Mobile hunting games tend to fall into one of two camps: slow, meditative tracking sims, or arcade shooting galleries with little sense of place. Hunting Rivals, the free-to-play title from international developer and publisher MY.GAMES, aims for something in between — a first-person hunting and sniper simulator that keeps the tension of the stalk while layering in genuine player-versus-player competition.
Since launching in May 2026, the game has backed up that ambition with numbers that are hard to argue with: more than $3 million in revenue, 3 million installs, and 1 million monthly active users. For a free mobile title, that kind of sustained engagement suggests Hunting Rivals is doing more than a few things right, and a closer look at what it offers bears that out.
What is Hunting Rivals?
Hunting Rivals is a free-to-play multiplayer first-person hunting and sniper simulator. Players track and hunt wildlife across detailed outdoor environments ranging from the African savanna to dense forest, with species including lions, African buffalo, warthogs, moose, bears, silver foxes and wolves. Where it distinguishes itself from more solitary hunting games is its competitive layer: rather than hunting purely against the environment, players face off in 6-player PvP matches, turning the hunt into a race against rival hunters as much as the animals themselves.
Also worth a look: hololive Dreams Review: Rhythm, RPG and Fan Service Done Right.
Key features / What stands out
Varied, well-realized environments
The game spans multiple distinct wilderness settings, each with its own terrain and wildlife mix. Moving between open savanna and dense forest changes the rhythm of a hunt — sightlines, cover and stalking distance all shift with the landscape, which keeps matches from feeling repetitive. That environmental variety also gives the game room to keep introducing fresh settings as it grows, rather than recycling the same handful of maps match after match.
A genuine PvP core
The 6-player PvP format is the game’s centerpiece, putting hunters in direct competition rather than isolating them in solo sessions. Social competition modes and direct duels add further ways to test skill against other players beyond the core match type, giving casual players a lighter option alongside the full 6-player format when they only have a few minutes to play.
Dynamic wildlife
With animal behavior built to react rather than sit static, successful hunts depend on reading movement and positioning rather than simply aiming at a fixed target, which keeps the simulator side of the experience credible alongside the competitive side.
A content pipeline that’s already proven out
MY.GAMES has committed to regular updates expanding Hunting Rivals with new regions, locations, animals and gear — a promise that carries more weight given the game’s installs and revenue have already shown there’s a sizable, engaged audience to build for. For a live-service mobile title, that combination of proven demand and a stated content roadmap is a meaningfully better starting position than most new releases in the category.
Who it’s for
Hunting Rivals suits players who enjoy hunting and sniper simulators but want more than a single-player checklist of kills — the 6-player PvP format is built for those who like a competitive edge in their matches. It’s equally well suited to casual mobile players looking for a free, visually striking game to pick up in short sessions, since matches are structured around quick, focused rounds rather than long campaigns. Fans of wildlife-themed games and outdoor settings will also find plenty to like in the variety of environments and animal species on offer. The game’s short match structure also makes it a reasonable fit for players who want a competitive mobile title that doesn’t demand a long-term time commitment to stay sharp.
Pricing and availability
Hunting Rivals is free to download and play as a mobile title from MY.GAMES, with no cost barrier to trying the core hunting and PvP modes. Its free-to-play structure, combined with the strong install and revenue figures posted since launch, suggests the game has found a workable balance between accessibility and ongoing content support. Players can jump in without committing any money up front and decide for themselves, match by match, whether the hunting and PvP loop is worth sticking with.
What makes it worth considering
It’s easy for free-to-play mobile games to feel thin after the first few sessions, but Hunting Rivals’ early trajectory — $3 million in revenue, 3 million installs and 1 million monthly active users within months of launch — points to a game that’s retaining players rather than just attracting downloads. That kind of sustained interest typically reflects solid core mechanics, and the combination of detailed wildlife tracking with real PvP stakes gives Hunting Rivals a hook that purely cooperative hunting games don’t have. The promise of ongoing content, backed by a developer with the resources to deliver on it, adds confidence that the game will keep expanding rather than stagnate.
Verdict
Hunting Rivals is a strong pick for anyone who wants a free mobile hunting game with real competitive teeth. The varied environments, credible wildlife simulation and 6-player PvP format combine into an experience that already has the numbers to back up its early momentum, with more content on the way for players who stick around.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Hunting Rivals is a free-to-play mobile game from MY.GAMES, downloadable at no cost.
It is a multiplayer first-person hunting and sniper simulator built around tracking wildlife and competing against other players.
The game features species including lions, African buffalo, warthogs, moose, bears, silver foxes and wolves across different wilderness environments.
Yes. Its core competitive mode is 6-player PvP, alongside social competition modes and direct duels.
Hunting Rivals was developed and published by MY.GAMES, an international video game developer and publisher.
Yes. MY.GAMES has committed to regular content updates expanding the game with new regions, locations, animals and gear.
