The games, set on an alternate Earth between the 1930s and a fictionalized near-future, featuring a person either related to or holding the Kuzunoha family name using demons to investigate cases involving the supernatural.

Created by Kouji Okada, the series was developed by multiple Megami Tensei veterans including artist Kazuma Kaneko and composer Shoji Meguro.

The series remained exclusive to Japan until the release of Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army in 2006, with all games apart from the original receiving English localizations from Atlus USA.

[29][30] A manga adaptation, written by Fumio Sasahara and illustrated by Kazumi Takasawa, was released in two volumes in March and August 1999 by Kadokawa Shoten.

A spin-off novel called Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Dead Messengers, written by Boogey Toumon and illustrated by Kazuma Kaneko, was released by Kadokawa Shoten in 2006.

[33] A spin-off manga Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. Kodoku no Marebito, began serialization through the online Famitsu Comic Clear in 2009, being released in six volumes between 2010 and 2012.

The storylines follow the fourteenth trained devil summoner to take on the title of Raidou Kuzunoha, facing supernatural threats in Tokyo while working at the Narumi Detective Agency.

[6][42] Soul Hackers 2 again uses a turn-based battle system, taking elements of exploiting enemy weaknesses for extra turns from the main Shin Megami Tensei series.

[6][42][44] A resource called Magnatite or its equivalent is needed to keep demons summoned or powers different elements of attacks appears in multiple entries.

[48][53] Following the success of Devil Summoner, development of a sequel moved forward, drawing inspiration from the potential dangers of the internet.

[39] Following the release of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne in 2003, producer Kazuyuki Yamai wanted a project for his team that would offer new challenges, deciding to make a new Devil Summoner title based on staff feedback.

Eiji Ishida and Mitsuru Hirata, who had previously worked on multiple entries in the Megami Tensei series, began production on a sequel with reworked mechanics and a new art style led by Shirow Miwa.

[65][66] Meguro returned for the Raidou Kuzunoha duology, using brass and jazz instrumentation to emulate the 1920s alongside his signature guitar-heavy "MegaTen sound".