Best Devil May Cry Games

The Devil May Cry franchise initially began as an early concept for a more action-orientated Resident Evil 4 until it was realized that the game’s cool themes strayed too far from the horror roots in a Resident Evil game. Instead, the developers rewrote the game entirely, taking inspiration from the Italian poem Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, and the Japanese manga series Cobra and Devil May Cry was created, spawning a hack-and-slash action sub-genre of its own.

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Devil May Cry: 8 Biggest Traditions In The Series

Simply put, it wouldn’t be a Devil May Cry game without these iconic traditions making an appearance in one way or another.

Devil May Cry was reminiscent of action films from the late 90s and early 2000s, like Blade and The Matrix, and gave players a sense of power just like characters from those films. Unsurprisingly, the influential series remains the standard for the genre let’s rank the best games in order.

Updated February 10, 2025, by Michael Llewellyn: The Devil May Cry series is among the best action games available. Every entry encapsulates the feel of an action movie and a superhero like Blade or the Matrix’s Neo. This list has been updated to include a new mobile-only game, galleries, and tags with relevant information.

10

Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat

Excellent Combat Hindered By Expensive Microtransactions

• Released: 2024
• Platform: Android and iOS.
• Developer: NebulaJoy

Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat is a mobile-only action game featuring Dante. Virgil, Nero, and Lady as playable characters. Although developed by a different studio, the mobile game successfully captures the feel and essence of what fans appreciate about the Devil May Cry series.

As with most mobile games, Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat features a lot of microtransactions to purchase Devil Gems to obtain more powerful summons, boosts, and better weapons. Being a Devil May Cry game players can’t purchase skill; it requires practice to achieve an S-Rank with stylish combos.

9

Devil May Cry 2

Solid Combat But A Step Backwards

Released

January 25, 2003

ESRB

m

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

Devil May Cry 2 is universally regarded as the worst in the series by fans and critics alike. It is the second game in the series, but chronologically it takes place before the events of Devil May Cry 4. Gone was the cocky and brash character in the first game, and a brooding Dante replaced him with the overall humor toned down. The game was more open than its predecessor, but the trade-off was much softer textures and blurry backgrounds.

Furthermore, the combat system, while polished felt slower than the first game, and Dante’s movements felt robotic. For all these reasons, it has the lowest score of the series. For all its misgivings, Devil May Cry 2 is still a solid action-adventure game with some mechanical improvements.

8

DMC: Devil May Cry

A Controversial Entry With Brilliant Combat

Systems

Released

January 15, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

DmC: Devil May Cry was developed by the talented Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice developers Ninja Theory. Capcom brought Western developers in to work on a potential reboot for the action-adventure series with a new look for Dante to appeal to modern audiences.

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Devil May Cry: Every Version Of Vergil, Ranked

Vergil is one of the most beloved characters from the Devil May Cry series, but which of his many iterations is considered the best?

Mechanically, DmC: Devil May Cry is a solid action-adventure game featuring fluid combat mechanics and an engaging storyline. However, the game suffers from an over-reliance on tedious platforming sections, which disrupts the pacing. This new iteration of Dante is less of a likable rogue and more like an obnoxious teenage stereotype trying to embody a rock star persona. Although it wasn’t what fans anticipated, Ninja Theory’s attempt at a Devil May Cry reboot is still an enjoyable action game with impressive set pieces.

7

Devil May Cry 4

The Introduction Of Nero And A Great Action Title

Systems

Released

February 5, 2008

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Devil May Cry 4 was the first in the series to move into the PS3 and 360 era. This time, players can control Dante and Nero, the new protagonist with demonic powers comparable to Dante but with a personality and character that separates itself.

Despite their similar looks and powers, Nero controlled differently from Dante, bringing a new dynamic to the series. There was some repetition and backtracking, requiring players to retrace many of Nero’s steps with Dante in the later stages. However, the action and gameplay felt more akin to Devil May Cry 3, which is a step in the right direction for the series, despite a few missteps.

6

Devil May Cry HD Collection

An Excellent Collection Of Action Games

Action

Hack and Slash

Adventure

Systems

Released

April 3, 2012

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Partial Nudity, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

The Devil May Cry HD Collection includes the first three games as a trilogy. They initially launched on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012 and later ported to the PS4 and Xbox One. Long-time fans of the series hoped a collection of all three games would have scored better with critics.

As a set, the Devil May Cry HD Collection features three classic games that are a bargain in their original form. The HD collection lacks significant quality-of-life enhancements for newcomers, making the game’s age more obvious when compared to Devil May 5. Additionally, returning players find little incentive to revisit the games, as the main draw is limited to upgraded graphics rather than substantial new content or improvements. Despite the flaws, the collection is easily obtainable compared to the PS2 originals and they still rate among the best of the hack-and-slash genre.

5

Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition

The Definitive Version Of The Fourth Entry

Systems

Released

February 5, 2008

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The special edition of Devil May Cry 4 launched on the PS4 and Xbox One and is the best way to experience the fourth entry in the iconic series. In addition to looking much better than its PS3/360 predecessor, there are three more characters to play.

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34 Games To Play If You Love Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry is one of the most prominent hack and slash games, but there are certainly others that will satiate your power fantasy.

The additional characters are Virgil, Trish, and Lady, each offering a different gameplay experience. Furthermore, the special edition includes Japanese voice acting, brand-new cutscenes, and a new ending. More importantly, the framerate is smoother than the PS3 and 360 versions, making combat smoother and more responsive.

4

Devil May Cry

The Classic Is Stylish Combat Holds Up

Released

October 16, 2001

Developer(s)

Capcom Production Studio 4

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The first Devil May Cry has been refined and improved in its recent sequels with better graphics and production values, but it is still one of the most influential games ever released. There is an old-school challenge to Devil May Cry where skill, patience, and perseverance are rewarded. It merges the adventure, hack-and-slash, and beat-em-up genres in perfect harmony in what remains one of the best power fantasies available.

Devil May Cry explores a dark world with nicely crafted pre-rendered backdrops like Resident Evil, featuring excellent characters and a story that gets more intriguing with each chapter. It not only spawned a sub-genre that featured games like God of War and Bayonetta, but it remains the standard for all other action-adventure hack-and-slash games. Decades on, Devil May Cry is still as deep, challenging, and playable as its successors.

3

Devil May Cry 5

A Stunning Return To Form

Systems

Released

March 8, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

After the disappointing sales of the attempted reboot in DmC: Devil May Cry, developers Capcom decided to return to the series’ roots. Released in 2019, Devil May Cry 5 continues the original story arc after the events of Devil May Cry 4 in one of the most cinematic and visually stunning action games in the genre.

DMC 5 brought back the Dante fans have loved since the first entry, along with more battle-hardened Nero. Additionally, the game introduced a mysterious new magic-wielding character called V. This allows the player to select three very different characters in battle. The game was not just a return to form for the series. It features some of the fastest and most complex combat in the genre.

2

Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening

An Incredible Prequel With Outstanding Combat

Hack and Slash

Action-Adventure

Beat ‘Em Up

Released

February 17, 2005

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and is widely regarded by fans as the best in the series and one of the best hack-and-slash action-adventure titles ever created. The combat is more fluid and after the serious tones of the second entry, the younger Dante is back to being the comedic devil hunter fans loved from the first game.

As a prequel, Devil May Cry 3’s story predates the first game and introduces gamers to Vergil, Dante’s twin brother and one of Dante’s greatest rivals in the series’ history. Fans were pleased with the return of the cocky and brash Dante from the original and refined many elements that made the first game so revered.

1

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

The Definitive Version Of Devil May Cry 5

Systems

Released

March 8, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Like Devil May Cry 4, Devil May Cry 5 is another special edition re-release for more powerful hardware. Thanks to the power of current-gen systems, DMC 5 is faster, smoother, and more accessible and another incredible showcase for the stunning RE engine from Capcom. Moreover, the special edition of DmC 5 includes the Legendary Dark Knight difficulty, a Turbo mode, and offers ray tracing support and faster loading times.

Furthermore, this version features Dante’s twin brother Virgil as a playable character from the start being able to utilize his unique combat style for the entire game. Virgil’s combat style is more challenging to master than Dante’s and Nero’s, but it is rewarding and perfectly reflects his character. Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is the best way to dive into one of the best and most stylish hack-and-slash games ever.

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Devil May Cry: Best Playable Characters In Capcom’s Franchise, Ranked

Not all Devil May Cry characters are created equal. Here are the best ones players get to control at different points throughout the series.