Castlevania Video Game Series
A series of platform action games starring vampire hunters. The series is one of the major brands in the publishing portfolio of Japanese company Konami, with development support from Mercury Steam Entertainment studio, among others.
The roots of the series date back to the 1980s. The first installment of the series - Castlevania (known in Western markets under the title Vampire Killer) was released in 1986 in a version for the Nintendo Entertainment System console. Initially, the production enjoyed little popularity due to the requirement for an FDS disk station. As soon as the manufacturer decided to release the game on traditional cartridges it became a hit from the start. Over the course of more than 25 years, the brand lived to see about 40 installments (including spin-offs) addressed to the most popular hardware platforms.
The plot of the series loosely refers to the famous novel by Bram Stoker Dracula. The axis of events is the struggle of the Belmont family against Prince Dracula and his minions. The legendary bloodsucker is reborn every hundred years, and successive generations of vampire hunters must send him back to oblivion.
Over the years, the gameplay of the games in the series Castlevania has evolved from an arcade platformer to an action game and even an action-RPG. The constant elements are primarily the protagonist's primary weapon - the Vampire Killer whip endowed with great power, as well as the multitude of enemies, which include vampires, werewolves and undead.
Visuals of the games in the series Castlevania changed with the technological progress of successive generations of hardware platforms. Initially, the action was shown in the manner typical of 2D platformers. With the release of the game Castlevania (1999) on the Nintendo 64 console, 3D graphics appeared, which soon became a standard of the series. Also noteworthy is the music, created for the brand by composers such as Satoe Terashima, Kinuyo Yamashita, Kenichi Matsubara and Jun Funahashi.
Popularity Castlevania has been reflected in mass culture. Among other things, the brand lived to see an adaptation in the form of a graphic novel Curse of Darkness, a collection of figurines produced by toy company NECA, and two collectible card games.
Castlevania Series Evolution
2021
Castlevania Advance Collection
2021
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
2018
Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood
2014
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
2013
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD
2010
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
2010
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
2009
Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
2008
Castlevania Judgment
2008
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
2007
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
2006
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
2005
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
2003
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
2003
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
2002
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
1997
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
1986
Castlevania
Castlevania Advance Collection
Action
September 23, 2021
A set of four games from the Castlevania series, three of which debuted on the Game Boy Advance handheld, and one of which first appeared on the SNES console. The Castlevania Advance Collection introduced a number of new features, such as the ability to save games and rewind time.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Action
September 17, 2021
An action title with RPG elements developed for mobile devices. The key element of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is a multiplayer mode, featuring cooperation and team challenges, but it offers also a single player experience.
Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood
Action
October 26, 2018
A set of two classic Castlevania games, including the cult classic Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood. The package includes original versions of both productions, although with a few additional options.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Action
February 25, 2014
A sequel to the 2010’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, a hack ‘n’ slash game. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and its prequel were both developed by Mercury Steam Entertainment in cooperation with Konami. The players learn the further fate of Gabriel Belmont. The protagonist fell victim to evil and transformed into a Lord of Shadow. After centuries of loneliness and anguish, his old friend, Zobek, extends an unusual offer to him: setting him free from the curse of vampirism in exchange for help in fighting Satan. The action takes place in two words simultaneously—a dark, futuristic town and a medieval castle. The core of the gameplay is combat against hordes of enemies that can be exterminated with sword, claws, and special vampire abilities.
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Revelations March 25, 2014
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD
Arcade
March 5, 2013
Set in fantasy reality platformer from MercurySteam studio, which is a side production to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Story of Mirror of Fate begins 25 years after events shown in parent game, when revenge-seeking Dracula wants to give humanity a real hell, and only his own son can stop him.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Action
October 5, 2010
Another full-fledged installment in the legendary series of action games, developed by the Spanish developer Mercury Steam in cooperating with Konami - the creators of all the previous installments. The protagonist is called Gabriel and he is a member of the Brotherhood of Light. The organization fights evil forces, and Gabriel is given a mission to eliminate the titular Lords of Shadow. However, Gabriel has a personal goal to achieve as well, for he wishes to find and obtain a magical mask, the artifact required to bring his murdered wife back to life. In terms of mechanics, the game reshapes the standard platforming elements of the franchise to fit into the third-person action convention. The player traverses the game world on foot or on horseback, eliminating hordes of enemies encountered on the roads, and facing powerful, demanding bosses. The player makes use of several basic weapon types, including the token combat cross. The combat skills of the protagonist are improved as the game progresses.
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Arcade
August 4, 2010
The next installment of one of the most popular game series by Konami, made in the classic formula of a two-dimensional platformer with hack'and'slash elements. The game mechanics of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair doesn't differ significantly from the previous parts of the series. During the game, we can impersonate one of the characters known from the previous instalments, such as Soma Cruz, Alucard, Shanoa, Jonathan Morris or Charlotte Aulin, and each of them possesses a unique range of weapons and combat techniques.
Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
Arcade
October 27, 2009
A refreshed version of the classic Castlevania version, originally released on the GameBoy console. In the game we play Christopher Belmont, who fights vampires, zombies and other monsters. The game was divided into six levels. The creators of the conversion have modified the visual setting and some of the gameplay elements.
Castlevania Judgment
Fighting
November 18, 2008
Castlevania Judgment is another game from the series that started in 1986. Unlike its predecessors, this is a three-dimensional fight. The person responsible for the appearance of the character is Takeshi Obata, a well-known mang creator.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Action
October 21, 2008
The third part of the "Castlevania" series, which it was decided to release on DS. The main novelty is the use of glyphs to launch attacks. For the first time in the history of the series we can also go beyond the castle of Dracula.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
Action
October 23, 2007
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is another part of the best-selling series that has been bringing electronic entertainment enthusiasts closer to the fight against vampires and other horror-like creatures since 1986. This is actually the second remake of the game Akumajo Dracula X Chi no Rondo.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Action
December 5, 2006
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is a two-dimensional platformer prepared by the Konami team. The product, dedicated to the Nintendo DS console, is a gift for fans of the series on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of their favorite cycle.
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
Action
November 1, 2005
The next part of the vampiric saga taking place three years after the events of the third part - Dracula's Curse (NES). Unlike previous Castlevania, which focused on fighting between the Dracula and Belmont clan, this time we play a completely new hero - Hector.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Action
September 30, 2005
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is a two-dimensional platform, dedicated to the portable Nintendo Dual Screen console. The product was created by specialists from the Konami concern.
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
Arcade
October 21, 2003
Three-dimensional action game with elements of fighting and platformer, belonging to the well-known Castlevania series. In production we play the role of Leon Belmont, a vampire hunter who challenges the forces of darkness. While playing, we cross the chambers and struggle with hordes of enemies and powerful bosses.
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Action
May 6, 2003
Another entry in a classic platform series from Konami and a third part of the trilogy developed with Game Boy Advance console users in mind. The main hero of Castelvania: Aria of Sorrow is Soma Cruz, who loses consciousness during the first eclipse of the 21st century and wakes up in a mysterious Medieval castle. It turns out that the eclipse had a lot to do with dark forces, and the solitary protagonist has to find a way out of the fortress, while dealing with legions of various enemies. In terms of game mechanics, the title doesn’t differ much from previous productions from the Castlevania series, combining arcade slasher with RPG features. During the game, our hero can use different types of weapons, attacks and spells gained as we progress through the game. Enemies we face are greatly varied and require equally varied tactics.
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Arcade
September 7, 2002
Our friend was kidnapped! As soon as possible grab the whip, grind the jumps and rush to the Castle, where it lurks.... ON. But first you have to snatch a few hundreds of enemies in the trunk. And maybe then you will succeed.... win.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Action
June 10, 2001
The first installment of the cult series, which was created exclusively for GameBoy Advance console owners. We take on the role of a fearless monster killer as we travel through the levels of a huge castle.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Action
March 20, 1997
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is an extended game from the famous series about vampire hunters. Two-dimensional platformer belongs also to the species of metroidvanii.
Castlevania
Arcade
April 12, 1986
Castlevania is a traditional platformer where we can lead Simon through the dark corridors of a huge fortress, inhabited by creatures from hell rhodium.
Castlevania Series News
Fan Pays $90,000 for Castlevania NES, First Game Bought by His Mother Years Ago
More than $90,000 was paid by a gamer to have an original copy of Castlevania - the first game he got from his mother many years ago.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
April 9, 2024
Konami Made Good Money on NFTs from Castlevania
The auctions of NFTs from Castlevania were quite a success. Konami was to earn $157,000 on selling them.
video games
Adrian Werner
January 16, 2022
Konami Joins NFT Trend With Castlevania Tokens
Konami prepared an NFT series to celebrate 35th anniversary of the Castlevania brand. The tokens will be auctioned off next week.
video games
Adrian Werner
January 7, 2022
Games with Gold for October 2021 (Resident Evil Code: Veronica X and Castlevania: Harmony of Despair)
In the October Games with Gold, subscribers can expect, among other things, a game from the Castlevania series and a Resident Evil title.
video games
Adrian Piotrowski
September 28, 2021
Castlevania Castlevania Advance Collection Now on Steam and Consoles
Konami has released Castlevania Advance Collection, a collection of classic GBA installments of the series. The set is available on PC and consoles.
video games
Adrian Werner
September 24, 2021
Castlevania Castlevania Advance Collection Now on Steam and Consoles
Konami has released Castlevania Advance Collection, a collection of classic GBA installments of the series. The set is available on PC and consoles.
video games
Adrian Werner
September 24, 2021
Castlevania Castlevania Advance Collection Now on Steam and Consoles
Konami has released Castlevania Advance Collection, a collection of classic GBA installments of the series. The set is available on PC and consoles.
video games
Adrian Werner
September 24, 2021
Castlevania Castlevania Advance Collection Now on Steam and Consoles
Konami has released Castlevania Advance Collection, a collection of classic GBA installments of the series. The set is available on PC and consoles.
video games
Adrian Werner
September 24, 2021
Metal Gear Solid 1 & 2 Now on GOG.com; Konami Classics Return
Confirming the recent rumors, reeditions of the iconic Konami games appeared on GOG.com. We are talking about Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2 and the classic installments of Castlevania and Contra series, which returned to PC after years of absence.
video games
Bart Woldanski
September 25, 2020