Game Groups > Castlevania / Akumajō Dracula series

Castlevania, or Akumajō Dracula (Japanese: 悪魔城ドラキュラ, "Devil Castle Dracula"), is a series of action games by Konami. The series' setting and plot elements are loosely based on Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, focusing on the titular fictional character. Most of the protagonists in the series (with a few notable exceptions) belong to the Belmont family and are vampire hunters who venture into Dracula's castle with the goal of defeating the powerful vampire following one of his resurrections. The games usually take place in a dark castle and its surroundings, which are populated by horror-themed enemies.

Classic Castlevania games are 2D platformers in which the protagonist advances through linear stages, defeating regular enemies and bosses. Members of the Belmont family are armed with a whip, which they can also use to destroy parts of the scenery (candle, walls, etc.) to obtain hearts, food and items. Health can be replenished by eating; hearts are used to execute special attacks with equipped items, e.g. throwing axes, daggers, holy crosses, etc.

The first game in the series came in two variants, one of which, Vampire Killer (1986), introduced non-linear exploration elements to the standard action platforming formula. Simon's Quest (1987) expanded upon that idea and added light role-playing elements such as a world map, monetary system, and a day-and-night cycle.

Of the subsequent installments, Symphony of the Night (1997) took the farthest step on the RPG road, adding experience points and leveling-up to the core gameplay. It also greatly expanded the playing environment, introducing large interconnected stages, some of which could be explored in a non-linear fashion. Some of the series' further incarnations emulated this gameplay concept.

Together with Metroid, later Castlevania installments lead to the concept of a sub-genre dubbed Metroidvania, in which traditional platform elements are combined with heavier character customization and a large game world that the player can explore in a non-linear fashion.

Related Site(s)

The Castlevania Dungeon - A fansite devoted to the games of the Castlevania series. Content includes game info/descriptions, plot summaries, various kinds of media (images, MP3s, etc.) and links to other Castlevania-related sites.

Trivia

Cancelled Dreamcast game

There was a Dreamcast game that was in the works but was canceled sometime around March of 2000. A playable demo that was made for E3 exists.

Cancelled Sega 32X game

There was a Sega 32X game that was in the works but was canceled sometime between December 1994 and October 1995. It is usually referred to as Castlevania: The Bloodletting, although the subtitle was most likely never meant for this particular Castlevania game.

Captain N: The Game Master

Simon Belmont, the protagonist from the first installments of the series, appeared as regular character in the Saturday morning TV cartoon Captain N: The Game Master.

Information also contributed by Guy Chapman

Related Groups

67 Games [ view in game browser ] [ add game ]

Title (Year ) Platforms Genres Moby Score
Akumajō Dracula: The Arcade (2009) Arcade Action
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box cover thumbnail Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun (1990) NES, DoJa Action
7.5
box cover thumbnail Castlevania (1986) DOS, Game Boy Advance (+10 more) Action
7.8
box cover thumbnail Castlevania (1999) Nintendo 64 Action
6.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania Chronicles (1993) PlayStation, PSP (+3 more) Action
7.1
box cover thumbnail Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (1991) Game Boy Action
7.6
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1989) Dedicated handheld Action
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) NES, Wii (+2 more) Action, Role-playing (RPG)
6.8
box cover thumbnail Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989) NES, Wii (+2 more) Action
8.2
box cover thumbnail Castlevania Judgment (2008) Wii Action
5.3
box cover thumbnail Castlevania Legends (1997) Game Boy Action
6.3
box cover thumbnail Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night (2010) iPhone, Windows Phone Puzzle
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the... (2018) PlayStation 4 Action, Role-playing (RPG), Compilation
7.3
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Advance Collection (2021) Windows, PlayStation 4 (+3 more) Action, Role-playing (RPG), Compilation
7.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Anniversary Collection (2019) Windows, PlayStation 4 (+3 more) Compilation
7.6
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003) Game Boy Advance, J2ME (+1 more) Action, Role-playing (RPG)
8.6
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994) Genesis, Nintendo Switch Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) Game Boy Advance, Wii U Action
7.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (2005) PlayStation 2, Xbox Action, Role-playing (RPG)
7.0
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005) Nintendo DS, J2ME Action, Role-playing (RPG)
8.7
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Double Pack (2006) Game Boy Advance Compilation
7.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Dracula X (1995) SNES, Wii U (+1 more) Action
7.4
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls (2019) Android, iPad (+3 more) Action
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (+1 more) Action, Role-playing (RPG)
6.8
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Extra... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Extra... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
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box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Extra... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Extra... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Getsu... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
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box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Maria... (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
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box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Music Pack 1 (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
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box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Music Pack 2 (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Richter... (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Despair - Simon... (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) Game Boy Advance, Wii U Action
7.8
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (2003) PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 Action
7.7
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (1999) Nintendo 64 Action
6.8
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Action
8.2
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Limited Edition) (2010) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Special edition
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (2013) Xbox 360, Windows (+2 more) Action
7.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Resurrection (2011) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Reverie (2011) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 DLC / Add-on
7.1
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition (2013) Windows Action, Compilation
7.6
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (2014) Windows, Xbox 360 (+1 more) Action
6.9
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Armored... (2014) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (+1 more) DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Dark... (2014) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (+1 more) DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Digital Bundle (2014) PlayStation 3 Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Relic Rune Pack (2014) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (+1 more) DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Revelations (2014) Windows, Xbox 360 (+1 more) DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Collection (2013) Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Compilation
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