Tag Archives: Dracula

Castlevania Special

Konami‘s classic Castlevania series is a well-known and much-loved collection of horror-themed games that spans from 1986 to the present day, although some may feel that the series has been neglected in recent times.

Castlevania began its existence in the form of the Famicom Disk System game, Akumajō Dracula, and has undergone many iterations, across almost all video game systems, including in the arcades, on handhelds, and on home computers and consoles.

Here’s a list of all the official Castlevania games ever made. Plus a selection of some of the best fan-made games and hacks.

In celebration of a landmark video game series!

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Castlevania: Rondo of the Night, PlayStation

Castlevania: Rondo of the Night is a ROM hack of the PlayStation classic, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and it was first released in June 2024. The aim of the hack is to change the gameplay, so that the player can do quicker and more athletic moves, and to surprise the player with a seemingly never-ending string of good ideas.

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Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, Nintendo Wii

It’s a remake of Castlevania: The Adventure – originally released for the black and white Game Boy – except this time it’s been changed to look and play like something of a cross between an X68000 and a Super Nintendo Castlevania game. It could also be mistaken for a Castlevania arcade game. But it isn’t any of those.

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth is a WiiWare game for the Nintendo Wii. It was released only through the WiiWare service for a number of years. At the time of writing, I don’t think it’s currently available to buy and play anywhere legally, which is a pity because it’s superb.

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Castlevania Judgment, Nintendo Wii

Released for the Nintendo Wii by Konami in 2008, Castlevania Judgment is a 3D fighting game developed by Eighting. It was the first beat ’em up in the Castlevania series, and it remains the last one, too (at the time of writing).

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Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, PlayStation 2

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness was the second game released for the PlayStation 2 by Konami, initially coming out in 2005. Much like its predecessor (Lament of Innocence), this game is also a hack and slash 3D action game, with horror and RPG elements.

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Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, PlayStation 2

Coming out in 2003, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence was the first Castlevania game released for the PlayStation 2. The story is set in 1094 – making this, chronologically, the first Castlevania game in the series’ timeline – and it focuses on the origins of the Belmont clan and Dracula.

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Akumajō Dracula, MSX

The MSX and Famicom Disk System versions of Konami‘s original Akumajō Dracula (aka “Vampire Killer“), were being worked-on simultaneously by developers inside Konami, in 1985 and ‘86.

The Famicom Disk System version was released one month before the MSX version. Although they are essentially the same game, there are some significant differences between them.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, PC

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is the sequel to Lords of Shadow [one], and Mirror of Fate, and was once again developed by Spanish studio MercurySteam, and was first published by Konami in 2014. It ties-up the storyline of Gabriel Belmont, Trevor and Simon Belmont, Alucard, and Dracula – the core characters of the Castlevania series – in a satisfying manner.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate, PC

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate was originally released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013. It was released in High Definition for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 later that same year, then for Windows PCs in 2014.

Mirror of Fate is a sequel/prequel to 2010’s Lords of Shadow, and its story begins prior to the events of its predecessor.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, PC

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a “reboot” of the Castlevania series, developed by Spanish studio MercurySteam and first published by Konami in 2010. Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series, helped produce the title.

In Lords of Shadow you play as Gabriel Belmont, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who protect and defend the innocent against the supernatural. His quest is to defeat a malevolent order known as The Lords of Shadow, and to resurrect his dead wife, Marie.

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