The first Devil May Cry game was launched in 2001 on the PlayStation 2. What initially began as an early concept for Resident Evil 4 became the standard for a new sub-genre of hack-and-slash action-adventure games. Despite being viewed as an action game sub-genre, the Devil May Cry series harked back to classic beat-em-ups like Golden Axe, Double Dragon, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade.
10 Hardest Devil May Cry Bosses, Ranked
While slaying groups of demons isn't usually too much of a challenge in the Devil May Cry games, the bosses are a whole different story.
The primary difference is that games like Devil May Cry are usually single-player affairs giving their players a sense of power. Other studios followed suit with games that used the same power fantasy action-hero concept of their own. This opened the door for many modern-day classics that are still going or equally acclaimed as the Devil May Cry series and solid recommendations for fans looking for something similar.
Updated November 26, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Unlike in other forms of media, seeing elements from one game being copied into another game with a different twist is not considered a bad thing in the gaming industry but as a sign of respect. Entire genres in gaming are named after games that inspired others to follow and try to replicate the same feeling in their titles. Soulslikes and Metroidvanias are perfect examples. Games like Devil May Cry are a rare commodity, however. Despite the game's widespread appeal and cult-classic status, the modern gaming market is not kind to hack-and-slash games that follow the DMC formula. Still, fans of the series have indies and old classics to fall back on when the urge to play a game like DMC compels them.
34 Hades
Fast-Paced Action That Uses A Unique Isometric Perspective
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
Hades 2 will take some time to get out of its Early Access phase if its predecessor is anything to go by. Supergiant Games' magnum opus hit the ground running and quickly became everyone's favorite action game in 2020, with the perfect harmony between narrative and gameplay helping Hades stand out as one of the best roguelite games ever made.
The frenetic action is pretty similar to Devil May Cry if Dante's adventures were played out from an isometric viewpoint. Such is the excellence of Hades that some fans can only wonder how a Devil May Cry game would play if it implemented roguelite mechanics to make progression more satisfying.
33 Persona 5 Strikers
Combines The Jazzy Vibe Of Persona 5 With Musou Gameplay For A Fun Real-Time Action Twist
Persona 5 Strikers
The success of Persona 5 encouraged Atlus to go to town and develop a wealth of spinoffs for their hit title. One such game that fans were particularly excited about was Persona 5 Strikers, which served as a spin-off/sequel to the widely beloved Persona 5.
The game's road trip setting was pretty inspired, even if the attempt to mimic the original game's infiltrations felt rather forced. Still, using a wealth of skills to exploit an enemy's weakness and unleash the patented All-Out Attack makes for a blast every single time. The real-time combat adds some chaotic energy to the game that is perfectly in line with players who want more games like Devil May Cry.
32 Dynasty Warriors 9
The Latest Game In The Long-Running Action Series
Dynasty Warriors 9
- Released
- February 13, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Omega Force
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action, Hack and Slash
Musou games have a niche in gaming that most fans love. Perhaps this is why Dynasty Warriors 9 has its fair share of fans despite some major faults that critics weren't huge fans of at launch.
The game attempts to revitalize the series' formula with mixed results. However, the core action combat continues to be the most cathartic aspect of the series, and there's nothing more satisfying than barreling through waves of opponents with some well-placed attacks.
31 Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity
Combat On An Epic Scale As Players Participate In The War That Destroyed Hyrule Itself
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
- Released
- November 20, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo, Omega Force
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Action
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a major step in the right direction for the Zelda series. It revitalized the genre, letting a new swath of players experience the magic of this series and play through one of the greatest open-world games of all time.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Vs. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity – Which Is The Better Game?
How do these two Musou games, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, compare against one another?
It's easy to see why Nintendo jumped at the opportunity to develop a spin-off for this title. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity focuses on an alternate timeline when Link and the other champions had to face off against the villains that arose during Ganon's attempt to destroy Hyrule. It's a Musou title, so it won't be for everyone, but it's also one of the best examples of the genre in recent memory, and further builds on the story in Breath of the Wild.
30 Darksiders 2
The Peak Of An Underrated Series With Great Exploration And Hack-And-Slash Combat
Darksiders 2
- Released
- August 14, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Vigil Games
It's a shame that the Darksiders franchise has fallen off the map after the third entry failed to turn heads. Sacrificing a lot of what made the series and becoming just another mediocre Soulslike felt like a slap in the face of fans who loved this series and what it had achieved, especially considering the loyal fan following Darksiders 2 has.
Controlling one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Death, and aiding him in his quest to save his brother makes for a great and epic adventure. Darksiders 2 is an underrated gem for a reason, and fans of Devil May Cry should definitely check out its fun combat and unique puzzles.
29 Atlas Fallen
A Game Focused On Exploration And Action-Packed Combat
Atlas Fallen
- Released
- August 10, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Deck13 Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Combining elements of Journey and Devil May Cry, Atlas Fallen is one of the most unique titles on this list. While it borrows from other games in the action genre, it does enough to set itself apart and feature a world that action fans will love to explore and immerse themselves in.
It doesn't always come together flawlessly, and some bugs will irritate some players, but the combat is an excellent homage to the Devil May Cry formula. Navigating the sands is reminiscent of Journey as the player's created character surfs the sand to explore, and there is a surprising amount of depth to its upgrade system.
28 Final Fantasy 16
A Final Fantasy Game Developed With A Prominent Devil May Cry Veteran In A Major Design Role
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
2023 was a staple year for RPG fans, and Final Fantasy 16 was among the biggest. Despite sticking to the Final Fantasy formula with its exploration and epic battles, the combat is pure Devil May Cry-style action with set pieces and an excellent story.
8 Games To Play If You Like Final Fantasy 16
For fans that want to enjoy similar games to Final Fantasy 16, check out these great recommendations.
The pacing takes a hit when the world map gets littered with side quests that amount to little more than traveling to a location, fighting something, and fetching it back to the quest-giver. Even so, it's a superb action game with spectacular boss fights that incorporate the summons from Final Fantasy lore into something new and original.
27 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
Brutal Melee Combat That Is Perfect For Devil May Cry Fans
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine
- Released
- September 5, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine looks more like a Gears of War clone. While it shares elements with the third-person shooter, it features brutal melee-based combat that fans of Devil May Cry will enjoy. The flow of action is weightier and less fluid, but the sense of scale and violence is on another level.
Despite being a PS3 and Xbox 360 title, Space Marine holds up spectacularly against many modern titles and is just as cinematic now. Warhammer 40: Space Marine 2 is set to launch on current-generation systems.
26 God Of War Greek Mythology Saga
An Old-School Action-Packed Trilogy With Brutal Combat
God of War III
- Released
- March 16, 2010
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
Even though the Kratos saga moved into Norse mythology, fans of the hack-and-slash action genre should also check out the original God of War games with the backdrop of Greek mythology. Kratos is less likable in these games, but the power fantasy is arguably better than in the recent titles.
The battle system is reminiscent of the older Devil May Cry games, and the boss battles are unmatched in scale. Kratos is taking down Titans that make him look like an insect by comparison. He also fights and destroys regular monsters like the Gorgon, Cyclops, and Minotaurs in cinematic fashion.
25 Gungrave G.O.R.E.
A Tough, Fresh Take On DMC's Formula
Gungrave G.O.R.E
- Released
- November 22, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Iggymob
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Launched in late 2022, Gungrave is an action game similar to the Devil May Cry series. It was criticized early on for having unfair difficulty spikes, but Dante fans who relished the challenge of the Hell and Hell modes will adjust quickly.
Gungrave features stylized supernatural combat where the protagonist will put his enemies down in style. There is a fast-paced industrial metal-style soundtrack, and players are awarded Art points like style points in Devil May Cry for taking down enemies with executions and other skills.