Castlevania
Castlevania is a 1986 action-platformer developed by Konami for the NES, launching one of gaming's most enduring series. Players control vampire hunter Simon Belmont as he fights his way through Dracula's castle across six stages, armed with the Vampire Killer whip, upgradeable by collecting items, and a range of sub-weapons such as the axe, holy water, cross boomerang, and dagger powered by collected hearts.
The game blended deliberate, methodical platforming with rich Gothic atmosphere, memorable bosses inspired by classic monster movies, including the Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and Death, before the climactic battle with Dracula himself. Its stage-based structure, demanding difficulty that rewarded careful positioning against knockback, and an iconic soundtrack featuring tunes like "Vampire Killer" established the foundations the franchise would build upon for decades.
Castlevania became a beloved cornerstone of the action-platform genre and spawned countless sequels across many platforms. The original has been re-released in numerous Konami collections and remains widely accessible for players today.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Castlevania, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Indie
€ 9,99A retro indie tribute to the classic linear Castlevania games.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection
€ 19,99The official bundle of the classic Castlevania titles including the NES games.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Indie
€ 16,99A deliberately 16-bit action platformer of stage select and sub-weapons, brutal in the old way.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Gunlord X Indie
€ 9,99An indie action-platformer with classic whip-and-jump gothic vibes.
Gunlord X runs on PC, Mac, Linux, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Castlevania Advance Collection
€ 19,99The four Game Boy Advance Castlevanias, including Aria of Sorrow, with save states and rewind.
Castlevania Advance Collection runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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