Devil May Cry is an action-adventure game series created by Hideki Kamiya. After the first game, Hideaki Itsuno directed all subsequent games until Devil May Cry 5. The series introduced a new type of game called "character action," where players use stylish combat moves to earn rankings based on their performance. Capcom, the company that develops and publishes the games, created the series. The story follows Dante, a demon hunter who fights to stop demons from invading Earth. Players fight in combat scenarios, trying to create long attack sequences while avoiding damage. Their performance is graded from D to SSS based on combat style, time taken, and items used.

The series is inspired by the works of Italian poet Dante Alighieri, especially his book Divine Comedy. Hideki Kamiya started the project after a failed attempt to make a Resident Evil game. The first game was originally planned as Resident Evil 4, but Kamiya wanted more action elements, which Capcom initially doubted but later supported. Later games were directed by Hideaki Itsuno and written by Bingo Morihashi.

In 2010, Capcom announced a new game called DmC: Devil May Cry, developed by Ninja Theory and supervised by Capcom, during the Tokyo Game Show. A high-definition version of the first three PlayStation 2 games was released in 2012 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and later in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. These remastered games were released as standalone titles for Nintendo Switch between 2019 and 2020, with Devil May Cry 3 getting new features to update it for modern players. The most recent game, Devil May Cry 5, was released on March 8, 2019.

The series has been very successful, selling 38 million copies worldwide and earning Capcom's Platinum Title award. The popularity of the games has led to comic books, novels, two animated series (a canonical anime and a Netflix series), guides, collectibles, books, and action figures. The series also appears in other games, such as Marvel vs. Capcom and Punishing: Grey Raven.

Games

• Devil May Cry: Players take the role of Dante, a skilled demon hunter. The game focuses on fast and exciting combat. A high style ranking requires long attack and dodge sequences without taking damage. Although the game includes puzzle-solving and exploration from earlier survival-horror versions, these elements are less important, with more focus on action. In later games, the system changed; players needed to use different attacks to keep their style rank. The Devil Trigger, a key ability in the series, lets the character change into a devil-like form with extra powers (based on their current weapon), increasing speed and strength while slowly restoring health.

• Devil May Cry 2: Dante is the main character. Two other playable characters, Lucia and Trish, are also available. Players can perform mid-air combination attacks and use buttons to switch weapons without opening the inventory screen. The game introduced "Bloody Palace," a popular mode in the series.

• Devil May Cry: Deadshot: A shooter game released for Japanese feature phones in 2003. It is set in an old castle on a deserted island.

• Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening: Players can use many weapons and fighting styles, letting them focus on favorite techniques or weapons. Each style gains experience points, unlocking more abilities without using red orbs (the series' currency). A second weapon-change button was added, allowing players to switch between melee weapons. The game was re-released as Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, adding new skills for Dante and the ability to play as Vergil.

• Devil May Cry: Two mobile games for feature phones were released in 2007–2008. One has gameplay similar to Devil May Cry 3, using enemies and characters from that game. It is also called Devil May Cry: Dante X Vergil. The other is a 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up.

• Devil May Cry 4: This game introduces a new character, Nero, who can be played alongside Dante. Nero's Devil Bringer arm lets players pull enemies toward themselves or move toward enemies, perform specific attacks, and navigate the environment. Nero also uses a sword that can be charged for extra damage. As Dante, players can switch weapons and styles during combat. The game was re-released as Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition in 2015, adding the ability to play as Vergil and returning characters Lady and Trish.

• Devil May Cry HD Collection: A collection of the first three games for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, developed by Pipeworks Software and Double Helix Games. It was released in Japan on March 22, 2012, and in the US on March 29, 2012. Later, it was ported to PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on March 13, 2018.

• DmC: Devil May Cry: This reboot changes the series' story, making Dante and his twin brother Vergil Nephilim, descendants of an angel and a demon. Players can switch between Angel Mode and Demon Mode, using specific weapons and movement abilities. The game includes hidden areas accessed with the Ophion whip and grappling hook. Part of the story takes place in Limbo, a parallel world with demons, where the environment changes to create fast-paced chases and platforming challenges. The setting is an urban fantasy inspired by modern Western cities, unlike the Renaissance-themed environments of earlier games. The story also critiques themes like mass media and consumerism. Plans for future games were canceled, and the game is now considered an alternate story to the original series.

• Devil May Cry 5: This game continues the story from Devil May Cry 4. It features Nero and Dante as playable characters, plus a new character named V. Nero's Devil Bringer arm is replaced with swappable cybernetic arms called Devil Breakers, each with unique mechanics. V controls three demons in battle due to his weak physical condition. The game was re-released as Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, adding the ability to play as Vergil.

• Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat: A mobile game by Yunchang Games based on Devil May Cry 3. Its depiction of Dante's appearance was criticized, but developers promised to improve it before the game's 2020 release.

Plot

The story begins two thousand years before the first game, when the demon Sparda, known as the Black Knight, defeats the ruler of the Demon World, Mundus. Sparda stops Mundus from conquering the human world by closing several gates to the Demon World, including the final gate called Temen-Ni-Gru, using a ceremony that required his blood and the help of a human priestess. Sparda meets Eva, who gives birth to his twin sons, Dante and Vergil.

The plot starts with Devil May Cry 3, a year after Dante and Vergil have a disagreement. A large tower appears near Dante’s shop, which he sees as a challenge from Vergil. Dante is defeated in Temen-Ni-Gru by Vergil, who takes Dante’s locket and leaves with Arkham. Dante’s dormant devil power awakens, and he continues chasing his brother. Vergil plans to use pendants from their mother to create a portal to the Demon World. Lady joins the battle, seeking revenge for her mother’s death caused by Arkham. Arkham tricks them into completing the ritual, which would allow him to obtain Sparda’s sword, the Force Edge. Dante and Vergil defeat Arkham and continue fighting each other. The portal begins to close, and Vergil enters the Demon World before it closes. Vergil faces Mundus, his mother’s killer, using Yamato, a magical sword once owned by Sparda. When Lady returns, she reflects on the relationship between devils and humans, coining the phrase “devil may cry,” which Dante later uses as his shop’s name.

In Devil May Cry, Dante meets Trish, who tells him that Mundus plans to return and that only a descendant of Sparda can stop him. Dante explores Mallet Island, where Mundus is expected to return, fighting demons, including the undead Vergil, Nelo Angelo. Trish reveals she is a demon’s agent, but Dante spares her because she resembles his mother. Trish helps Dante defeat Mundus, who is sent back to the Demon World. Dante and Trish escape as the island collapses and work together at the Devil Never Cry shop.

In the Devil May Cry: The Animated Series anime, Trish is a demon hunter. Dante protects Patty, a young heiress who becomes obsessed with him. Patty’s mother is descended from a sorcerer who sealed the power of Abigail, an ancient devil. Patty is targeted by Sid, a demon seeking Abigail’s power. Lady and Trish fight demons summoned by Sid, and Dante kills Sid.

In Devil May Cry 2, Dante meets Lucia’s mother, Matier, who reveals that Arius is collecting magical items called Arcana to summon the demon lord Argosax. Dante agrees to help after flipping a coin. Lucia confronts Arius, who created her, and gives Dante the last Arcana before facing Arius alone. Matier asks Dante to use the Arcana to save Lucia. Lucia is captured by Arius, but Dante trades the Arcana for her and attacks Arius, who escapes. A portal to the Demon World opens, and Dante decides to enter it. After defeating Arius, Lucia saves the human world.

In Devil May Cry 4, Dante and Trish uncover a conspiracy by the Order of the Sword, led by Sanctus, who plans to conquer the world using demonic power. Dante appears to kill Sanctus but faces Nero, a young knight who has awakened his demonic powers as a descendant of Sparda. Nero seeks to capture Dante, obtaining the sword Yamato. He learns the Order’s secrets and is captured with his girlfriend, Kyrie. Dante frees Nero, who defeats Sanctus and rescues Kyrie. Dante and Nero part ways, with Dante giving Yamato to Nero.

In Devil May Cry 5, set years after Devil May Cry 4, Nero runs a mobile branch of Dante’s Devil May Cry business. He befriends Nico, a weapon artist and descendant of the gunsmith who made Dante’s Ebony and Ivory handguns. Nero’s Devil Bringer arm is stolen, and he uses a prosthetic Devil Breaker made by Nico to join Dante and the demon hunter V in facing their strongest enemy yet.

The series’ timeline was changed with the release of Devil May Cry 5, placing Devil May Cry 4 after Devil May Cry 2. DmC: Devil May Cry, developed by Ninja Theory, is not part of the main timeline and takes place in an alternate universe. It features a different-looking Dante and shifts from the previous games’ gothic style to a modern setting with themes about media and culture.

Development

After the release of Resident Evil 2 in 1998, early work on a PlayStation 2 version of the Resident Evil series began by Team Little Devil, led by Hideki Kamiya. During development, the team visited Spain to study castles for ideas about the game’s environments. However, the game’s prototype was very different from the Resident Evil series and the survival horror genre. Kamiya changed the story and used ideas from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy for Devil May Cry.

Another Capcom game, Strider, influenced the action in Devil May Cry, especially the "boss rush" feature.

Although Devil May Cry was successful, its sequel was not made by Kamiya or Team Little Devil. A different director was chosen, but Capcom was not happy with their work. Hideaki Itsuno was assigned to lead the project with only 4 to 5 months left in development. Itsuno is the only person credited as director in the final game. Producer Tsuyoshi Tanaka said the goal was to make Devil May Cry 2 much larger than the first game, with environments about nine times bigger.

After Devil May Cry 2 received mixed reviews, Capcom decided to make the next game more like the critically successful Devil May Cry. Changes included revisiting environment size and battle mechanics. In the first game, Vergil was killed early and controlled by Mundus, but Bingo Morihashi wanted to create a version where Vergil was alive. Kamiya allowed Morihashi to rewrite Vergil’s story, making him a living teenager. This led to Devil May Cry 3 being a prequel to the series, set years before the first game.

Development of Devil May Cry 4 began after the success of Devil May Cry 3. The team had 80 members. A new main character was discussed, but producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi insisted Dante must return. Kobayashi said Dante should seem much stronger than the new character, Nero, to show the difference between an experienced fighter and a beginner. Writer Bingo Morihashi worked with film director Yuji Shimomura, who had worked on earlier games. Morihashi left Capcom temporarily but returned at Itsuno’s request. He spent a year writing the game and struggled with making Nero’s character believable. Dante returned as a supporting character.

Although Devil May Cry 4 was a success, the team considered restarting the series because other games had higher sales. They chose Ninja Theory, impressed by their work on Heavenly Sword. In 2013, Itsuno said he wanted to make a fifth game. He clarified that the series’ future would not depend on the sales of Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition. He also said Capcom was happy with the sales of DmC: Devil May Cry. In January 2016, Itsuno tweeted he was starting a new project. In March 2016, voice actors Reuben Langdon and Johnny Yong Bosch posted photos of themselves in motion-capture gear, leading to rumors of a new game. Capcom Vancouver said they were not working on a new Devil May Cry game. On May 17, 2018, the domain "DevilMayCry5.com" was registered by Capcom.

Devil May Cry 5, featuring Dante and Nero, was announced at E3 2018 for release in 2019. Many team members had worked on Resident Evil 7 and were familiar with the game engine. Itsuno was influenced by Monster Hunter: World to make the game appealing to new players but also challenging for fans. Some team members had worked on the reboot DmC: Devil May Cry, but the Osaka team preferred to continue the main series. The team listened to fan feedback and added an "auto" mode to help with combos. Itsuno was inspired by a movie showing robots combining into a giant robot to fight enemies and wanted to create similar moments. He aimed to make the game feel like a Hollywood movie, such as Marvel’s Avengers. In November 2017, Kamiya said he wanted to remake the first game and make a crossover with Dante and Bayonetta.

Other media

The Devil May Cry series has several print adaptations. Two light novels, written by Shinya Goikeda and illustrated by Shirow Miwa, were published in Japan in 2002. These books were translated and published in the United States in 2006. The first book, Devil May Cry Volume 1, was released in Japan at the same time as the first game. It tells a story about Dante before the events of the game. The second book, titled Devil May Cry Volume 2 in the United States, was published in Japan when the second game was released. It takes place after the first game's events. Tokyopop published the books in the United States in June and November 2006, respectively.

Bingo Morihashi wrote a novel titled Devil May Cry 4 Deadly Fortune. This two-volume book was published in Japan in 2009. It includes scenes not included in the original game because of time limits. A prequel novel by Morihashi, Before the Nightmare, was published on March 1, 2019. It takes place before Devil May Cry 5 and leads into the game's story.

Three issues of a comic adaptation of the first game were published by Canadian Dreamwave Productions in 2004. However, the series was left unfinished when the company went bankrupt the following year. In 2008, WildStorm (a DC Comics imprint) and Capcom announced plans to collaborate on a Devil May Cry comic series. Details about the series were to be announced later, but no new information has been shared.

Two volumes of a planned three-part Devil May Cry 3 manga series have been published in Japan and the United States. The manga is set a year before the events of Devil May Cry 3 and describes how the characters arrive at the start of the game.

On March 7, 2019, Capcom announced a tie-in manga titled Devil May Cry 5 Visions of V. The manga would be serialized on Line Manga, a Japanese site. The prologue was published before the series began. Illustrated by Tomio Ogata, the manga updates every other Sunday starting April 27, 2020. It is only available in Japan.

An anime series, Devil May Cry: The Animated Series, premiered on Japan's Wowow TV network on June 12, 2007. The 12-episode series was produced by Madhouse and directed by Shin Itagaki. Bingo Morihashi, who wrote the third and fourth games, was one of the writers.

In November 2018, Adi Shankar announced he had acquired the rights to produce a Devil May Cry animated series for Netflix. Shankar, who also worked on an animated series for Konami's Castlevania franchise, said both series would be part of a shared "Bootleg Multiverse."

In November 2021, Shankar revealed the first season would have 8 episodes. He also planned a multi-season story arc, similar to Castlevania, with fan-favorite characters appearing throughout the series. In September 2024, Netflix announced the series would premiere in April 2025. The show premiered on April 3, 2025, and a week later, Netflix announced a second season would follow.

On February 28, 2011, Screen Gems (known for making the Resident Evil film series) purchased the film rights to Devil May Cry. Kyle Ward was hired to write the screenplay for a movie based on DmC: Devil May Cry, which would tell Dante's origin story. No updates about the project have been shared.

Capcom produced a staged play called Sengoku Basara vs. Devil May Cry in August 2015. The play combined characters from the Devil May Cry and Sengoku Basara series. Dante, Lady, Trish, and Vergil travel to Japan's Warring States period while chasing a devil. They meet characters like Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura from the Sengoku Basara franchise. The play ran for 18 performances at the AiiA 2.5 Theater in Tokyo. Masanari Ujigawa wrote and directed the play. Hideaki Itsuno and Izaki Matsuno worked on the scenery. Kazushi Miyakoda and Tetsuya Yamaura were the producers, supervised by Hiroyuki Kobayashi and Makoto Yamamoto.

A musical titled Devil May Cry: The Live Hacker ran for 13 performances in March 2019 at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo. Jun Yoriko wrote and directed the musical and its video. A DVD of the musical was released in late August 2019.

The Devil May Cry series has seven separate soundtracks. Initially, Capcom was hesitant to release official soundtracks because of concerns about sales. To test the market, Capcom asked for pre-release sales of the music.

In other games

Devil May Cry characters appear in the PlayStation versions of the Viewtiful Joe games, another Capcom series created by Hideki Kamiya. Dante is a playable character in the PlayStation 2 version of the first Viewtiful Joe. The PSP version of Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble also includes Dante and costumes inspired by Vergil, Trish, Sparda, Marionette, and Plasma.

Capcom and Atlus reached an agreement in which Megami Tensei character designer Kazuma Kaneko created Dante and Vergil's demonic forms for Devil May Cry 3. In return, Atlus added Dante as a character in a special version of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (called Maniax in Japan). The English version of Nocturne was based on this special edition.

Dante and Trish are playable characters in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Vergil, Dante, and Trish are also playable characters in the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 update. Dante and Vergil keep their Devil Trigger forms, which were designed by Kazuma Kaneko, because these forms are based on the third game in the Devil May Cry series. Dante is also a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.

The DmC: Devil May Cry version of Dante is a playable character in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. He is also a playable character in Project X Zone for the Nintendo 3DS, paired with Darkstalkers' Demitri Maximoff. Lady is a separate character in the game. Dante returns in Project X Zone 2 with Vergil, and Vergil's future self, Nelo Angelo, is a rival character in the game.

On June 28, 2021, it was announced that a Mii costume based on Dante would appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This costume is part of the Mii Sword Fighter's set, inspired by Dante's design from the original Devil May Cry game. The costume was released the next day along with the game's new DLC fighter, Kazuya Mishima from the Tekken series.

Reception

As of December 31, 2025, the Devil May Cry series has sold 38 million units worldwide. Each game in the series is a Capcom Platinum Title, meaning each has sold more than 1 million units. As of December 31, 2024, Devil May Cry 5 is the best-selling game in the series, with about 10 million units sold worldwide through the combined sales of the Standard and Special Edition.

The series has mostly good reviews. In 2010, IGN ranked Devil May Cry number 42 and Devil May Cry 3 number 18 on its "Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games" list. The gameplay has been praised for being creative. Devil May Cry is credited with starting a subgenre of "extreme combat" action games, which focus on powerful heroes fighting large groups of enemies with dramatic action. It is described as the first game to successfully capture the fast-paced, fluid gameplay style of classic 2D action games. The series is often used as a standard for comparing other 3D hack and slash action games, such as God of War, Chaos Legion, and Blood Will Tell. Devil May Cry 5 features three main characters with unique abilities, increasing the number of available moves. According to Hiroyuki Kobayashi, the team’s work on Devil May Cry 4 influenced Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma.

Some people have mixed opinions about the series’ stories, even though Dante has become more popular. The series’ popularity led to a line of Devil May Cry action figures made by Toycom, and Kaiyodo produced action figures of Dante from Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3.

A gamecritics.com reviewer said the story was too short and the characters were not well developed. Dante’s confidence was noted as missing in Devil May Cry 2.

Devil May Cry 3 and its character relationships in the story were considered better than Kamiya’s original version. Dante’s relationship with Nero in the next game was praised, with critics saying neither character overshadowed the other. Devil May Cry 5 was well received for how it handled its characters and their connections.

Although most critics liked it, DmC: Devil May Cry was very controversial among longtime fans. This was due to the major changes in Dante’s appearance, the shift from the series’ classic gothic style to a modern urban setting, and the overall quality of the story’s writing.