Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Also known as Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is a 2003 handheld metroidvania developed by Konami for the Game Boy Advance. Set in the year 2035, where Dracula's castle reappears during a solar eclipse, it follows student Soma Cruz as he explores the sprawling fortress and gradually uncovers his own connection to the vampire lord.
Its standout feature was the "Tactical Soul" system, which let players absorb the souls of defeated enemies to gain their abilities, from spells and familiars to passive boosts, encouraging experimentation and giving combat and character-building lasting depth. The interconnected castle, gated by new powers, satisfying nonlinear exploration and RPG-style leveling exemplified the series' beloved exploratory style, and multiple endings rewarded thorough play.
Aria of Sorrow is widely regarded as one of the finest handheld Castlevania games and among the best in the entire series. It has been included in modern compilation re-releases, keeping it easily playable and cementing its status as a genre highlight.
Where can you play Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow today?
Device by device, which of the 2 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- Mac
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- Linux
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- iPhone
- None of the alternatives to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow runs on iPhone.
- iPad
- None of the alternatives to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow runs on iPad.
- Android phone
- None of the alternatives to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow runs on Android phone.
- Android tablet
- None of the alternatives to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow runs on Android tablet.
- PlayStation
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- Xbox
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- Switch
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
- Steam Deck
- Grime (€ 24,99) and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (€ 39,99).
Games like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Modern alternatives to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, 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.
Grime Indie
€ 24,99A dark, hand-crafted metroidvania with absorption-based combat.
Grime runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Indie
€ 39,99A spiritual successor to Castlevania from series veteran Koji Igarashi.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is also an alternative to 2 other classics
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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