Should I Play Dmc In Order?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You care about the overarching narrative and character arcs. The Devil May Cry timeline is not told in the same order the games were released. Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening is a prequel set before the original Devil May Cry, while Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5 take place years later. Playing in a deliberate order—release order or a curated chronological order—helps you understand why Dante and Vergil’s rivalry matters, how Nero fits into the Sparda family tree, and how Dante’s personality matures. It also gives weight to callbacks and reveals in later games that would otherwise be lost on new players.
• Good fit: You are a returning fan, completionist, or someone who wants to appreciate the franchise’s design evolution. Each mainline entry refines the stylish-action formula, from the combo structure and Style ranking system to weapon switching and aerial mobility. By playing in order, you can see how Devil May Cry 3 introduced playable Vergil, how Devil May Cry 4 expanded character switching, and how Devil May Cry 5 polished these ideas into a modern package. This approach also makes it easier to understand DmC: Devil May Cry, the 2013 reboot by Ninja Theory, because its differences from the numbered series stand out more clearly after you have experienced the originals.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You have limited time or only want to sample the franchise. A full ordered playthrough of the mainline series involves six games across multiple generations, plus optional anime episodes and spin-offs. Completing the core campaigns can easily take 60 to 100-plus hours depending on difficulty and side content. If you are unsure whether the genre suits you, forcing yourself through every entry in sequence can feel like homework rather than entertainment, especially when some games are noticeably rougher than others.
• Warning sign: You value polished, modern action gameplay above everything else. The earliest entries show their age through fixed or awkward camera angles, less fluid movement, narrower movesets, and trial-and-error boss design. Devil May Cry 5 is generally considered the most mechanically refined and accessible entry, while DmC: Devil May Cry offers a streamlined, self-contained reboot with modern pacing and easier onboarding. Starting with older games first may misrepresent what the series is capable of today and could sour you before you reach the highlights.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stronger story and emotional payoff. Following the series in a logical order reduces confusion about character motivations, timeline jumps, and recurring antagonists. Key relationships—especially between Dante, Vergil, and Nero—land with much more impact when you have seen their full history unfold.
• You appreciate gameplay evolution. The franchise helped define the stylish-action genre, and each mainline title builds on the last. Playing in order makes it easier to notice how Devil May Cry 5 refines systems from Devil May Cry 3 and 4, which deepens your appreciation of the combat design.

Cons

• Uneven quality and dated design. Devil May Cry 2 in particular is often cited by fans and critics as the weakest mainline entry because of slower combat and a less compelling narrative. Older titles also lack the camera control, checkpointing, and tutorial support that modern players expect, which can feel frustrating rather than charming.
• Significant time and money commitment. Buying every mainline game across current storefronts and investing dozens of hours is a real commitment. If you are not already invested in the characters or the genre, the cost and time required can outweigh the benefits of a strict ordered playthrough.

Decision Checklist

• Am I here for the story or the combat? If narrative continuity and character arcs matter most, an ordered playthrough is usually worthwhile. If you mainly want fast, stylish action, start with the most polished entry and revisit older games only if you become a fan.
• How much time and money am I willing to spend? Add up the number of games, check current prices and platform availability, and be realistic about how many hours you can devote. Remember that Special Editions and DLC can add extra costs.
• Can I tolerate older game design? Watch gameplay footage of Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 2 before committing. If the camera, controls, or pacing look off-putting, consider a curated order or a modern entry point instead.

Alternatives to Consider

Several paths work well depending on your priorities. The curated essentials order—Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, and Devil May Cry 5—captures the strongest story moments and the best combat while skipping the weaker entries. If you want the easiest modern onboarding, start with Devil May Cry 5; it includes a training mode, robust tutorials, and the most polished combat, and you can backtrack if the world hooks you. Another option is to play DmC: Devil May Cry as a standalone reboot in a separate continuity, which requires no prior knowledge and offers a more streamlined experience. For lore-first players, a chronological story order of Devil May Cry 3, Devil May Cry 1, the animated series, Devil May Cry 2, Devil May Cry 4, and Devil May Cry 5 makes the fiction flow linearly, though it still forces you to contend with the weaker early games eventually. Finally, a pure release-order playthrough preserves the intended creative surprises and historical context, which is ideal for long-time fans revisiting the series.

Final Recommendation

Play the Devil May Cry series in order if you are a story-focused player, a returning fan, or a completionist with enough time and patience to handle older mechanics. Choose a curated or modern-first approach if you are new to the franchise, prefer polished gameplay, or only want to sample a couple of games before committing. Because this is a leisure and entertainment decision rather than a medical, legal, or financial matter, you do not need professional advice, but you should still check recent remaster details, platform compatibility, and current prices before buying. In the end, the best order is the one that matches your priorities: lore continuity, modern combat, or a low-risk first impression.