You want a polished, stable, and legal experience with updated graphics and full voice acting on PC, PS4, or Switch.
: Certain hacks allow you to obtain high-rank monsters (like Elder Dragons) much earlier in the story. Monster Hunter Stories Hack
You specifically enjoy the "retro" handheld feel and want to experiment with community-made difficulty patches. Monster Hunter Stories 3 - Review (Spoiler-Free) You want a polished, stable, and legal experience
Searching for a "hack" related to often refers to either unauthorized gameplay modifications (cheats) or the community-driven ROM hacks that adjust difficulty and add content to the original 3DS/Mobile versions. However, if you are looking for a legitimate, high-quality "hack" to experience the series today, the Monster Hunter Stories Remaster is the definitive way to play the first game with modern "quality of life" improvements. The Legit "Hack": Monster Hunter Stories Remaster (2024) Monster Hunter Stories 3 - Review (Spoiler-Free) Searching
: A massive "hack" for the grind is the added feature to speed up turn-based battles, which reviewers find makes the loop much more addictive.
: Some hacks remove the "RNG" elements of the original combat that some players found tedious.
: Unlike the original 3DS version, this release features fully voiced English and Japanese dialogue.