Devil May Cry, the original 2001 game, is available on PC through the Devil May Cry HD Collection from Capcom, priced at $29.99 USD on Steam and frequently discounted to around $4-6 during sale events. There’s no standalone free download of the original — this guide covers the legitimate way to get it, requirements, and an honest look at what to expect before you buy.
What Is Devil May Cry?
Devil May Cry, released in 2001, is the game that essentially invented the “character action” genre — a stylish blend of sword-and-gun combat, acrobatic platforming, and gothic demon-hunting atmosphere. You play as Dante, a wisecracking demon hunter with the blood of a legendary demon warrior flowing through his veins, as he takes on the underworld’s ruler, Mundus, across a haunted, labyrinthine castle setting.
What made Devil May Cry stand out at release was its combo-driven combat system, which rewarded players for varying their attacks and maintaining style over simply mashing buttons — a philosophy that would go on to define an entire genre of games. Its blend of tight controls, memorable boss fights, and moody atmosphere earned it a place as one of the most influential action games of its generation, and it remains the foundation the entire Devil May Cry franchise was built on.
How to Download Devil May Cry (Official Steps)
- Open Steam and search for “Devil May Cry HD Collection”.
- Confirm the listing is published by CAPCOM Co., Ltd..
- Click Add to Cart and complete checkout — this single purchase includes all three included games.
- Let Steam finish downloading and installing the files.
- Launch the collection, select the original Devil May Cry from the menu, and begin your demon-hunting career as Dante.
Story and Gameplay Overview
The story follows Dante as he’s lured to a mysterious island by a woman named Trish, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his late mother, leading him into Mundus’s castle to confront the demon lord responsible for his family’s tragedy. Along the way, Dante encounters his eventual ally Trish more fully, battles a rotating cast of demonic bosses, and slowly uncovers the deeper truth behind the castle’s origins and Mundus’s plans.
Combat revolves around a mix of melee weapons, primarily Dante’s iconic sword Force Edge, and dual pistols named Ebony and Ivory, letting players juggle enemies in the air, chain combos, and rack up style points through varied, expressive play. The HD Collection version cleans up the visuals for modern displays while preserving the original’s fixed-camera, tank-control-adjacent gameplay, which some newcomers may need a short adjustment period to get comfortable with.
Key Features
- The genre-defining original release that launched the entire character action genre.
- Combo-driven melee and gunplay combat with a built-in style ranking system.
- Gothic, atmospheric level design centered around Mundus’s haunted castle.
- Included alongside Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition in one bundle.
- Updated visuals and 60fps performance compared to the original PlayStation 2 release.
- A foundational, highly influential entry still referenced by modern action games today.
Ways to Get It for Less
- Steam sales: The HD Collection regularly drops to around $4-6 during major Steam sale events, an 80%+ discount from list price.
- Franchise bundles: Capcom periodically bundles the entire Devil May Cry series together at a significant combined discount.
- Wishlist alerts: Adding it to your Steam wishlist will notify you automatically the next time it goes on sale.
System Requirements for Devil May Cry HD Collection
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 | Intel Core i5 or better |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or better |
| Storage | 10 GB free space | 10 GB free space |
Pros and Cons of Devil May Cry
✅ Pros
- Genre-defining combat that still feels satisfying today
- Comes bundled with two additional games in one affordable purchase
- Runs easily on virtually any modern PC
- Historically significant as the foundation of an entire genre
❌ Cons
- Fixed camera angles and dated controls take some adjustment
- Shorter, more linear campaign compared to later entries
- Visuals, while cleaned up, still show their PS2-era origins
- Some frustrating difficulty spikes by modern genre standards
Availability by Platform
🖥️ PC (Windows)
Available on Steam as part of the Devil May Cry HD Collection bundle.
🎮 Consoles
Also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One/Series consoles through the same HD Collection.
🕹️ Related Titles
The collection also includes Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition.
Tips for New Players
- Give yourself time to adjust to the fixed-camera controls before judging the combat system.
- Experiment with combo variety rather than repeating the same attack pattern for higher style ranks.
- Use Ebony and Ivory to juggle enemies in the air before finishing with melee combos.
- Play through the games in the collection in release order for the clearest sense of the series’ evolution.
- Don’t skip the boss fights’ cutscenes — they set up plot threads that carry through later games.
Who Should — and Shouldn’t — Play Devil May Cry
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Devil May Cry free to download?
No, it’s included in the paid Devil May Cry HD Collection on Steam, with no official free full download.
Is it safe to download from third-party “free download” sites?
No, only buy through Steam or another official storefront to avoid malware and unsafe files.
Can I buy Devil May Cry on its own?
No, on modern storefronts it’s sold as part of the HD Collection alongside Devil May Cry 2 and 3.
Does the HD Collection improve the graphics?
Yes, it offers updated resolution and 60fps performance compared to the original PS2 release.
Do I need to play the games in order?
Not strictly, but playing in release order (1, 2, 3) gives the clearest sense of the series’ progression.
How long is the original Devil May Cry?
The main campaign typically takes around 8-10 hours to complete on a first playthrough.
This page is written for informational purposes to help you find the official, safe way to play Devil May Cry. It does not link to or endorse any unofficial “free download” sources.
