Top 5 Castlevania Games, Ranked

Castlevania is a series with various titles for players to experience. Whether it’s the side-scrolling classics of the original titles or the metroidvania entries such as Symphony of the Night. The games tell the story of vampire hunters working to stop Dracula from influencing his evil on the world. This takes place throughout various periods of time, such as the World War 1 era. But with so many titles in the series, with plenty of hits and some misses, having the games ranked is no easy feat. There are amazing entries to choose from, and they have sat with players both young and old for so many years. However, if you have been curious what the top five Castlevania games are when ranked, you’re in luck. It can be tricky to narrow down, but these represent the best experience for players to enjoy.

Top 5 Castlevania Games

5. Super Castlevania IV

• Released: 1991

Super Castlevania IV features 11 levels of madness as you aim to take down Dracula. As Simon Belmont in the 1600s, you aim to ensure the Dark Lord can no longer terrorize the world. The game is a soft remake of the original Castlevania but with plenty of quality-of-life improvements. Additionally, the game looks great with new types of bosses and levels to fight through. The game is considered one of the easier side-scrolling titles in the series for all players to enjoy. Plus, with the addition of being able to spin the whip, it makes various sections of the game more approachable. If you are looking for a good entry point into Castlevania, this Super Nintendo title is one of the best places to start out.

4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

• Released: 1997

A fan-favorite in Castlevania, players experienced the first metroidvania with this entry. Taking on the role of Alucard, the son of Dracula, you aim to bring down your father. That way, the world doesn’t need to fear his evil spreading ever again. Konami did a great job with this being their first Castlevania entry to veer into metroidvania territory. Just when you think you’ve beaten the game, there is even more to it. But being able to upgrade Alucard with different abilities is a great touch. Furthermore, the scaling of health and magic as you level up only made the game feel more enjoyable. It’s a Castlevania title that arrived and stayed with many players for years and years.

3. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

• Released: 2003

Aria of Sorrow was one of the entries in the Game Boy Advance era of Castlevania. It was also a metroidvania-style game, where players explore the castle and level up. Specific pathways are blocked until you get different abilities, and you backtrack to them. In this entry, you step into the role of Soma Cruz in the year 2035. The game does a great job of making the metroidvania genre feel more enticing with the mechanic of absorbing souls. When you do, they come with different abilities such as being able to glide over gaps or throw spears. The game’s story also does a good job of elaborating on the overall story of the series and why Dracula can keep coming back. When it comes to the metroidvania genre, Aria of Sorrow feels the strongest and provides a unique experience.

2. Castlevania: Bloodlines

• Released: 1994

Castlevania: Bloodlines took the classic formula of the series and decided to change things up a little. Players take the roles of either Eric Lecarde or John Morris, fighting across World War 1 era Europe. It was a big change; instead of being in Dracula’s castle the whole game, players only fight through it in the first stage. Additionally, having the two characters was a great mechanic, as Eric had a super jump ability while John could use the Vampire Killer to swing over gaps. While on the tougher end of difficulty when it comes to Castlevania, Bloodlines gives plenty of variety in bosses and levels to enjoy. Furthermore, you can up the ante by playing through on Expert difficulty. Overall, the game is a fantastic addition to the Castlevania lineup and one that players shouldn’t miss.

1. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

• Released: 1993

Rondo of Blood is the epitome of an all-time amazing Castlevania title. Players take on the role of Richter Belmont as he looks to rid the world of Dracula for good. The title is a side-scroller, mixing the best mechanics with different pathways that you can take. Not only do the stages change with each path, but the final bosses of the area do too. Furthermore, the game’s soundtrack features some of the best renditions. Whether it’s Divine Bloodlines or Picture of a Ghost Ship, the music is incredible. The gameplay feels much more fluid than other titles, and the stages themselves are incredibly memorable to fight through. Richter is not only the main character but one of the coolest in the Belmont family, which makes it just that much better. Additionally, just like Castlevania 3, players can rescue various characters hidden throughout levels. Adding that extra gameplay to discover, rather than just go from start to finish.

There are plenty of Castlevania games that could be ranked, and it’s not easy. But the choices above represent the best of the best when it comes to Konami’s iconic series. It’s one of the longest-running game series to date. With new releases still on the horizon, players have more battles with Dracula to look forward to. So whether you are a veteran of the Belmont family or want to start your first game, these are great options.