Should I Play Devil May Cry In Order?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are invested in long-term character arcs. The numbered Devil May Cry games follow Dante, Nero, Vergil, Lady, Trish, and others across multiple games. Playing in release order means you witness rivalries, reconciliations, and power shifts as they were originally revealed, so later emotional beats—especially in Devil May Cry 5—carry more weight.
• Good fit: You enjoy watching a genre evolve. Devil May Cry 1 helped define stylish character-action combat, and each subsequent mainline entry refines the formula. Experiencing the games in order lets you appreciate how lock-on targeting, weapon switching, style meters, and boss design grew more sophisticated over time.
• Good fit: You want to avoid continuity confusion. The series contains a prequel (DMC3), a widely disliked middle entry (DMC2), and a separate reboot (DmC). Release order keeps you in the developers’ intended sequence and makes it easier to tell which events belong to the main saga.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You have limited time or low tolerance for dated design. The earliest games use fixed or restrictive cameras, slower movement, and mission structures that feel old compared with modern action titles. Trying to play every entry in order can turn into a slog and may push you away before you reach the games most fans recommend.
• Warning sign: Your main goal is polished, modern combat. The strongest mechanical entries are generally considered to be Devil May Cry 3, 4, and 5. If you start at the beginning and force yourself through the whole series, you will spend hours with older or weaker systems before reaching the high points.
• Warning sign: You are sensitive to inconsistent quality. Fans often rank DMC2 as the weakest mainline entry and consider the DmC reboot a different experience entirely. Strict order does not protect you from uneven pacing or entries that do not represent the franchise at its best.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Story reveals land better. Devil May Cry 5 in particular rewards players who know the history between Dante and Vergil and who have watched Nero grow since his introduction. Release order preserves those reveals in their original form.
• Mechanical progression feels natural. Each mainline game adds or refines systems—new styles, more weapons, controllable cameras, and smoother dodging. Starting from the beginning makes the later quality-of-life improvements feel earned rather than expected.
• You learn the franchise’s language. Terms like Stylish Rank, Devil Trigger, and specific weapons recur across games. Early exposure makes later combo tutorials and enemy design easier to read.

Cons

• The early games have aged. Devil May Cry 1 still plays well for its era, but its camera, checkpoint spacing, and level geometry can frustrate players used to contemporary action games. This friction is real if you begin there.
• You may hit a low point before the highs. Devil May Cry 2 is commonly regarded as the weakest entry, and playing in release order places it before the widely praised Devil May Cry 3. That sequence can deflate enthusiasm.
• It is a large time commitment. The mainline series spans multiple full-length action games plus the reboot. Buying and finishing them all in order requires substantial money and hours, even if you skip side content.

Decision Checklist

• Do you care enough about the ongoing story to work through older, slower-paced entries, or are you mainly looking for stylish combat?
• Are you willing to skip or revisit weaker entries, or do you feel compelled to complete every game once you start?
• Have you confirmed which versions are available on your platform—HD Collection, Special Editions, or modern ports—to avoid technical issues?
• Can you accept that the reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry, is a separate continuity and may not match the tone or mechanics of the numbered games?

Alternatives to Consider

If strict release order feels risky, start with Devil May Cry 3. It is a prequel with a self-contained story and is widely praised for its depth, weapon variety, and boss design, making it an excellent first impression of the series at its best. Another strong entry point is Devil May Cry 5, which offers the most modern controls, a recap feature, and gameplay that is welcoming to newcomers while still rewarding veterans.

Story-focused players can also try chronological order: DMC3, DMC1, DMC4, DMC5, treating DMC2 as optional. This arrangement places the weaker entry late and lets the strongest games carry momentum. Finally, you can treat the 2013 DmC: Devil May Cry reboot as a standalone experiment and play it only if its different art direction and combat appeal to you.

Final Recommendation

For patient players who value lore and character arcs, playing the mainline Devil May Cry games in release order is the most coherent experience and sets up Devil May Cry 5 effectively. If you are new or unsure about the commitment, start with Devil May Cry 3 or Devil May Cry 5 and return to earlier games only if the world hooks you. Since this is an entertainment purchase, base your decision on your available time, budget, and tolerance for older game design rather than on a rigid rule.