maybe the worst system where it could be.. of course japanese people who spend about two hours a day inside a train, finds it the perfect platform for the game but this is Spart.. Europe.

    Edited by CaoSlayer at 20/12/10 @ 12:12

  • JBlokeUK #7 1 year ago

    @GamesProgrammer

    I'm sure they could nail the online part. I really think it would be fantastic on PSN and Live, with no shortage of people playing. Would be an absolute day one purchase for me.

    Come on Capcom, make it happen!

  • RodHull #8 1 year ago

    I really don't see the appeal of Monster Hunter and find the gameplay to be linear, dull and predictable. Each to their own I guess though.

  • Cid #9 1 year ago

    I can live without MHP3rd, but the next console instalment has to come out here. I didn't think any Wii game would be able to match Galaxy 2 this year, but Tri did.

  • davisorle #10 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • Canyarion #11 1 year ago

    I'd like to know more about the spin-off animated series. I tried to Google it, but no luck. Does anyone have a link for me?

  • kangarootoo #12 1 year ago

    Holy cow, those PSP sales (purportedly poff the back of one game) are incredible.

    I hope they get good royalties.

  • BuddyChrist #13 1 year ago

    Pokemon doesn't work on consoles? They did a cheat version for the n64 (pokemon stadium- no exploration of story) and that did great considering the sales of the system. Then there's colosseum on the GC. Some douche decided to add new ideas to it. Turd sandwich

  • vyseofhr #14 1 year ago

    Tri's lack of success is criminal. It's one of my favourite games ever.

  • ShadowMountain #15 1 year ago

    I have never played MH so I ask this: which MH title should I play first to get the best first impression of the series? I own all consoles so format doesnt matter, I just want the best game for a MH noob.Thanks in advance

  • Hulle #16 1 year ago

    @ShadowMountain
    Get Tri for Wii first..

  • jonsaan #17 1 year ago

    I really, really like Freedom Unite but I'm not sure I'd ever need another one.

  • drumbaby #18 1 year ago

    Hey Capcom, does the portable PlayStation loving you're getting for this series mean youll try another Monster Hunter game on Wii and Xbox 360 in japan, or will you finally pull your head out of your arse and release a version for PS3?

    Stubborn to the last, eh Cappers?

  • nickthegun #19 1 year ago

    It hasnt travelled well because Europe and the US arent entirely populated with OCD nutcases

  • Centrifugal #20 1 year ago

    And there was me thinking it was Phoenix Wright...

  • Geminosity #21 1 year ago

    I loved tri and several people I know seemed interested in it but unwilling to buy it for the wii. I honestly think that like others have said, a niche exists outside of japan for this title on a 'proper console' :p
    I don't know why but I've always been oddly loathe to buy games for my PSP, which is odd considering it's not much use without any games XD

  • trugs26 #22 1 year ago

    I thought Monster Hunter Tri sold well. This is news to me.