Devil May Cryis a long-running series that can be a bit intimidating for newcomers to jump into. With the release of theDevil May Cryanime on Netflix and the steep sales that theDevil May Cry HD Collectionand other entries frequently see, however, many people are experiencing the joys ofDevil May Cryfor the first time.
TheHD Collectioncan feel a little archaic for new players, though, and then there’sDevil May Cry 4,Devil May Cry 5, and the controversial 2013 rebootDmC: Devil May Cryto choose from as well. Each game has its strengths and weaknesses, so what is the best overall playing order for theDevil May Cryseries?
Devil May Cry Playing Order
TheDevil May Crygames can mostly stand on their own as independent entries (not counting a few overarching plot threads), but the best way to experience the series is by playing the games in release order.
Devil May Cry HD Collectionoffers access to the original trilogy of games on all major platforms, and it’s the best place to start. The originalDevil May Crytakes some getting used to for players unfamiliar with the genre, however, so jumping ahead toDevil May Cry 3as a starting point works as well. The third game is a prequel, so no prior knowledge is necessary.
Also, some players say thatDevil May Cry 2is completely skippable. It’s the black sheep of the franchise and has very little in the way of meaningful story and character development. The first and third games are miles better by comparison, so newcomers to the series shouldn’t letDevil May Cry 2put them off from finishing the rest of the franchise.
you should playDevil May Cry 4beforeDevil May Cry 5, however, and that’s primarily because the fourth game introduces Nero.Nero is also the main protagonist of the fifth gameand his character development inDevil May Cry 5is significantly more impactful with knowledge of the fourth game’s plot.
As for the reboot, players can enjoyDmC: Devil May Cryat any time. It’s a fully standalone entry that rewrites the origin stories ofDante, Vergil, and other series staples. Handled by a different developer,DmCplays differently than the mainline games, but it still has thatDevil May CryDNA at the end of the day.
Devil May Cry Games in Chronological Order
Chronological order offers another perspective on the Devil May Cry series. It also allows players to familiarize themselves with the franchise at a more modern starting point, making returning to the earlier games a bit easier.
Most of the advice from above still applies even if players choose to experience theDevil May Cryseries in chronological order. The third game is a prequel, so it can be enjoyed first, even if it can be a little jarring moving from the third game to the originalDevil May Cryback to back.Devil May Cry 2can also be safely ignored for the most part. The most important parts of it are covered in the story recap inDevil May Cry 5, anyway, and even then, it only gets a few short seconds that basically amount to an honorable mention.
Since theDevil May Crytimelinedoesn’t jump around too often, the only change needed for a chronological playthrough is to putDevil May Cry 3at the top of the list. After that, players can enjoy the other games in the order that they were released. They can also check out the 2013 reboot whenever they have time.
