The Devil May Cry series is famous for mind-blowing action sequences, hack-and-slash gameplay, and bizarre storylines. It’s an incredibly influential series and has arguably defined the hack-and-slash style, with many pointing to it as an inspiration for other games.
If you’re on the hunt for more over-the-top combat and gameplay, you’ll be happy to know there’s plenty of games that scratch the same itch as the DmC franchise. Whether you’re interested in boss battles, demonic themes, or a combo of the two, there’ll be a game for you.
To help you find your next favorite game, here are 14 spectacle action games like Devil May Cry to add to your library today.
Dante’s Inferno
Available on PS Vita, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
To start, Dante’s Inferno is an unholy and magnificent game that fans of DmC are sure to fall in love with. It’s incredibly violent, using a hack-and-slash combat system to help you slice and dice both demons and fallen angels.
Dante’s Inferno has a gameplay style that feels like Devil May Cry with extra steps. It has an exciting combat system that lets you use your scythe as your melee attack and your holy cross as your ranged attack. The two work well, and there’s a punish/absolve feature too.
There’s also a detailed talent tree in Dante’s Inferno where you can level up your character and create a custom build. Using the punish/absolve feature on enemies is essential for leveling your character up, as souls are the currency used for this.
If you’re on the hunt for games that feel incredibly close to Devil May Cry, this is the perfect pick for you. It’s gory, over-the-top, and full of incredible imagery.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Available on Microsoft, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Another game like Devil May Cry to check out is Ninja Gaiden Sigma. This action-packed and violent game is the second remake of an older title, and it has fast-paced gameplay and smooth graphics.
The combat in Sigma has a classic hack-and-slash feel to it. There are also elements of platforming and puzzles to contend with, along with the tricky boss fights and intricacies of the combat system.
There are interesting features to make use of when fighting, like a block button. However, using the block button too much can result in a break, which will expose you to your enemies. You’ll need to use counter-attacks, parries, and blocks wisely during battles.
If you want more boss battles with an over-dramatic flair but don’t want to play something with the exact same themes as DmC, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the game for you.
You could even get the 2021 Ninja Gaiden Master Collection if you’re a PC player. This collection contains some of the most enjoyable fighting games with a ninja theme, and they’re ideal for fans of Devil May Cry who want to pad out their game library.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Available on Microsoft, PS3, and Xbox 360.
This addition to the Castlevania series drops the Metroidvania elements that fans have come to expect and opts for a more action-packed style of play. This is a hack-and-slash, action-adventure game with iconic Castlevania imagery and a beautiful in-game world.
Castlevania: Lord of Shadows has some gameplay mechanics that DmC fans will fall in love with. The combat is fast and dramatic, and there are some great puzzles to solve too.
When you solve puzzles and defeat enemies in this game, you get experience which can add skills, combos, and weapons to your arsenal. The experience system in this game is easy to pick up and adds a real level of depth to the game.
The Light and Shadow magic feature in this game is interesting, too. When you use Light magic, you can regain your health by attacking opponents. When you use Shadow magic, you can boost your damage output tenfold.
If you love flamboyant and dark games like Devil May Cry, you’re sure to enjoy Castlevania: Lord of Shadows. It has a lot of combat mechanics that will feel familiar for DmC fans, but still offers plenty to keep the game fresh and unique.
Ryse: Son of Rome
Available on Microsoft and Xbox One.
Ryse: Son of Rome is an action-packed, historical title that will take you back to the glory days of Ancient Rome. It has a rich and exciting narrative, memorable characters, and plenty of hard-hitting combat to sink your teeth into.
The combat in this game will feel familiar for DmC fans, as you can perform light and heavy attacks. Ryse has a hack-and-slash feel to it, but it’s a little more nuanced. You can deflect or parry enemies with your shield, or use quick-time event executions.
There’s a great upgrade system in this game where you can boost and enhance your character as you progress through the game. Make sure to keep on top of this as the difficulty curve is quite steep in this game.
Ryse: Son of Rome is a great pick for seasoned Devil May Cry fans who want to step outside of their comfort zone and try something new. Ryse has elements that feel similar to DmC, but offers an entirely new aesthetic and style of game to explore.
God of War 3
Available on PS3 and PS4.
Another key game for Devil May Cry fans to check out is God of War 3. This third-person, hack-and-slash game focuses on Greek mythology and it’s a delight to play through.
GOW 3 improves upon the God of War games that came before it. The graphics are smooth and the combat is smoother, with a detailed magic system that allows you to use weapon abilities like the Arms of Sparta or the Blade of Zeus.
You can acquire interesting weapons by solving puzzles or defeating bosses. You can switch these weapons up on the fly to extend combos and make boss battles even more fun.
Boss battles are the highlight of God of War 3. Each fight will have a dramatic quick-time event to finish off your opponent, and they’re incredibly satisfying. For example, in one of the fights a button will pop out on top of your enemy. You can then finish off the enemy by slamming a series of buttons.
There’s also a good leveling system in this game, focusing on red orbs. The red orbs level up Kratos, strengthening his fighting capabilities. Red orbs can be found scattered around the map, or you can get them by defeating enemies.
God of War 3 is an incredible game that lovers of games from the Devil May Cry series will adore. It’s intense, fast-paced, and full of memorable boss battles.
Transformers: Devastation
Available on Microsoft, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
Transformers: Devastation is the result of a collaboration between Activision and Platinum Games. These two studios are famous for producing action-packed games, and this title is no different. It’s a 3D hack-and-slash action game that takes place in the Transformers universe.
The gameplay feels the same as Metal Gear Rising, which is one of the best games that Platinum Games has ever put out. The core gameplay loop focuses on slicing and bashing opponents with melee weapons and firearms in order to advance to the next stage.
Something that makes this game stand out is that you can use environmental weapons. For example, you can throw cars and debris at your opponents.
You can also use the classic Transformers ability and turn into a vehicle at any point during the game. It’s a great way to enhance mobility. Being in vehicle mode also means you can use unique finishers or spin moves with a wide radius.
Transformers: Devastation is a much more lighthearted game than most of the other games in this list. It’s perfect if you want a game with great combat but no dark themes or gore.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Available on Microsoft, Linux, IOS, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a must-play if you know the classic Cartoon Network series. It’s a lighter take on a hack-and-slash action game with Samurai and sci-fi elements, and it’s full of impressive action sequences.
Battle Through Time takes a simple approach to combat. You can purchase skills from the in-game talent tree and diversify your skillset to make battles more enjoyable.
There are multiple weapons to try out, including Jack’s Magical Sword and the Thunder Spear. Alongside the melee weapons, there are different firearms and projectiles like pistols and shurikens.
Weapons in this game have limited durability, so keep on top of your repairs when you’re playing.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a suitable pick for any DmC fans who are looking for something new to try out. It’s one of the more subdued, accessible games on this list, but it’s still a lot of fun.
Deadpool
Available on Microsoft, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
Deadpool is a character that’s known for fourth wall breaking jokes and general anti-hero shenanigans. The Deadpool game is everything that you might expect, including fast-paced but goofy hack-and-slash action, and silly jokes and one-liners.
This game is not as close to DmC as others in this list, but it’s still a pretty good pick for Devil May Cry fans who want something a little more lighthearted. Instead of just hack-and-slash gameplay, the Deadpool game includes some run-and-gun elements, puzzles, and platformer sections as well.
You can gather DP points as you go throughout the game to buy new weapons, skills, stats, and items. You can get these points by defeating enemies or by exploring the world around you.
There’s a good variety of weapons in this game, each with their own moves and attributes. For instance, the Sai has a quick and deadly move-set that can cause enemies to bleed. There are also different momentum-based moves which are very reminiscent of Devil May Cry.
This game isn’t identical to DmC by any means, but it offers a lot of the same gritty, fast-paced action. If you want something sillier and goofier than the Devil May Cry games, this is the best game on this list for you.
Astral Chain
Available on Nintendo Switch.
Astral Chain is a unique gem to stumble across in the action-adventure section of the Switch eStore, and it’s worth picking up if you enjoy games with a DmC feel. This game has some exceptional combat mechanics and a truly enjoyable theme overall.
The combat in this game focuses on Legions, which are unique battle allies that bring their own skill sets and abilities to a fight. For example, the Beast Legion is a nimble companion that can chain combos together when chasing an enemy.
Legions have a finisher move called ‘Finish Off’ which rewards you with a health and gene core. This can help give your Legions more experience.
If you enjoy games with a sci-fi flair, Astral Chain should be next on your list to play. It’s a lot of fun to play and it’s packed full of tricky boss fights that Devil May Cry fans will love.
NieR: Automata
Available on Microsoft, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Another iconic game that DmC fans should take a look at is NieR: Automata.
Games like NieR: Automata have hordes of dedicated fans, and with good reason. This particular game is visually stunning, and it offers intense hack-and-slash action, a dramatic soundtrack, and some truly beautiful scenes.
NieR: Automata is a difficult game, but mastering the controls is a worthwhile effort. The mix of fast-paced melee action and aerial attacks is breathtaking, and there’s a heap of incredible weapons to pick up and try out too.
Something that makes this game stand out is the color shift feature. When your health bar gets low, the colors in the game will change and adjust. It’s a small feature but really adds depth to the overall experience.
NieR: Automata is one of the most popular Japanese games that you can find on Steam (and other platforms) and the combat mechanics alone make it a perfect fit for anyone who got a kick out of the Devil May Cry series.
Lollipop Chainsaw
Available on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Suda51 is famous for making ridiculous games with incredible action sequences. Lollipop Chainsaw is the best example of this.
This game is a zombie-slaying, action-packed title with a comic book art style and hack-and-slash combat system. It’s incredibly silly, but the combat is immensely enjoyable and the soundtrack pairs with it perfectly.
Fans of Suda51’s other games will recognize his work on Lollipop Chainsaw almost immediately. The combat is equal parts detailed and ridiculous, with different kinds of chainsaw attacks that pair perfectly with bare-knuckle melee moves.
This game heavily encourages combos, and you can use the B button to flip out of harm’s way to extend your combo even further. Pulling off a combo with deadly chainsaw strikes, aerial flips, and right hooks is incredibly satisfying.
Lollipop Chainsaw is very similar to the DmC series both in terms of tone and combat. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, but can get serious when it needs to. If you’ve never played a game by Suda51 before, this is the best one to start off with.
No More Heroes
Available on Microsoft, Amazon Luna, Wii, and Nintendo Switch.
Another game by Suda51, No More Heroes is an absurd yet incredible game that has a lot of similarities to Devil May Cry. It’s an action hack-and-slash game that offers a mix of serious content and silly jokes.
No More Heroes has some fascinating mechanics. It mixes hack-and-slash elements with interactive combat, meaning you can create almost endless combos. There are intense finisher moves for when an enemy reaches 0 health, and both high and low beam attacks.
The game is also a semi-open world. You can explore the city of Santa Destroy, and accept part time jobs or even assassin gigs. Finishing jobs can help you earn money to purchase new weapons, learn new moves, and strengthen your character overall.
If you were on the hunt for a DmC alternative that included more finishing moves and combo opportunities, NMH is the perfect game for you. It’s a little outlandish in places, but it’s a game that’s worth adding to your list nonetheless.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Available on Microsoft, MacOS, Android, PS3, and Xbox 360.
This would not be a proper list of DmC alternatives if we didn’t include Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This game is utterly iconic when it comes to hack-and-slash titles, and the in-game world it offers feels alive and vibrant.
This title is second to none when it comes to combat, and it even gives DmC a run for its money. You can experience over-the-top action sequences with quick time events, and use both quick and heavy attacks to take down bosses.
The addition of the Blade Mode in this title makes the combat even more fun. This technique allows Raiden to slow down time and completely demolish his opponents with pinpoint accuracy. Blade Mode can also help you capture an enemy’s core, which can replenish your health and energy.
Every boss fight in this game feels truly unique, as they each have a different fighting style. You can equip the weapons that the bosses use after you defeat them, which is an interesting touch. This is one of the many elements that makes this game one of the best hack-and-slash titles on Steam, and it’s perfect for DmC fans.
Bayonetta 2
Available on Wii U and Nintendo Switch.
Lastly, Bayonetta 2 is a match made in heaven for Devil May Cry fans. It’s not often that you find exceptional hack-and-slash content on the Switch, but this game is a gem.
The combat in Bayonetta 2 is quick and challenging, yet it’s not too tricky to pick up. It feels incredibly fluid and impactful at the same time, and Devil May Cry fans will love the combos that Bayonetta can pull off.
Bayonetta can even enter a special state, called Umbral Climax, which can amplify her attacks and give her special buffs.
She also has a signature technique, called Witch Time. This slows time down around you significantly, giving you time to attack freely. It does take a bit of practice to get the hang of this technique, but it’s worth the effort.
The Bayonetta games are all fantastic in their own right, but Bayonetta 2 stands out as a must-play for anyone looking for more games with a Devil May Cry vibe.
