The firstDevil May Crygamewas launched in 2001 on the PlayStation 2. What initially began as an early concept forResident Evil 4became the standard for a new sub-genre of hack-and-slash action-adventure games. Despite being viewed as an action game sub-genre, theDevil May Cryseries harked back to classic beat-em-ups likeGolden Axe, Double Dragon,andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade.
The primary difference is thatgames likeDevil May Cryare 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 theDevil May Cryseries and solid recommendations for fans looking for something similar.
Updated Jul 21, 2025, 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 gamesthat 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.
Hades 2will 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 helpingHadesstand out as one of the best roguelite games ever made.
The frenetic action is pretty similar toDevil May Cryif Dante’s adventures were played out from an isometric viewpoint. Such is the excellence of Hades that some fans can only wonder how aDevil May Crygame would play ifit implemented roguelite mechanicsto make progression more satisfying.
The success ofPersona 5encouraged Atlus to go to town and develop a wealth of spinoffs for their hit title. One such game that fans were particularly excited about wasPersona 5 Strikers, which served as a spin-off/sequel to the widely belovedPersona 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 moregames likeDevil May Cry.
Musou games have a niche in gaming that most fans love. Perhaps this is whyDynasty Warriors 9has its fair share of fansdespite 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.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwas a major step in the right direction for theZeldaseries. 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.
It’s easy to see why Nintendo jumped at the opportunity to develop a spin-off for this title.Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityfocuses 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 inBreath of the Wild.
It’s a shame that theDarksidersfranchise 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 consideringthe loyal fan followingDarksiders 2has.
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 2is an underrated gem for a reason, and fans ofDevil May Cryshould definitely check out its fun combat and unique puzzles.
Combining elements ofJourneyandDevil May Cry,Atlas Fallenis 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 theDevil May Cryformula. Navigating the sands is reminiscent ofJourneyas the player’s created character surfs the sand to explore, and there is a surprising amount of depth to its upgrade system.
2023 was a staple year for RPG fans, andFinal Fantasy 16was among the biggest. Despite sticking to theFinal Fantasyformula with its exploration and epic battles, the combat is pureDevil May Cry-style action with set pieces and an excellent story.
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 fromFinal Fantasylore into something new and original.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marinelooks more like aGears of Warclone. While it shares elements with the third-person shooter, it features brutal melee-based combat that fans ofDevil May Crywill 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 Marineholds up spectacularly against many modern titles and is just as cinematic now.Warhammer 40: Space Marine 2is set to launch on current-generation systems.
Even though the Kratos saga moved into Norse mythology, fans of the hack-and-slash action genre should also check out the originalGod of Wargames 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 olderDevil May Crygames, 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.
Launched in late 2022,Gungraveis an action game similar to theDevil May Cryseries. 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.
Gungravefeatures 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 inDevil May Cryfor taking down enemies with executions and other skills.
