5 Best Devil May Cry Games of All Time, Ranked

Devil May Cry has played a significant role in the development of the hack and slash world for well over two decades, lighting the way for thousands of eager creators to follow in its footsteps and establish a new generation of characters and combat systems. Without the likes of Dante and Vergil there to help erect the foundations for the genre, chances are, we never would have had God of War or Dante's Inferno. A strong statement, but a statement that rings true.

Over twenty years on the block, Devil May Cry has hashed up up just six jam-packed and action-heavy chapters, all of which follow that signature rough-and-ready style. The question is, which five are the best in the series, and which one is hardly one is hardly worth glossing over? Well, let's go ahead and rank them accordingly. Here are, in our opinion, the five best Devil May Cry games of all time, ranked.

5. Devil May Cry

Considering the first Devil May Cry game came out in 2001, it holds up surprisingly well even to this day. Sure, it's mostly built on god-awful one-liners and dire voice acting, but that's partly the reason why we still adore it even two decades down the line. Nostalgia certainly plays a key part in the reasons for our undying love for the debut chapter, but even excluding it, the game still plays surprisingly well, and is, of course, a fundamental pawn in the establishment of the series.

Although nowhere near as finely tweaked as modern Devil May Cry entries, the first game was still a well-rounded hub for the up and coming hack and slash genre to showcase. With a plethora of action bursting at the seams of every nook and cranny, Devil May Cry set the new standard, effectively fortifying its place in the gaming industry for decades to come.

4. Devil May Cry 4

Before Capcom nailed the formula and delivered Devil May Cry 5, the dev already had the lofty task of trying to one-up its third instalment, which was arguably the best thing to come out of its doors since the series' inception. But while many of its aspects were replicated and, on occasion, built on to showcase a more extravagant version of its core functions, the overall quality of the game fell just a few inches short of matching its predecessor's top-tier quality.

Devil May Cry 4 is not a bad game. It's not perfect, but it isn't exactly a stain on the franchise, either. However, being between two near-perfect entries, it's hard to rate it as anything more than a filler pawn to help bridge the gaps. Mechanically, it's all there. Its combat is just as flawless as its sibling games, and that's all that matters. But is it Devil May Cry 3, or Devil May Cry 5? Not quite.

3. DmC: Devil May Cry

There's no denying it. When Capcom announced its interest in rebooting Devil May Cry, fans were definitely a little skeptical about seeing a new Dante seize the throne. Like watching the gizzards being torn from a well-nurtured alpha lion, it felt unnecessary, and more of an opportunity for Capcom to squeeze one too many udders to the point of exhaustion.

As luck would have it, the game actually paid off surprisingly well. DmC: Devil May Cry encapsulated every single element the series was known for, from the brutal combat to the stylish executions. Its story wasn't anything new, nor was it anything special, but its gameplay was on par with its predecessors. Mindless mayhem, heavy metal, and a whole lot of button mashing; everything you'd come to expect from a Devil May Cry game, straight up.

2. Devil May Cry 3

While most would argue that the latest entry to the series is the best, no questions asked, a certain collective will still flock to the notion that the franchise only really peaked after Devil May Cry 3 rolled out. However you look at it, no matter which side of the fence you sit on, there's no denying the fact that both games, along with all their flaws and charms, are honest works of art, as well as staples on the action-adventure platform.

After struggling to captivate the player with the second chapter in the series, Capcom withdrew from the spotlight and got to work with amplifying every available ingredient in the book. After making a whole ocean of adjustments and boosting every possible element, the series finally made a comeback. Fortunately, it all paid off, and DMC 3 was a global success. Story-wise, it had the best structure by far, as well as all the key components to make its character progression both vigorous and compelling. All in all, a solid stakeholder in the chain.

1. Devil May Cry 5

As far as polished entries in the timeline go, Devil May Cry 5 has it down—to a fine tee—as a matter of fact. After twenty years of developing its core functions and expanding its long arm of mechanics, Capcom had finally accumulated all the necessary knowledge to concoct the best chapter in the series to date.

The fifth thread in DMC not only had one of the most engrossing stories in the series, but also an outstanding palette of combos and fighting styles. Dante was back, doing what he did best, and every leg of the journey was filled to the brim with infinite waves of opportunities and challenges to wade through. Call it what you want, but the fifth instalment to the DMC universe is still a fantastic addition to the hack and slash domain, as well as the best entry in the series to date. The question is, with the benchmark being set in stone, how will Capcom one-up its magnum opus in future games?

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? How would you rank the DMC series? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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