Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition – Still Stylish After All These Years
I still remember booting up the original Devil May Cry 5 back in 2019 and thinking, “Damn, they actually did it.” After years of waiting, Capcom delivered what many fans considered the pinnacle of the series. Fast-forward to June 23, 2026, and here we are with the Devil Hunter Edition – a beefed-up port landing on Nintendo Switch 2 (with cross-gen love for previous platforms). Is it worth revisiting a seven-year-old game in 2026? Short answer: hell yes. Long answer: buckle up, because this review is going to dive deep.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition isn’t a full sequel. It’s not Devil May Cry 6. What it is, though, is the most complete, polished, and accessible version of one of the greatest character-action games ever made. If you never played the 2019 release, this is your golden ticket. If you did, the new bells and whistles – especially the Switch 2 optimizations – might just pull you back in for another dozen runs.
A Quick Refresher on the Sons of Sparda
For the uninitiated, the Devil May Cry series follows Dante, the wisecracking, pizza-loving son of the legendary demon knight Sparda. Sparda rebelled against the demon world to protect humanity, and his bloodline has been cleaning up the mess ever since. DMC5 picks up several years after Devil May Cry 4. Red Grave City is under demonic siege thanks to a towering, blood-sucking tree called the Qliphoth and its master, the demon king Urizen.
You play as three very different protagonists across the campaign: Nero, the hot-headed young hunter with a mechanical arm; Dante, the veteran showman; and V, a mysterious, poetry-spouting summoner who walks with a cane and lets his demonic familiars do most of the dirty work. The story jumps timelines cleverly, building mystery around V and Urizen’s true identities while delivering classic DMC spectacle – over-the-top boss fights, family drama, and enough one-liners to fill a stand-up special.
The narrative isn’t Shakespeare, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s exactly what you want from a Devil May Cry game: stylish, emotional in the right places, full of callbacks to earlier entries, and capped with a finale that feels like a proper conclusion to the “Sons of Sparda” arc. The voice acting is top-tier, the cutscenes are cinematic as hell, and the character banter between Nero, Dante, Nico (Nero’s mechanic and chaos gremlin), and the crew is pure gold. Lady and Trish get more screen time too, which fans will appreciate.
In the Devil Hunter Edition, the story remains untouched, which is fine. The enhancements are almost entirely in gameplay, performance, and quality-of-life stuff. No major new plot content here, but that’s okay – the base game’s story still holds up beautifully in 2026.
Combat: The Real Star of the Show
If Devil May Cry is a religion, then combat is its scripture. And DMC5 is the holy bible.
Nero’s style feels like a natural evolution from DMC4. His Red Queen sword has that satisfying rev mechanic – gun the engine for charged slashes that hit like trucks. The Blue Rose pistol packs a punch with charged shots. But the real fun comes from his Devil Breakers: disposable mechanical arms with wild abilities like the Punch Line rocket punch, the Gerbera for aerial shenanigans, or the Overture for explosive crowd control. Breaking them mid-combo never gets old, and Nico’s shop lets you experiment endlessly.
Dante is the Swiss Army knife of stylish action. Four weapons on the fly (swords, guns, and more exotic toys), four fighting styles (Trickster for dodging, Swordmaster for combos, etc.), and Devil Trigger transformations that turn him into a demon blender. Mastering Dante feels like conducting an orchestra of violence. The satisfaction of juggling enemies, switching weapons mid-air, and landing an SSS rank is unmatched.
V is the wildcard. He doesn’t fight directly much; instead, he commands three familiars – Griffon (ranged), Shadow (melee), and Nightmare (big stompy tank). You position them, micromanage their attacks, and finish enemies with V’s cane for the stylish points. It’s slower and more strategic, but incredibly satisfying once you get the rhythm. Some players gripe that V feels weaker, but he adds incredible variety.
The Devil Hunter Edition amps this up. On Switch 2, everything runs smoother than ever. The game targets a rock-solid 60fps in handheld and docked modes, with options for higher performance or visual fidelity. Ray tracing (where supported) adds gorgeous reflections and lighting that make Red Grave City feel even more alive and hellish. Turbo Mode from the Special Edition is here too, cranking the speed for even more chaotic fun. And Legendary Dark Knight Mode? Absolute madness – hordes of enemies that force you to rethink your entire approach.
The controls feel perfect on the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons or Pro Controller. The haptic feedback is subtle but effective – you feel the sword revving or a Devil Breaker shattering. It’s the kind of port that makes you wonder why more games don’t get this level of care.
Visuals, Audio, and That Signature Style
Capcom’s RE Engine has aged like fine wine. In 2019 it looked stunning; in 2026 on Switch 2 it still impresses. Character models are detailed, animations are fluid, and the demon designs range from grotesque to downright creative. The Qliphoth tree sequences are visceral, with blood-red skies and organic horror that sticks with you.
The soundtrack? Chef’s kiss. A mix of hard rock, orchestral swells, and electronic beats that perfectly match the action. “Devil Trigger” still slaps, and new tracks or arrangements in this edition keep things fresh. Voice lines and sound effects are crisp, and the English/Japanese dual audio options remain.
One minor nitpick that carried over: the camera can occasionally betray you in tight spaces or big crowds. It’s rare, and you can usually adjust, but in a game this precise, it stings when it happens.
New Content and Replayability
The Devil Hunter Edition bundles everything from previous releases: Bloody Palace mode (endless survival arena), all DLC costumes, extra Devil Breakers, Vergil as a playable character (from the Special Edition), and more. Vergil is a highlight – his Yamato slashes, Judgment Cut, and Concentration mechanic make him feel incredibly powerful and precise. Playing his campaign (a mirrored version of the main story) is pure dopamine.
Replayability has always been DMC5’s secret weapon. Multiple difficulties, tons of unlockables, ranking system that rewards mastery, and now seamless performance on new hardware. The Switch 2 version makes it perfect for on-the-go demon hunting – commute, couch, or travel, you can pull off insane combos anywhere.
I’ve sunk another 20+ hours into this edition already, chasing higher ranks and trying wild builds. The sense of “just one more mission” is real.
How Does It Hold Up in 2026?
In an era of live-service games, battle royales, and endless sequels, Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition feels like a breath of fresh (or brimstone-scented) air. It’s a complete, single-player experience that respects your time while offering insane depth for mastery. No microtransactions, no filler – just pure, stylish action.
Compared to newer action games, it still stands tall. Bayonetta fans will feel at home, but DMC5 edges it out with character variety and sheer polish. Newcomers to the series might find the combat intimidating at first, but the game eases you in brilliantly, with training options and gradual unlocks.
Criticisms? It’s not revolutionary for veterans. If you played the original to death, the core experience is familiar. Some might want more new story content or co-op (still absent). But as a definitive edition, it delivers.
Final Verdict: Jackpot!
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition scores a very enthusiastic 9.5/10. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn close to the ideal character-action game. Whether you’re a longtime fan finally getting it on Switch 2 or a newcomer ready to dive in, this edition cements DMC5 as a timeless classic.
Capcom nailed the port. The performance, added content, and accessibility make this the version to own. If Devil May Cry 6 ever comes (and fingers crossed it does), it has massive shoes to fill.
So grab your sword, rev that engine, and get ready to cry some devils. In 2026, the hunt is still on – and it’s never felt better.
