The Best Castlevania Games, All 30 Ranked From Worst to Best
21. Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Though the Castlevania series has seen dozens of entries over the years, it has still only seen two multiplayer experiences to date. Whereas Judgement was a train wreck, the latter, more traditional title Castlevania: Harmony of Despair was far better executed. Focused entirely on gameplay, it allowed up to four players to team up or fight each other in expansive maps full of items to collect, enemies to face and bosses to vanquish.
They could also choose from several characters across the series’ 2D entries along with all of the equipment and techniques they had to offer.
Sadly, it didn’t prove to be a lasting experience for any but the most dedicated fans. With only a limited number of map variations and no story to drive the action, the multiplayer rang hollow unless players enjoyed an endless round of boss rush-esque gameplay. Still, it showed the potential for a properly realized multiplayer game in the franchise should the series ever veer in that direction again.
20. Castlevania: The Adventure
As a first attempt at bringing the Castlevania series to portable consoles, Castlevania: The Adventure was admirable in what it managed to do. Set across four stages, it took players on a quest to vanquish Dracula comparable with its console counterparts. The game’s music translated amicably enough to the new hardware as well, with dulcet tones that would make even the most discerning classic video game music fan nod in approval.
Likewise, the gameplay allowed players to jump and whip their way through plenty of devious enemies and hazards, forcing them to time their movements perfectly if they wanted to see the journey to its conclusion.
That said, there were also areas where the limitations of the hardware held it back. Unlike full-scale entries in the series, The Adventure acted as a straight side-scroller, only allowing players to move left to right through every level. It also has an undeniably steep difficulty curve that would leave all but the most die-hard fan ready to set it down in favor of a more modern entry.
19. Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge
Following the series’ first attempt at a handheld entry, Castlevania’s developers took note of its shortcomings and sought to improve on the next iteration. This resulted in Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge, an applaudable step up from what had come before it.
Along with all of the strengths of The Adventure, Belmont’s Revenge brought some much-needed additions to the gameplay including the reintroduction of sub-weapons like axes and holy water. This allowed not only for more variety in how players dispatched the evil forces of Dracula, but also a leg-up against the game’s challenges and the feel of a true-blue Castlevania title.
Sadly, Belmont’s Revenge still couldn’t escape the limitations of its hardware. The game was still limited in how it allowed players to move and platform, and the notably slow character speed could hamper immersion. It was also a considerably short experience, making it less than ideal for those who wanted more meat to their vampire hunting experience.