When Devil May Cry 5 first launched back in 2019, it cemented itself as one of the finest character action games ever made. Capcom had managed to modernise the series without sacrificing the over-the-top spectacle or technical combat that fans had come to expect, delivering a game that was as rewarding for newcomers as it was for long-time Devil Hunters.
Seven years later, Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition arrives on Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the complete experience to Nintendo’s new hardware. With all previously released DLC included, playable Vergil from the outset, and a promise of a locked 60fps in both docked and handheld play, this isn’t a scaled-back compromise. It’s the full package.
If you’ve somehow never played Devil May Cry 5, the core experience remains every bit as exhilarating today as it was at launch. Swapping between Nero, Dante and V as the demonic invasion unfolds keeps the campaign constantly fresh, with each character demanding a different approach to combat. Nero’s expanding arsenal of Devil Breakers encourages experimentation, V commands his familiars from a distance while carefully managing positioning, and Dante remains one of the most expressive action game protagonists ever created, rewarding players willing to master his seemingly endless toolkit. With Vergil also fully playable from the start, there’s even more reason to revisit the campaign once the credits roll.
The biggest question surrounding this release, though, is how well it performs on Nintendo’s latest hardware. Thankfully, Capcom has delivered an impressively polished port.
Whether playing docked or in handheld mode, Devil May Cry 5 looks fantastic. Character models remain richly detailed, environments retain their striking gothic aesthetic, and the visual effects that accompany every sword slash, gunshot and Devil Trigger transformation lose very little in the transition to Switch 2. Maybe you could point to finer details within cutscenes, but for the main action, it all looks great.
More importantly, performance is rock solid. Throughout my time with the game, the promised 60 frames per second held firm, with no noticeable frame drops or technical hiccups, even during some of the game’s most chaotic encounters. This shouldn’t really be a surprise given how well the game played on the PS4, and how Capcom has (mostly) got great results out of the Switch 2, but it’s still great to see.
That smooth performance is vital because Devil May Cry has always been a series that demands precision. Chaining together elaborate combos, juggling enemies in the air and reacting to incoming attacks all rely on responsive controls, and the Switch 2 version never feels like it’s struggling to keep up. Whether playing on the television or taking the game on the go, the experience feels remarkably consistent.
Devil Hunter Edition also bundles together everything players could reasonably want. Alongside Vergil, all previously released base-game DLC is included, from Nero’s additional Devil Breakers to bonus battle tracks and alternate costume colours. Rather than feeling like a simple port, this genuinely feels like a definitive version of the game to Nintendo hardware, offering a complete package without asking players to spring for extra content separately.
That’s perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay this release. There are no glaring compromises, no disappointing technical shortcomings and no obvious corners cut in bringing one of Capcom’s best modern games to a new platform. Instead, what you’re left with is exactly what you’d hope for: the full Devil May Cry 5 experience, running beautifully on Switch 2 and proving once again why it remains one of the best action games of its generation.
If you’ve somehow missed Devil May Cry 5 over the last seven years, there’s never been a better excuse to jump in. And if you’re a returning player looking for a portable version that doesn’t sacrifice performance or presentation, Devil Hunter Edition absolutely delivers.