Capcom has been on an absolute roll with their Nintendo Switch 2 lineup, and Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition is no exception. When the game was first revealed at the 2026 Nintendo Direct, longtime fans of the franchise lost it, and rightfully so. Finally being able to take one of the best action games ever made on the go is a massive deal.
In this review, I’m sharing my experience as a first-time player to the franchise, breaking down the story, gameplay, visuals, audio, and how the game holds up on Nintendo’s newest hardware.
Story
Unlike a lot of modern action games that spend the first few hours setting everything up before the real fun begins, Devil May Cry 5 throws you straight into the deep end. The opening drops you into an intense battle against an impossibly powerful enemy – then rewinds several weeks to show you how it all came to this. It’s a brilliant hook. Instead of slowly feeding you exposition, the game immediately creates a mystery that keeps you pushing forward to find answers.
Despite being the fifth numbered entry in the series, newcomers are rarely left feeling lost. First-time players can follow the central conflict through clear character motivations and straightforward mission structure, while returning fans get rewarded with callbacks and lore they’ll appreciate even more.
The pacing is one of DMC5’s greatest strengths – missions typically run 15 to 30 minutes, alternating between exploration, combat, and boss encounters. Cutscenes are punchy and don’t overstay their welcome, so you’re almost always back in control within minutes. On the Switch 2, that structure is a perfect fit for handheld play. You can easily drop in for a mission or two on the go without losing momentum.
Gameplay & Combat Mechanics
This is where Devil May Cry 5 truly earns its reputation. The game doesn’t just reward you for defeating enemies, it rewards you for defeating them with style. Every fight is essentially a performance. The style ranking climbs from D all the way to SSS, pushing you to constantly mix up your attacks, avoid repetition, and stay aggressive. Forget button-mashing, DMC5 actively encourages you to explore combinations and build combos that can stretch on for minutes without repeating a single move.
You get four playable characters, each with their own completely distinct toolkit:
- Nero is the perfect starting point for newcomers, his mechanics are intuitive enough to pick up quickly but deep enough to master over time, especially with his signature Devil Breaker arms adding a resource-management layer to the action.
- Dante is where the series’ legacy truly lives. He’s arguably one of the most mechanically complex playable characters in gaming, with four switchable combat styles and a staggering weapon arsenal. The ceiling on this guy is sky-high.
- V is the wildcard, a spellcaster-type who commands demon familiars to fight on his behalf while he moves in for the finishing blow. A fresh and unique playstyle you won’t find anywhere else in the genre.
- Vergil, included from day one in this edition at no extra cost, is the cherry on top. Overtuned in the best way and an absolute blast once you’ve got a handle on the other characters.
The depth of the combat system is what keeps this game relevant seven years after its original release. There’s always something new to discover, and the more time you invest, the more it gives back.
Boss Battles
The boss fights take everything great about the combat and amplify it. Every major encounter comes with its own distinct mechanics, recognizable attack patterns, and incredible visual presentation. Success comes from reading enemy behaviour, adapting to their patterns, and expressing your own combat style in the process — not just dealing enough damage to win a DPS check. These fights feel earned, and the escalation across the campaign keeps things building right up until the end.
Audio & Visuals
For a game that originally launched in 2019, Devil May Cry 5 still looks genuinely impressive. Character models are highly detailed, facial animations are expressive, and the clothing and material rendering holds up remarkably well. The lighting system paired with fluid, effects-heavy combat creates a visual experience that’s constantly stimulating without ever becoming overwhelming, even when the screen is packed with particle effects and chaos.
The environments lean toward ruined cities and demonic landscapes, which can get slightly repetitive over a long session. But the enemy designs and boss encounters more than compensate, and every major boss is a visual spectacle in its own right.
On the audio side, the heavy rock and metal soundtrack hits exactly when it needs to, syncing perfectly with the over-the-top tone of the combat. Sound design for weapon impacts, gunfire, and abilities is tight and satisfying, every hit feels like it lands with real weight.
Switch 2 Performance — Handheld & Docked
This is where I have to give Capcom their flowers, because the optimization work here is seriously impressive. I booted the game up in docked mode first, and it ran flawlessly — 60fps throughout, no hiccups, no stutters, even in the most hectic combat scenarios.
The real surprise came when I switched to handheld mode. I was fully expecting some kind of drop in visual quality or performance, and it just… didn’t happen. The game held its 60fps with barely any difference from the docked experience. Sharp visuals, buttery smooth combat, on a handheld screen. That’s not something you take for granted.
The fact that you can experience Devil May Cry 5 at this level of performance in the palm of your hands is a genuine achievement, and it makes the Switch 2 version an incredibly compelling way to play, whether you’re on your couch or out and about.
Final Verdict
Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic package that’s tough to argue with. The game runs smoothly in both handheld and docked modes, the full Devil Hunter Edition content bundle means you’re getting everything right out of the box, and the gameplay is as deep and rewarding as ever, with plenty of room to grow whether you’re picking this up for the first time or coming back to a series you love.
As a first-time player, this absolutely won me over, the story pulled me in more than I expected, the combat kept me hooked, and the Switch 2 performance made it easy to keep coming back. For longtime fans, this is finally your chance to bring the demon-hunting action with you wherever you go.
Whether you’re a new player or an OG, pick up Devil May Cry 5 on the Nintendo Switch 2 and start your demon hunter journey. You won’t regret it.
This article was contributed by Butterfly, a gamer and cosplayer who’s worked with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Flash Vision Esports, and more. You can find more of her work over on Instagram.
