The Best Castlevania Games, All 30 Ranked From Worst to Best
12. Castlevania Bloodlines
Released amid the Console Wars of the ’90s between Sega and Nintendo, Castlevania Bloodlines was one of the best titles in the series thanks to the extra, gory detail afforded to it by the Sega Genesis. As John Morris, a distant descendant of the Belmont family, players are tasked with once again stopping the spread of evil across the land.
This time though, it’s by the hand of Elizabeth Bartley, Dracula’s niece and a powerful vampire in her own right, and Morris and his allies will have to enlist everything at their disposal in order to stop her from resurrecting the full power of Dracula to wreak havoc on Europe once again.
Host to enemy and level designs that feel right at home on the “next level” console, Bloodlines offered a fantastic entry into the series’ using its original design framework while also introducing new ideas. It did suffer from delayed play speed due to hardware issues which did hamper the experience some, but it remains a title that is easily repayable and well worth the challenge it can bring to players.
11. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
The second Game Boy Advance entry in the Castlevania franchise’s history, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance still showed an astounding amount of realized potential despite some flaws. As Juste Belmont, players must make their way through Dracula’s Castle in an effort to save their childhood friend Lydie.
He is joined and aided by their friend Maxim, though it soon becomes clear that his inclusion in the rescue mission may be more of a deadly hindrance than a boon.
Touting the same experience-based level progression system as Symphony of the Night, Harmony of Dissonance blended elements both new and old from the series for a stellar handheld gaming experience on par with what had been introduced so far thanks to Circle of the Moon. Alongside the classic whip and sub-weapon combat, it also allowed for enhancements through magic which varied the gameplay and could keep players on their toes as they took on the many different enemies the castle threw at them.
Admittedly, it was the worst out of the GBA entries in the series due to less than ideal character animations and a flat soundtrack. However, considering the quality all three possess, it’s far from the worst title in the series and an easy one to point new fans toward to get a feel for the series.
10. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Arguably the best of the original NES Castlevania titles, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse brought out the best the series had to offer given the hardware’s limitations. As players made their way through Dracula’s castle yet again, they were met with an array of devious traps and insidious monsters new and old, all eager to end the life of the brave vampire hunter before he stopped the resurrection of evil incarnate.
Platforming was tight and precise, the music was as iconic as ever and it was endlessly entertaining to whip your way through wave after wave of enemies as you made your way to that final confrontation at the castle’s highest chamber.
The game’s only real flaw is that it is crushingly hard, with the last boss fight in particular still standing as one of the most difficult in all of gaming. You’ll have to bash your head against more than a few walls before the title is through, but for those willing to endure its roughest patches, it’s easily the best way to experience the classic games at their best.
