There aren't many video game franchises that can match the Devil May Cry series when it comes to unadulterated, fun action, and the series has provided exactly that across five mainline titles and more. The first Devil May Cry title revolutionized hack-and-slash combat and the series has continued to deliver on its promise ever since with fans excited for the television adaptation.
Even with the consistency the franchise has had, some titles in the series stand far above the others in of quality, The review aggregator Metacritic makes it easy to see which titles deserve to be considered the best in the iconic series.
Devil May Cry 2 (2003) - 68
Following up from a sensational debut title isn't an easy task but Devil May Cry 2 did a solid job of developing on the thrills of the first Devil May Cry. The game did a good job of replicating the formula that made the original game so successful and, though that means it doesn't bring much new to the table, it was able to satisfy most fans.
Some drawbacks including slightly clunkier combat than the first game, persistent camera issues, and boss fights that don't provide much of a challenge to even inexperienced players stop the game from being a true classic but there is still plenty to enjoy about the sequel. The visuals, which hold up surprisingly well, are also a big improvement from Devil May Cry.
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition (2015) - 75
Released 7 years after Devil May Cry 4, this special edition represented a comprehensive remaster of a game that had already won over a ton of fans. In the wake of DmC: Devil May Cry, fans were hungry for more of the updated DMC experience with graphics to suit the latest generation of consoles and PC.
Devil May Cry: Special Edition delivered on just this as it was released on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and the PlayStation 4 with praise for how well it performed. Whilst it also drew criticism for not revamping the old-fashioned camera and level design, the wealth of new content included meant it was still a worthy entry to the series.
Devil May Cry HD Collection (2012) - 77
Dante is one of the iconic hack-and-slash heroes and, for fans of the series, the prospect of playing through his original 3 adventures in glorious high definition was too good to turn down. Stylish combat is the hallmark of the Devil May Cry series and it deserves to be enjoyed in high definition and 60fps.
Although the game doesn't offer much in of new content or accessibility, it remains a great buy for fans of the series who want to experience the games with the best possible performance. Ultimately, it features two of the best DMC games ever, so it's unlikely to disappoint fans of the franchise.
Devil May Cry 4 (2008) - 84
Putting the player in the role of a new protagonist, Nero, who is determined to put a stop to an apparently out-of-control Dante, Devil May Cry 4 immediately set itself apart from the other mainline titles in the series. Although the game also had the player controlling Dante at various points, the change was a refreshing one.
The dual protagonists meant even more weapon variety to get to grips with whilst aiming for satisfying combos, with Nero's Devil Bringer arm a fun new addition. Though it didn't quite achieve the heights of the previous outing for the series, Devil May Cry 4 has its fair share of hardcore fans.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005) - 84
Considered by many players to be the best hack-and-slash game of all time, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening took everything that was great about the first game and crafted its own joyous action-packed experience. A prequel to the first game, Dante's Awakening lives up to its title by explaining some of the origins of the series' protagonist.
Devil May Cry 3 is also significantly more challenging than the second game, stepping up the intensity with a combat system that requires a lot more dedication to master. A score of 9.1 on Metacritic shows how popular the third mainline DMC game is among fans, whilst its favorable critic score is a testament to its technical excellence.
DmC: Devil May Cry (2013) - 86
The strangely-titled reboot of the Devil May Cry franchise was initially met with some skepticism at the time of its release but won favorable reviews from critics. DmC: Devil May Cry is set in a parallel universe to the mainline games and featured a distinctive combat system with modifiers to Dante's move set called "Angel Mode" and "Devil Mode".
This neat reflection of Dante's status as the child of a demon and an angel also lent itself to extremely fun combat that allows the player to feel even more powerful when chaining together stylish combos. Whilst purists may miss the older style, its dark, over-the-top fun means it remains a great hack-and-slash title for the Halloween season.
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (2006) - 87
Released only a year after the phenomenal success of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, this expanded version of the title provided more than enough extras to feel like an entirely new experience. Carrying on the DMC tradition of bringing new playable characters in later editions, playing as Vergil is an option in the update.
Significantly, the game retooled the difficulty of levels and added mid-level checkpoints, making the game more accessible for players less able to handle the original's harsh skill curve. Additional game modes meant it was still a worthy upgrade for the series' more hardcore fans as well.
Devil May Cry 5 (2019) - 88
The latest mainline title of the series, Devil May Cry 5 was met with rave reviews by fans when it was released in 2019. Set several years after Devil May Cry 4, Devil May Cry 5 revolves around its three central protagonists; Dante, Nero, and a new face for the iconic series, V, all with demonic powers that lend themselves very well to blistering hack-and-slash combat.
The game has its fair share of flaws and doesn't take any huge risks but there are so many great things about Devil May Cry 5 that those flaws are soon forgotten about. Perhaps most importantly, Devil May Cry 5 looks spectacular and is very enjoyable to play, leaving fans with minimal complaints.
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition (2020) - 89
In a series with a reputation for releasing amazing special editions that always manage to enhance the original experience, the expectations for Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition were high. Capcom managed to deliver in style however bringing a weight of new content and options to the fifth mainline DMC game.
Vergil became a playable character and Bloody Palace mode made a welcome return. For players who found even Devil May Cry 5's tough challenges too easy, new difficulty options included Legendary Dark Knight Mode and Turbo Mode, making enemies even more abundant and speeding everything up. Adding to such an already well-loved foundation, Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition was unsurprisingly a hit.
Devil May Cry (2001) - 94
Bursting onto the scene in the early 2000s and instantly revitalizing an entire genre, Devil May Cry had a huge impact on the gaming world before turning into the massive series of today. The title introduced the world to the demon hunter Dante as well as a combat system that was all about gaining style points for putting together huge combos.
Whilst the game has undoubtedly begun to show its age over 20 years after its initial PS2 release, there is a magic to the original that still hasn't left. Achieving Metacritic's coveted "Universal Acclaim", Devil May Cry is unquestionably one of the greatest action-adventure games of its time.
