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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Devil May Cry 5 is the best all-around entry, while Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening is the strongest choice for players who prize classic series combat and Dante’s origin story. This ranking covers the five numbered games, the 2013 reboot DmC: Devil May Cry, and the mobile spinoff Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat. It treats remasters and special editions as editions of their underlying games, not separate entries.
The order weighs combat depth and responsiveness most heavily, followed by enemy and boss design, level design and pacing, story and character work, and the accessibility of the edition a reader can play now. It is an editorial ranking, not a claim of critical consensus.
Every Devil May Cry game, ranked
- Devil May Cry 5 — The best overall balance of expressive combat, distinct playable characters, and polished presentation. Its different fighters give combat variety a broader range than a single-character action game, and it is the easiest entry here to recommend as a modern starting point. It does not replace the older games’ value as the series’ history, but it brings the core stylish-action appeal into a contemporary release. Capcom director Hideaki Itsuno described the design goal as combining photorealism with “a sense of speed and exhilaration unlike previous titles”; that is an account of intent, not an objective verdict. Capcom’s development feature also records the game’s awards: Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2019 and an Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards 2019.
- Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening — The essential pick for players who want the series’ classic combat identity and a story centered on Dante’s beginnings. Its combat depth and the rivalry at its core make it a compelling alternative to the top-ranked game, especially for returning fans. It sits just behind Devil May Cry 5 because the newer game makes the broader package more accessible to a modern audience.
- Devil May Cry — The original remains valuable for seeing the series’ foundation: focused action, memorable atmosphere, and a more deliberate pace than the later games. Its age shows most in the constraints of its early design, so it is best approached as an influential starting point rather than the smoothest first game today.
- Devil May Cry 4 — A strong combat entry whose change in lead character gives its first half a different rhythm. Its structure loses momentum when it revisits earlier environments, which keeps it below the tighter top two. Players who enjoy mastering the series’ mechanics may find more to return to than those looking for consistently fresh progression.
- DmC: Devil May Cry (2013) — The reboot earns its place as a stylish action game with its own identity, but it is a less natural fit for readers seeking continuity with the numbered games’ characters and tone. Treat it as an alternate take, not a required chapter in the main sequence.
- Devil May Cry 2 — The weakest numbered entry, held back by less satisfying combat and less memorable encounters than the games around it. Its place in the series’ timeline may interest completists, but it is not a necessary first stop for someone deciding where to begin.
- Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat — A mobile spinoff rather than a mainline installment. It can interest fans who specifically want a portable take on the franchise, but it does not offer the same basis for comparison as the console and PC action games, so it ranks last as a recommendation for experiencing the series.
Which Devil May Cry should you play first?
Start with Devil May Cry 5 if you want the most approachable modern entry and a broad showcase of the series’ combat. Choose Devil May Cry 3 if you want the classic action style and Dante’s origin. Play the original first if seeing how the franchise began matters more to you than modern convenience.
You do not need to play every game in release order to enjoy the action. Playing the numbered games in order gives the clearest view of the series’ development and character history, while the reboot is a separate continuity. Peak of Combat is also a spinoff, not a mainline story prerequisite.
#1 Best Overall
- Blood burns with a blue Flame as Vergil joins the fight!
- Powered up for the next-generation of gaming Hardware.
- New gameplay modes Made possible by the increased processing power
- Includes additional content released separately from the original version
How to access the early games and newer editions
Capcom lists Devil May Cry HD Collection as a released product for PS4 and Xbox One; it is a direct product path for the first three games, not a complete-series bundle. Check the platform and regional store listing before buying, since the product information cited here does not establish a current availability matrix for every platform.
Capcom announced a Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, with a digital release date of June 23, 2026, and a packaged release date of August 28, 2026. Capcom says it includes additional content over the 2019 game. Availability may vary by region and date; see Capcom’s announcement for the release details. The announcement also reports more than 38 million Devil May Cry series units and more than 11.2 million Devil May Cry 5 units sold as of March 31, 2026. Those are publisher-reported figures, useful context rather than evidence for the ranking.
Rank #2
- Wield the Yamato - Take the stylish action to a new level as Vergil, Dante's long-time rival and twin brother. DmC5 players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also be able to access all Vergil content in the playable character: Vergil DLC at a later date.
- New Gameplay Modes - Test your skills against the unique challenges of the new legendary dark Knight mode and Turbo mode.Legendary dark Knight mode: fans seeking an added challenge can Pit their skills and style against a crazy amount of enemies in the perilous legendary dark Knight mode.Turbo mode: adrenaline Junkies can push their reaction times to the limit against the increased speed of Turbo mode, which ups the rate of gameplay by 20 percent to allow for even more rapid and fluid combo opportunities.
- Ascend the Bloody Palace - Tackle the increasingly difficult floors of the bloody palace challenge mode, originally introduced as free post-launch content for Devil May Cry 5. Only the most skilled demon hunters will make it to the top floor to face the ultimate challenge.
- High-Octane Stylized Action - Play as four different characters: Nero, Dante, V, and the newly-added Vergil. Cut a path through the ruins of redgrave city with each character using radically different play styles as they take on the teaming hordes of demons.
- Groundbreaking Graphics - Developed with Capcom in-house proprietary RE engine, DMC5SE brings the visual quality to new heights, with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs, stunning lighting and environmental effects. These Superb visuals have been enhanced with Ray tracing technology**, 4K visuals, and increased framerates, all with minimal load times.**Ray tracing will be included in the Xbox series x and series S versions as part of a downloadable title update..Vivid 3D Audio - Maintain their smokin
Why Devil May Cry 5 edges out Devil May Cry 3
The gap between the top two is close. Devil May Cry 3 is the more focused recommendation for classic combat and Dante’s early story; Devil May Cry 5 wins as the best all-around pick because its playable-character variety and current presentation make it a stronger fit for more readers. Capcom’s sales and award records underscore the game’s reach, but the placement here rests on the stated criteria, not sales or awards alone.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The 16 million unit selling series is back with original Director Hideaki Itsuno at the helm of development
- A demonic invasion begins with the seeds of a "demon tree" taking root in Red Grave City
- Featuring three playable characters each with a radically different stylish combat play style
- Developed with Capcom's in-house proprietary RE engine, the series continues to achieve new heights in fidelity with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs and stunning lighting and environmental effects
- Battle against epic bosses in adrenaline fueled fights across the over-run Red Grave City.Nero, one of the series main protagonists and a young demon hunter who has the blood of Sparda, heads to Red Grave City to face the hellish onslaught of demons, with weapons craftswoman and new partner-in-crime, Nico
Rank #3
- Wield the Yamato: Take the stylish action to a new level as Vergil, Dante's long-time rival and twin brother. DmC5 players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also be able to access all Vergil content in the playable character: Vergil DLC at a later date
- New Gameplay Modes: Test your skills against the unique challenges of the new legendary dark Knight mode and Turbo mode. Legendary dark Knight mode: fans seeking an added challenge can Pit their skills and style against a crazy amount of enemies in the perilous legendary dark Knight mode
- Ascend the Bloody Palace: Tackle the increasingly difficult floors of the bloody palace challenge mode, originally introduced as free post-launch content for Devil May Cry 5. Only the most skilled demon hunters will make it to the top floor to face the ultimate challenge
- High-Octane Stylized Action: Play as four different characters: Nero, Dante, V, and the newly-added Vergil. Cut a path through the ruins of redgrave city with each character using radically different play styles as they take on the teaming hordes of demons
- Groundbreaking Graphics: Developed with Capcom in-house proprietary RE engine, DMC5SE brings the visual quality to new heights, with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs, stunning lighting and environmental effects
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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