A prankster covers an entire section of Nintendo Switch games at Target with copies of Monster Hunter Rise, seemingly wanting customers to purchase a copy from the aisle. These Monster Hunter Rise copies appear to have caused confusion for a gamer who was browsing the section for a Nintendo Switch game.
Initially released as a Switch console exclusive on March 26, 2021, Monster Hunter Rise is the latest entry in the long-running Monster Hunter series. In Monster Hunter Rise, hunters protect Kamura Village from the "Rampage," a mysterious onslaught of monsters that place the village in danger. The Rampage brings the appearance of the menacing Magnamalo, the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Rise. After defeating Magnamalo and solving the mystery behind the Rampage, Monster Hunter Rise players may continue their journey in the Sunbreak expansion. This past January, Monster Hunter Rise was released on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and the Sunbreak expansion will make its debut on those same platforms on April 28.
At Target, TikTok user sudoge.0 spotted a section of Switch games covered in digital download copies of Monster Hunter Rise. After a few seconds of confusion, the user approaches one of the Monster Hunter Rise download cards for Switch, lifting it to find a digital download copy of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. A prankster seems to have placed these download cards to encourage customers to purchase Monster Hunter Rise for Switch.
Normally, the Nintendo Switch section at Target would be filled with physical copies and digital download copies of recent releases. Target customers that prefer to own digital copies may purchase a full game download card for a specific title and redeem the game code in the Nintendo eShop. In this prank, the Monster Hunter Rise digital download cards were placed on top of all other game cards, making it appear as if Monster Hunter Rise was the only game being sold.
Fellow TikTok users believe the prankster was attempting to spread the good word about Monster Hunter Rise since it continues to be a popular game. Monster Hunter Rise will receive more updates this year, and the prankster may have wanted more players to join the hunt before those updates arrive. An exact motive for the prank is best left up to speculation at this point, however.
A digital download copy of Monster Hunter Rise is usually priced at $39.99 for Switch at Target. Fortunately, Monster Hunter Rise for Switch is on sale for a limited time on Amazon, so those interested in the game may want to consider shopping for a physical Switch copy to save some money.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.