Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 is the platinum standard for character action games. Three playable characters, each with a combat system deep enough to carry an entire game on their own, woven together into a campaign that never lets up. Capcom didn't just return to form — they perfected it.

Dante's style-switching is the most expressive combat system ever designed. Cycling between Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster, and Royal Guard mid-combo, swapping between four melee weapons and four ranged weapons on the fly — the skill ceiling is in orbit, and the journey to get there is pure joy. Nero's Devil Breakers add a layer of creative improvisation, and V's summoner gameplay is a bold curveball that pays off.

The soundtrack knows exactly what it's doing. When "Bury the Light" kicks in during a Vergil fight, when "Devil Trigger" syncs with a SSS-rank combo — it's not just gameplay, it's a performance. DMC5 understands that style isn't superficial. It IS the substance. Smoking Sexy Style, indeed.