With Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse recently released, and marking a rare entry into the legendary franchise not developed solely by Konami, we thought it’d be fun to rank the top ten entries in the series so far.
While we’re always a little saddened by how few games we get in this series these days (and how long we’ve had to wait for more Bloodstained), it’s safe to say this is going to be a great year for vampire-slaying fans.
Here is our definitive list of the best Castlevania games of all time.
While it may not look as mind-blowing today as it did back in 1986, the original NES classic is where it all began. It might not have fully nailed the “Metroidvania” formula yet, leaning heavily into traditional, linear action-platforming, but it established the foundational elements we all know and love: iconic sub-weapons, gothic horror atmospheres, and incredible music. The controls can definitely feel stiff by modern standards, but taking down Dracula in the original game remains an essential rite of passage.
Dracula’s Curse built heavily on the original game’s foundation, refining the tight, challenging action-platforming and introducing branching narrative paths. It also introduced multiple playable companions, including Alucard and Sypha Belnades, whom fans will instantly recognize from the hit Netflix animated series. It remains tough-as-nails, but if you enjoy a classic, unforgiving retro challenge, Castlevania III is peak 8-bit gaming.
Portrait of Ruin made clever use of the Nintendo DS’s dual-screen capabilities and introduced a fresh tag-team dynamic. You swap seamlessly between two protagonists: the whip-wielding Jonathan Morris and the spell-casting Charlotte Aulin. Balancing their unique strengths added a fantastic puzzle-solving dimension to exploration and boss fights. While the visuals have aged slightly over the years, the dual-character mechanics keep the gameplay feeling distinct and dynamic.
Harmony of Dissonance holds its ground as a stylish GBA entry. You play as Juste Belmont on a quest to rescue his kidnapped friend from a mysterious castle. The standout mechanic here is the dual-castle system: to fully explore and uncover every key progression item, you have to constantly shift between two distinct dimensions of the castle layout. It’s fast-paced, colorful, and packed with classic Metroidvania secrets.
Super Castlevania IV was a masterclass in demonstrating what the Super Nintendo could do. Packed with Mode 7 graphical wizardry, 360-degree whip mechanics, and one of the absolute best soundtracks in gaming history, it let players control Simon Belmont as he battled through iconic, atmospheric stages. It follows a traditional, stage-based structure rather than non-linear exploration, but the sheer level design and presentation make it an absolute blast to play.
As the direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow brings back fan-favorite protagonist Soma Cruz for another round of demon hunting on the Nintendo DS. While it doesn’t quite eclipse its predecessor, it refines the Tactical Soul system, allowing for immense flexibility in how you build and customize Soma’s capabilities. It also made fun (if occasionally quirky) use of the DS touchscreen for sealing bosses with Magic Seals.
Lords of Shadow was a daring attempt to reimagine the franchise in full 3D—and it paid off brilliantly. Following Gabriel Belmont’s tragic journey to resurrect his deceased wife, the game delivered cinematic combat, massive scale, and stunning visuals. While it didn’t spark a permanent shift to 3D for the broader franchise, its fluid combat and epic boss encounters remain a highlight of the late-2000s action-adventure era.
Order of Ecclesia stands out as one of the most challenging and rewarding handheld entries in the series, and it’s a huge spiritual predecessor to Koji Igarashi’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. You play as Shanoa, a warrior who absorbs “Glyphs” from defeated enemies to unleash powerful magical attacks and weapon combinations. With a compelling, darker narrative and exceptional combat customization, Ecclesia represents the pinnacle of the Nintendo DS era.
Symphony of the Night is undeniably the most influential entry on this list—the game that literally put the “Vania” in Metroidvania. Stepping into the boots of Dracula’s dhampir son, Alucard, players explore an interconnected, non-linear castle loaded with RPG elements, secrets, and legendary loot. It is an absolute masterpiece in game design, art direction, and music. (And yes, watching high-level speedruns of it today is still a mind-blowing experience.)
Our top spot goes to the magnificent Aria of Sorrow. Pushing the Game Boy Advance to its absolute limit, the game stars Soma Cruz, a high school student drawn into Dracula’s castle who inadvertently gains the power to absorb monster souls. The “Tactical Soul” system provides unmatched gameplay variety and replayability, pairing perfectly with tight controls, fantastic castle layout design, and a thrilling narrative twist. It is, near enough, a perfect Metroidvania experience.
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