The game received generally positive reviews upon release with critics praising the gameplay and its expansion of the mechanics introduced in World.

[2] Rise uses the same seamless map approach introduced in Monster Hunter: World unlike the zoned areas typical of earlier games in the series.

The Wirebug, similar to the Clutch Claw added in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, allows a player to grapple and swing across gaps or to higher locations as needed.

Additionally, Palamutes can quickly scale cliffs and perform attacks while fighting monsters alongside the player's other companion option, the cat-like Palicoes, who return from previous games.

[1] In addition to the series' typical hunts, Rise introduces Rampage, a tower defense mode where the players must defend the base village from several attacking monsters.

Fugen congratulates the Hunter on their success, but warns that they have been alerted about pending signs of "The Rampage", a mysterious calamity that occurred fifty years ago where a large horde of monsters attacked the village in a frenzied rage.

Fugen tasks the Hunter to prepare themselves for a possible recurrence of the Rampage by helping with various quests to protect and supply the village with goods while building up their hunting.

However, the disturbance caused by her presence and electromagnetic abilities tend to drive other monsters berserk, leading to a rampage event that regularly hits Kamura Village during the Serpent's mating process.

At night, the Hunter witnesses Hinoa and Minoto (possessed by Ibushi and Narwa) talking to one other, saying that their offspring will roam across the earth.

Fiorayne shares that her purpose in Kamura is to recruit the Hunter to help the people of Elgado face a trio of monsters called the Three Lords.

The Hunter and Elgado's lead scientist, Bahari, encounter a species of glowing red moth-like creatures called Qurio.

The Hunter and Fiorayne confront Malzeno in Elgado's destroyed citadel and slay it, causing a swarm of Qurio to fly away from its corpse.

Galleus and Bahari reveal to the Hunter and Fiorayne that the creature was Gaismagorm, the "Archdemon of the Abyss", a legendary monster that is said to rise up from underground and destroy the world.

They also reveal that, based on their research, Gaismagorm is the true source of the Qurio and it sent them out to gather energy in order to free itself from beneath the sea.

Some time later, Kagero learns of the arrival of the Elder Dragon Amatsu, who was responsible for the destruction of his hometown Tsukito City, and goes to seek revenge.

[8] As this was the first time this engine was used for a game of this type, it delayed some of the production as they worked to assure smooth gameplay within World's zoneless approach on the Switch.

[2] Furthermore, the Palamute companion was developed with the portability of the Nintendo Switch in mind, eliminating the depletion of stamina as the player rode it around the game world.

[2] According to Ichinose, due to the specs of the Nintendo Switch, it would have been easier to use data from the 3DS era but since Monster Hunter: World was released recently, it was important to make Rise look as modern as possible.

Monster Hunter Rise was announced during a Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase broadcast on September 17, 2020 for a worldwide release on March 26, 2021.

[10] Alongside its release, Rise included three Amiibo figures: a Palico, Palamute, and the game's flagship monster, Magnamalo.

[11] A month-long demo was released on January 7, 2021, featuring four quests with all fourteen weapons available as well as single player and online multiplayer support.

[15] A special edition Nintendo Switch bundle, which includes the console, dock and Joy-Con emblazoned with Rise artwork along with a copy of the game, launched on the same day.

[18] As with past Monster Hunter games, Rise includes crossover events with other Capcom properties, featuring quests to unlock costumes and other items related to the other franchise.

[21] In September 2021, another crossover event gave the player the ability to earn a palamute costume based on Rush from Mega Man.

[27][28] A major paid expansion, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, was released for the Switch and PC version of the game on June 30, 2022.

[34] The voice chat and image filters previously exclusive to the Steam version are included in the ports, and the game runs at 4K 60FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with an option to target 120 FPS at lower resolution.

[38][39] Critics praised the addition of new tools such as the Wirebugs and the game's expansion of Monster Hunter: World's mechanics.

Sam Machkovech of Ars Technica praised the new movement mechanics and how the game adjusted many monsters from previous entries to compensate for it.

[57] Ryan Gilliam of Polygon enjoyed the game's increased accessibility for newcomers to the series, and how the player had more ways to approach hunts.

[60] Capcom has announced that launch shipments of Monster Hunter Rise reached four million units worldwide three days after release.