Research-backed game lineage

Castlevania

Castlevania is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

45 curated games 1986–2026 release span 0 connected branches

Release chronology

The complete path.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

45 games in this lineage

Mainline1986

Castlevania

Step into the shadows of the deadliest dwelling on earth. You've arrived at Castlevania, and you're here on business: To destroy forever the Curse of the Evil Count. Unfortunately, everybody's home this evening. Bats, ghosts, every kind of creature you can imagine. You'll find 'em all over the place, if they don't find you first. Because you've got to get through six monstrous floors before you even meet up with the Master of the House. Your Magic Whip will help, and you'll probably find a weapons or two along the way. But once you make it to the tower, you can count on a Duel to the Death. The Count has waited 100 years for a rematch.

Sep 26, 198679/100

↗

Mainline1986

Vampire Killer

Vampire Killer is a side-view flick-screen game where you are a Vampire hunter who has been tasked to remove Dracula from the 12th floor of a block of flats by a client on the floor below. The problem is, as well as facing and killing a vampire, the job has to be completed before midnight which is only eight minutes away. In your rush to get to the building you have forgotten your equipment like garlic and stakes, which is needed to face Dracula. You have to get to the 12th floor using elevators (which have minds of their own and can take you down as well as up), and you must look behind the doors of each flat for equipment to help you. Some flats are also empty as well as flats that have scares inside you and when scared, you lose part of a shock meter and when it reaches zero then it is game over. Bats and spiders live on various floors with some blocking your route so bullets can be found in the flats to clear the way. Some doors to the flats actually are lift shafts which send you back down to the 1st floor. Before you play the game you can select your skill level from easy, medium and hard.

Oct 30, 198680/100

↗

Mainline1987

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

Castlevania was a cakewalk compared to this bloody curse. You thought you had the Prince of Darkness defanged - eh, Simon Belmont? Well think again, 'cause according to a damsel in distress, evil Count Dracula has left a horrifying curse in his wake. And the only hope you have of ending the terror is to destroy his missing body parts! Talk about your frightening quest, searching a maze of mansions, graveyards and dark, eerie forests - each guarded by man-eating werewolves, fire-throwing zombies and other devilish demons. Your grim chances are kept alive in Transylvania, where cowardly villagers offer clues to the whereabouts of Dracula's remains. And where you'll purchase magic weapons, including silver knives and flame whips. But beware the night. For when the sun disappears, Dracula's curse grows deadlier. And your chances grow dimmer and dimmer.

Aug 28, 198762/100

↗

Mainline1987

Haunted Castle

Count Dracula sleeps for a long hundred of years. During this time, peace exists at the village and Dracula is nothing but a mere legend. However, one day a young couple named Simon and Serena were celebrating their wedding at the village's church. The couple were enveloped with happiness, as the wedding bells rang, their future seemed blessed... Suddenly, the empty sky was covered with dark clouds and with a rolling thunder that shook the earth, Dracula has once again awakened. Asking for the beautiful girl's blood, he flew down during the middle of the wedding and suddenly took the bride with him. Now in order to save Serena, Simon heads to the demon castle

Dec 26, 198758/100

↗

Mainline1989

Castlevania: The Adventure

Castlevania: The Adventure is a platform game released for the Game Boy in 1989. It is the first Castlevania title for the system. Set a century before the events of the original Castlevania, the player controls an ancestor of Simon Belmont named Christopher Belmont who goes on a quest to defeat Dracula.

Oct 27, 198946/100

↗

Mainline1989

Akumajou Densetsu

Akumajou Densetsu is the Japanese version of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. This version has many differences in gameplay and level layout, making the overall experience easier than its western counterpart.

Dec 22, 1989

↗

Mainline1990

Kid Dracula

Kid Dracula is a platformer video game made by Konami. It was released only in Japan for the Famicom on 19 October 1990. It is considered a parody of the Castlevania series. A version for mobile phones was also released on 30 June 2006 in Japan only. The game saw ports for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows as part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection which was released digitally on May 16, 2019 in all regions.

Oct 19, 199069/100

↗

Mainline1991

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge

Fifteen years after vanquishing the emperor of evil, Count Dracula, Christopher Belmont now faces a vampire swearing vengeance. Drac's back. And he's turned your son, Soleiyu Belmont, into a deadly demon to do his dirty deeds. Now not only do you have to rescue your kid from the Count's clutches, you have to first track him down in four creep packed Castles. Fortunately, you posses weapons like armor piercing Battle Axes, beast burning Holy Water, and the Legendary Mystic Whip. And you can increase your arsenal with power up items like Crystal Balls, Hearts, and Candles. Strap on your shield and step into the shadows. That is, if you're prepared for the dwellers of darkness.

Jul 12, 199170/100

↗

Remake1991

Super Castlevania IV

A century of Transylvanian tranquility is about to come to a shocking end. Once again the mortifying screams of helpless villagers shake the ground as they huddle against new nightmarish horrors unleashed by the Duke of Darkness, Count Dracula. And this time he has a tombstone with your name on it, Simon Belmont. You must descend into Castle of the Undead and its gruesome ground, accompanied by the most chilling sound effects to ever tingle your spine. Inside, a freshly dug 11 levels maze features the treacherous Terrace of Terror, the dangerous Rotating Dungeon, the Sunken Ruins of Lost Spirits, torture chambers and creature filled caves. Use your whip like a grappling hook and swing past hundreds of traps and a host of ghost freaks, living corpses and hidden goblins. All while dodging or destroying the unpredictable spitting lizards, carnivorous coffins, and more. Find the concealed weapons needed to defeat everything from eerie phantoms to haunted furniture. Then prepare to find yourself face-to-thing with hideous torments like the Tongue Lasher, the Darkest Knight, the Bone-Afide Horseman and the Granite Crusher. When your nerves get shot, use your password and take a breather. But forge on, Simon Belmont, because if you though Dracula was down for the count, he's only just begun to fright!

Oct 31, 199189/100

↗

Remake1993

Akumajou Dracula

Akumajou Dracula is a remake for the first Castlevania game. It was released only in Japan for the Sharp X68000 computer, but was later enhanced in Castlevania Chronicles for the PlayStation.

Jul 23, 199370/100

↗

Mainline1993

Akumajyo Dracula Peke

Akumajyo Dracula Peke is a hidden minigame that came included with Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. It is also known as Stage X "The Fate of Blood Must be Cut with the SUPER CD-ROM² ROM" (血の因縁はSUPER CD・ROM²でなければ断てない, Chi no Innen ha Super CD-ROM² ROM de Nakereba Tatenai). This minigame played instead of Rondo of Blood if the user was using the wrong kind of System Card. The game has been included in all conversions of Rondo of Blood, only differing on the methods of unlocking it between platforms.

Oct 29, 1993

↗

Mainline1993

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

In Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood, the player takes control of Richter, the ultimate Vampire Killer, guiding him through a total of nine stages filled with treacherous traps and hidden secrets. Using your legendary whip – passed on from generations of Belmonts – and a powerful selection of Item Crash attacks, it's up to you to destroy Dracula and his evil horde. What's more, rescuing Maria at some juncture in the game allows you to use her as a playable character for even more vampire-slaying fun.

Oct 29, 199381/100

↗

Mainline1994

Castlevania: Bloodlines

Time refuses to forget the Belmont family's horrifying, bloody destiny. And in 1917 two of its descendants are summoned by fate into epic battle. Their enemy? The most evil incarnation of Castlevania legacy to ever rise from the grave, the vampiress Countess Bartley. This spine-tingling, 6-stage fear-fest overflows with graphic sights and sounds from your worst nightmares. As John Morris, the whip wielding vampire hunter, or Eric Lecarde, master lanceman, you'll pursue the demonic Countess all across Europe before she resurrects Dracula for a final reign of global terror. Alas, her trail of doom is laden with zombies, hideous mutants, grotesque giants, ghouls and ghastly creatures. Taste the sweat dripping into your mouth as you try rescuing yourself from diabolical traps. Feel the torturous strain on every muscle as you wield again and again sacred weapon power-ups such as Holy Water, the Battle Axe, the Crystal Blade Boomerang and the Mirror of Truth. But in the end, make sure you've saved enough strength to scream!

Mar 17, 199477/100

↗

Remake1995

Castlevania: Dracula X

The Legend Returns... Rising up from his eternal sleep, Count Dracula is back again to battle the descendants of the great vampire-stalking Belmont family of the Castlevania series. He has summoned his dark minions-Cerberus, Minaurus, and the Salamander-to bring a reign of terror on the land. Grab your whip and try to defeat these dark forces in this new conversion of the hit Japanese game: DRACULA X. The 7+ stages unfold with myriad possibilities depending on the choices you make during the game. This multi-ending, multi-story feature takes you through many levels of adventure. You must strategically use magical tomes, mystical power-ups and titanic weapons to defeat the horrifying bosses and discover secret bonus levels.

Aug 7, 199580/100

↗

Mainline1997

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Having been awoken from his eternal slumber by the reappearance of Castlevania, Alucard must once again face the evil minions of darkness. Use your vampiric powers, along with weapons, potions, and other magical relics to change the tide of battle. A mixture of platform and role-playing action with many hidden areas and secrets. Can you discover them all?

Mar 20, 199792/100

↗

Remaster1997

Castlevania: The Adventure

A remaster of Castlevania: The Adventure released as part of Konami GB Collection.

Sep 25, 1997

↗

Mainline1997

Castlevania Legends

Every legend has a beginning. Now discover the beginning of the Castlevania Legend in Castlevania Legends for Game Boy. In this single-player adventure, you play as Sonia Belmont, the very first in the line of vampire hunting Belmonts. Use your whip to fend off the forces of darkness, as you work your way through six stages of non-linear gameplay. Explore the legendary areas of Castlevania, including the surrounding forest and the infamous clock tower. Don't forget to collect hearts from the torches that litter the stages to gain extra lives. Adjustable difficulty settings allow you to choose the skill level at which you want to play. At the end of it all, Count Dracula himself awaits. Can you defeat him and put the evil to rest for another 100 years?

Nov 27, 199761/100

↗

Remaster1998

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge

A remaster of Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge.

Feb 19, 1998

↗

Mainline1999

Castlevania

Take control of Reinhardt Schneider, a whip-toting Vampire Killer who has waited his whole life to meet his destiny, or Carrie Fernandez, a young girl with a strong magical presence who is mysteriously drawn to Dracula's evil Castlevania. It is their duty to seek out Castlevania and put an end to its residents' plans. What is your destiny?

Jan 26, 199955/100

↗

Mainline2001

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is the first of the series to be based on the action/RPG structure of Castlevania:Symphony of the Night rather than the level-based action style of all previous Castlevania games. Dracula's castle is a single continuous building, and as Nathan discovers artifacts within it he gains new abilities that allow him to explore more of it. While Nathan can only use his Killer Whip as a weapon, he can find and equip different kinds of armor and accessories that change his stats. Unique to this entry in the series is the Dual Set-up System, where a combination of two cards will give Nathan unique magical abilities. For example, equipping a fire type card with a whip card will give the Killer Whip a fire attribute, while equipping it with a summon card will let Nathan summon a fire demon to attack onscreen enemies.

Mar 21, 200179/100

↗

Remake2001

Castlevania Chronicles

The 2D whip-wielding action game Castlevania returns with a classic version never before seen in America with Castlevania Chronicles. Count Dracula has been resurrected to begin a new reign of terror across the land. As Simon Belmont, descendant of legendary vampire hunters, you enter Dracula's estate to face the Count and his minions - alone. Be prepared for one of the first adventures in the Castlevania series ever!

May 24, 200177/100

↗

Mainline2002

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

Nearly fifty years has past since Simon Belmont rescued the land from the curse of Dracula. Now, Simon's descendant Juste Belmont, must acquire the relics of Dracula to unravel the disappearance of his childhood friend Lydie. The castle's enchanting mysteries and danger await all those who dare enter.

Jun 6, 200276/100

↗

Mainline2003

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

The year is 2035 and Soma Cruz is about to witness the first solar eclipse of the 21st century when he suddenly blacks out -- only to awaken inside a mysterious castle. As Soma, you must navigate the castle's labyrinths while confronting perilous monsters at every turn. But beware, you must escape before the evil consumes you!

May 6, 200387/100

↗

Mainline2003

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

Leon Belmont, an eleventh-century nobleman and knight of the clergy, is about to be wed when his fiancée, Sara Trantoul, suddenly disappears. Leon embarks on an epic journey to bring her back, unaware that a growing evil looms like a shadow over his quest. The majestic tale of Castlevania and the true origins of the Belmont clan of vampire-hunters is about to unfold.

Oct 21, 200379/100

↗

Remaster2003

Castlevania

An enhanced J2ME version for mobile phones.

Dec 31, 2003

↗

Remaster2004

Akumajou Dracula

Final enhanced mobile version released exclusively in Japan for the i-Mode cell service.

Dec 31, 2004

↗

Mainline2005

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Draw the correct magic seal quickly, or your enemies will never die! Fight and explore through one of the largest castles ever seen in the series! Race another player through custom-made castle rooms in versus mode! A year has passed since Soma Cruz discovered the evil of Dracula hidden inside his body. Now, a mysterious cult wants to release the power of the Lord of Darkness. As Soma, you must do everything in your power to stop them before it's too late.

Aug 25, 200587/100

↗

Mainline2005

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is a direct sequel to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. The game differs from its predecessor in a number of ways, including a more complex, action-adventure style of gameplay featuring character growth based on accumulated experience points. Master the unique new skills of Devil Forgery to develop and enhance Innocent Devils - allies that will help to conquer enemies, evade traps and solve challenging puzzles.

Nov 1, 200570/100

↗

Mainline2006

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is a side-scrolling action RPG where you switch between two hunters, Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin, to explore Dracula's castle and defeat the vampire Brauner. Set in 1944, Jonathan wields the Vampire Killer whip while Charlotte casts magic. You'll navigate eight painted worlds hidden within the castle, solve puzzles using each character's unique abilities, and acquire new skills and weapons. Your decisions determine which of multiple endings you receive.

Nov 16, 200678/100

↗

Mainline2007

Castlevania: Order of Shadows

Castlevania: Order of Shadows is a mobile game developed for the Java Platform, Micro Edition, and released by Konami in September 2007.

Sep 18, 200761/100

↗

Remake2007

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is an entirely new take at the best Castlevania game to never be released in the US, "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood". The Dracula X Chronicles brings this action/adventure franchise to the PSP system for the first time, complete with 3D graphics, enhanced gameplay and new music. Completing the Dracula X storyline, this game also includes an unlockable version of Symphony of the Night and players will also be able to unlock the original Rondo of Blood from the NEC PC Engine. Includes unlockable versions of the original "Rondo of Blood" and "Symphony of the Night" games, optimized for the PSP. Timeless side scrolling action through more than 10 gothic stages and additional hidden areas. Return to previously completed levels to find additional secrets.

Oct 23, 200781/100

↗

Mainline2008

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

In the absence of the Holy Whip, those who live in fear of Dracula seek a replacement, which takes the form of the Order of Ecclesia, an organization that holds the secret to manipulating Glyphs. Shanoa, a young woman possessed with a unique ability to channel Glyphs, is chosen as our protector. This is her destiny and the story of the sacred Order of Ecclesia. Use the brand new Glyph system with over 100 different attack combinations to battle Dracula and his minions throughout 20 explorable areas! Take part in side quests and collect items to power up! Experience a gripping storyline featuring new characters!

Oct 21, 200885/100

↗

Mainline2008

Castlevania Judgment

Castlevania Judgement is a first in many: it's the first Castlevania beat'em up. It's also the first time old friends of the Belmont clan meet together in a full 3D environment. Galamoth pursues to change the course of fate by resurrecting a 10,000 year old demon, Time Reaper, to destroy Dracula. Aeon, a magician who discovers Galamoth's plan, summons past and present Castlevania heroes through a time rift to stop Galamoth. Castlevania Judgement is a 3D beat em up where you go one-on-one against friends or computer foes. Several different game modes like the usual beat em up modes of story, training and versus. In addition there's a Castle mode, where you must venture through Dracula's Castle before going face to face with Time Reaper. Survival mode has you fighting for time as there are no continues.

Nov 18, 200842/100

↗

Mainline2009

Castlevania: The Arcade

Arcade Castlevania game in which you use a whip controller to fend off demons.

Oct 2, 2009

↗

Remake2009

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth

The classic Castlevania game is reborn for the Wii with all-new upgrades. Another 100 years has passed since the death of Count Dracula, but the revival of his curse has emerged once again within the realms of Transylvania. Play the role of the ultimate gothic hero from the long lineage of vampire hunters, the Belmont clan, and rid the universe of Dracula’s legion of darkness and doom. Based on the classic 1989 original Castlevania: The Adventure, the WiiWare version will allow players of a new generation and older fans to experience one of the most popular games within the storied Castlevania timeline from a new perspective.

Oct 27, 200970/100

↗

Mainline2010

Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night

A bizarre re-telling of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for iOS and Windows Phone, with the thrilling combat replaced by the match-three puzzle gameplay of the Taisen Puzzle-Dama series.

Jul 21, 2010

↗

Mainline2010

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a crossover platform-adventure game that features a new map system which allows players to see the current quest map's entire setup, as well as up to six players at once over Xbox Live. The game was first leaked as an OFLCA Rating on May 27, 2010, then officially announced for Xbox Live Summer of Gaming 2010. Later in the year, the game was unveiled as a playable demo in the Konami booth at the E3 Convention of 2010.

Aug 4, 201070/100

↗

Mainline2010

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Gabriel Belmont learns of a mask with the power to raise the dead and sets out on a mission to obtain it to bring his recently murdered wife back from the dead. Lords of Shadow builds upon the combat systems first explored in this series in 2003's Lament of Innocence and adds more violent kills to the mix. Inspiration for these changes seems to have come from 2005's God of War.

Oct 5, 201082/100

↗

Mainline2014

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is an action-adventure game and a sequel to the 2010 game, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and the 35th installment on the Castlevania franchise. The game was developed by MercurySteam and published by Konami. This is MercurySteam's last contribution to the franchise. The story is set in both medieval and modern worlds. As in the previous game, the player controls Gabriel Belmont, now known as Dracula, as he fights through an open world. During the game's opening sequence the player is able to control Dracula while he still possesses all his powers as well as all of his weapons. Dracula's main weapon is his Blood Whip, a weapon that is comparable to the Combat Cross from the original Lords of Shadow. Replacing the magic system from the previous game are the Void Sword and the Chaos Claws. The Void Sword can replenish Dracula's health when used while the Chaos Claws can be used to break through enemy defenses and deliver powerful attacks. The story mode in Lords of Shadow 2 has been stated to be far longer than the previous one. The game is mainly an open world allowing the player to choose what route to take. This game also features a movable camera, something that was not available in the first Lords of Shadow game.

Feb 25, 201468/100

↗

Mainline2014

Pachislot Akumajou Dracula

Pachislot Akumajou Dracula is a pachislot game created by Konami Parlor Entertainment. Its aesthetics are based on Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and features most of its cast, including Trevor Belmont in the leading role. The game functions like a slot machine but also features cinematic scenes. A sequel, Pachislot Akumajou Dracula II, was released in 2010. It features much the same cast as the original game, which is based on the cast of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. It was followed by Pachislot Akumajou Dracula III in 2012. It features much of the cast of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, including Trevor, Alucard, Sypha, Succubus, Doppelganger and Dracula.

Dec 19, 2014

↗

Remaster2018

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

A remaster of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood included in the "Castlevania Requiem" collection. Experience Rondo of Blood remastered to 4K/1080p resolution, with optional rendering options such as image-smoothing. This remaster is based on the English-localization of Rondo of Blood, which was previously released exclusively as part of its remake, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Venture through 9 stages featuring hidden levels and alternative routes to save imprisoned villagers as you set out to destroy count Dracula once and for all. Playable characters include Richter Belmont the Vampire Hunter and Maria Renard the master of the 4 celestial beasts.

Oct 26, 201880/100

↗

Remaster2018

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

A remaster of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night included in the "Castlevania Requiem" collection. Experience Symphony of the Night remastered to 4K/1080p, with optional rendering options such as image-smoothing. This remaster is based on Symphony of the Night's expanded re-release for Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Featuring ground-breaking non-linear gameplay, Symphony of the Night helped define a new genre of gameplay by blending RPG elements, exploration and platforming. The vast number of weapons and items found throughout the game allows a diverse range of play styles to be employed. This game perfected the essence of the Castlevania series with gorgeous artwork and classic soundtrack that carry the player through the game.

Oct 26, 201886/100

↗

Mainline2019

Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls

Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is a side-scrolling action RPG with characters from previous games available to be played. The game also has an up to 4 player boss-rush mode as well as a 4v4 PvP mode. Apart from the 2 new main characters, Genya Arikado and Lucy, 6 returning characters have been revealed: Alucard (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night) Simon Belmont (Castlevania) Charlotte Aulin (Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin) Maria Renard (Castlevania: Rondo of Blood) Soma Cruz (Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow) Shanoa (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia)

Sep 20, 2019

↗

Remake2024

Haunted Castle Revisited

Haunted Castle Revisited, a redesigned version of the very first Castlevania arcade game, makes its debut! The game was released within the Castlevania Dominus Collection.

Aug 27, 202477/100

↗

Mainline2026

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows. Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle.

Oct 15, 2026

↗

Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

database Castlevania collection — IGDB
IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for Castlevania and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.
reference List of video game franchises
The independent catalog recognizes Castlevania as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.