Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a 1989 action-platformer developed by Konami for the NES, a prequel following Simon Belmont's ancestor Trevor Belmont. Set centuries before the original, it charts Trevor's quest to defeat Dracula as darkness spreads across Wallachia, wielding the familiar whip and sub-weapons through a gauntlet of demanding stages.
The game expanded the formula with branching paths that let players choose different routes and stages on the way to the castle, and with three recruitable companions, the pirate Grant DaNasty who can climb walls, the sorceress Sypha Belnades with elemental magic, and Dracula's own son Alucard who can transform into a bat, each offering unique abilities the player could swap between one at a time. This variety, along with its notorious difficulty, gave it exceptional depth and replay value, with the Japanese version featuring an enhanced sound chip.
Castlevania III is considered one of the finest entries in the classic series and a standout NES title. It has been re-released in numerous Konami collections and remains accessible through official retro services.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, 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.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire Survivors Indie | € 4,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Blasphemous Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Timespinner Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Castlevania Anniversary Collection | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
Vampire Survivors Indie
€ 4,99A gothic indie phenomenon that leans on Castlevania's monster-hunting lore.
Vampire Survivors runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Indie
€ 14,99An indie sequel with swappable party members echoing Castlevania III.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Blasphemous Indie
€ 24,99Grim, gothic 2D action with punishing platforming and a world drenched in religious horror.
Blasphemous runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Timespinner Indie
€ 19,99A hand-crafted exploration platformer in the Castlevania mould, with time-stopping combat.
Timespinner runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection
€ 19,99The official bundle including the classic NES trilogy.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
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