The Best Castlevania Games, All 30 Ranked From Worst to Best
15. Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth
It takes a lot for a remake of a past title to feel like an entirely different game, but that’s how much of a step up from the original Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth was. Boasting silky smooth gameplay, refined graphics and a slew of redesigned bosses and enemies for players to take on, the game realized the ambitions the original had but was unable to fulfill due to hardware limitations.
It likewise allowed for the use of sub-weapons like axes and knives, a gameplay element absent from the original, and offered players a ranged attack where flames could be launched from Christopher’s whip.
Unfortunately, there was only so much that could be built upon from the original. The game was still punishingly difficult, and even with an increased total of six levels, it still felt short and, as a result of its difficulty, didn’t have the same replay value as other titles. At the very least though, it was a much more suitable option for those who wanted to experience the title but didn’t want to suffer through the flaws of the original.
14. Castlevania
The game that started it all, Castlevania was a pioneer in NES game design. As the vampire hunter Simon Belmont, players were tasked with the elimination of Count Dracula and his evil hoards, from swarms of blood-sucking bats to Death himself. It wouldn’t be an easy task either, as players had to storm his castle armed only with an enchanted whip and whatever weapons they could find along the way.
And yet, with the right moves and an eye for the different secrets and power-ups scattered throughout the halls of the Count’s treacherous castle, one could overcome this monumental task and prove themselves a true vampire hunter.
Full of action-platforming and exploration that would later define a genre, Castlevania is worthy of the legacy it created. Sure, it hasn’t aged as gracefully as some other entries on this list and its steep difficulty curve would give most modern gamers plenty to scream in frustration over, but the fact that it still plays well and can provide a decent gaming experience to this day is a testament to its quality.
13. Castlevania Chronicles
Like with what ReBirth did for Castlevania: The Adventure, Castlevania Chronicles realized the unrealized potential of the original Castlevania and brought it forward in new and interesting ways.
Once again making their way through Dracula’s Castle to confront the blood-sucking count, players were treated to a graphically enhanced version of the game complete with more detailed areas, new enemy and item layouts and more dynamic boss fights.
Likewise, players could also take on a new game plus mode that increased the game’s difficulty and offered greater rewards for those who displayed more skillful approaches to the game.
Like ReBirth though, it brought plenty of flaws from the original along for the ride. The base difficulty could be devastatingly tough at times, and past the graphical updates, the game at times felt like it was trying to ape the original Castlevania experience instead of truly bring it forward. And yet, even with these issues, it’s still a fine way to experience the first game’s bosses and levels in a new way, and an excellent way for newcomers to experience the original games’ formula.
