Highlights

  • Devil May Cry is a highly revered action saga that offers players a timeless power fantasy, with its trenchcoat-wearing superbeings taking down demonic forces.
  • Devil May Cry 2 is regarded as the worst game in the series due to its brooding protagonist and slower combat system, although it still has some redeeming qualities.
  • Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is the best way to experience the game, offering improved gameplay and new features like the Legendary Dark Knight difficulty and playable characters.

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 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 still holds up very well on Metacritic, but let’s see if the fan favorites rank well according to their scoring system.

Updated September 23, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: The Devil May Cry series is one of the most revered action sagas in gaming. The power fantasy of playing a trenchcoat-wearing superbeing taking down masses of demonic and evil forces is as timeless now as when it launched in 2001. The ballet of sword and gunplay puts players in the shoes of action heroes like Dante, Nero, and more. This list has been updated to include launch dates and platforms. So, fans know where they can play the best Devil May Cry games.

9 Devil May Cry 2 – Metascore 68

Dante Riding A Motorbike At The End Of DMC2

Released

2003

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PS2, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Launched in 2003, Devil May Cry 2 is universally regarded as the worst in the series by fans and critics alike. Despite being the second game in the series, 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 was slower than the first game, and Dante’s movements felt robotic. For all these reasons and more, 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 Devil May Cry HD Collection – Metascore 70

Dante Devil May Cry 3 posing with the sword

Released

2012 and 2018

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

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.

Unfortunately, the Devil May Cry HD Collection is disappointingly barebones. The set was acceptable when it was first released, but fans and critics alike hoped for some quality-of-life improvements to the menu systems and upscaled cutscenes. The issues that fans had with the original game remained six years later. Despite the flaws, the collection is easily obtainable to pick up and enjoy even today.

7 Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition – Metascore 73

Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition - Dante dual wielding the pistols

Released

2015

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Despite scoring lower than the last-gen original on Metacritic, the special edition of Devil May Cry 4 launched on the PS4 and Xbox One and is the best way to experience this game. In addition to looking much better than its PS3/360 predecessor, there are three more characters to play.

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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.

6 Devil May Cry 4 – Metascore 84

Devil May Cry 4 Dante versus Nero

Released

2008

Developer

Capcom

Platform

Android, iOS. PC, PS3, Switch, and Xbox 360

Released in 2008, Devil May Cry 4 was the first in the series to move into the next generation. This time, players can control Dante and Nero, the new protagonist with demonic powers that are a match for Dante.

Despite their similar looks and powers, Nero controlled differently from Dante, bringing a new dynamic to the series. Unfortunately, there was some repetition and backtracking by forcing the player to retrace many of Nero’s steps with Dante in later stages. While a vast improvement over the second installment, it did not match the success of the third title.

5 DMC: Devil May Cry – Metascore 85

Platforming in DMC Devil May Cry

Released

2013

Developer

Ninja Theory

Platform

PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Released in 2013, 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 rebooted series with a new look for Dante to appeal to modern audiences.

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Mechanically, DmC: Devil May Cry was a solid action-adventure game with fluid combat mechanics and an engaging take on the story. However, the over-reliance on tedious platforming sections hurt the pacing. Furthermore, this new version of Dante was less the likable rogue and more an obnoxious teenage stereotype playing at being a rock star. However, putting aside that it is not what fans wanted, the Devil May Cry reboot from Ninja Theory is a fun title action game with great set pieces.

4 Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening – Metascore 87

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Released

2005

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

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, even if the critics didn’t quite agree.

As a prequel, Devil May Cry 3’s story takes place before the first game and introduces gamers to Vergil, Dante’s twin brother and the primary antagonist. 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.

3 Devil May Cry 5 – Metascore 88

devil may cry 5 cast hd front view capcom

Released

2019

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS4, and Xbox One

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 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 5 Special Edition – Metascore 89​​​​​

Dante

Released

2020

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

Another Devil May Cry and another special edition re-release. However, this updated version scores higher than the original game on Metacritic. Thanks to the power of current-gen systems, DMC 5 is faster, smoother, and more accessible than ever.

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Moreover, the special edition of DmC 5 includes the Legendary Dark Knight difficulty, a Turbo mode, and offers ray tracing support. Furthermore, this version features Dante’s twin brother Virgil as a playable 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.

1 Devil May Cry – Metascore 94

Dante posing with a gun

Released

2001

Developer

Capcom

Platform

PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

The first Devil May Cry was released in 2001 and is still the highest-rated game in the series on Metacritic. It has been refined and improved in its recent sequels with better graphics and production values, but Devil May Cry is still one of the most influential games ever released.

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. Eighteen years on Devil May Cry is still as deep, challenging, and playable as its successors, and its high Metacritic rating is a testament to the first title’s impact on the genre.

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