Is Rank 14 Gear the Best in the Game UPDATED

Castlevania is one of the most iconic names in video games, then to honor the long-running, vampire-ridden series, we decided to put together a guide to the all-time Castlevania games of all time.

Unfortunately, Castlevania'south early days are messy, with a handful of slightly altered ports released for different platforms and regions. For this guide, we're skipping Vampire Killer and Haunted Castle, as well every bit the Castlevania port for the Sharp X68000, which was afterward released for the PlayStation and eventually the PlayStation Network as Castlevania Chronicles. All of the aforementioned titles are ports or re-imaginings of the original Castlevania. Although they differ in a scattering of ways, they're not distinct enough to warrant their own spot. Still, if y'all're a fan of the original game, Vampire Killer and Haunted Castle provide a unique spin.

ane. Symphony of the Nighttime

It's hard to talk near Castlevania without mentioning 1 of the all-time PS1 games, Symphony of the Night. Equally the directorial debut for Koji Igarashi, Symphony of the Night has go a defining title in the Castlevania series, ditching the more linear gameplay of previous titles in favor of Super Metroid-style exploration — making it a solid Metroidvania game.

Symphony of the Night isn't just the best Castlevania game, but ane of the all-time games ever released. Instead of focusing on subpar 3D visuals like most other PlayStation titles at the time, Symphony of the Night perfected 2D platforming, offer a much-needed change of pace for the serial as a whole.

two. Aria of Sorrow

Aria of Sorrow is another Koji Igarashi-led Castlevania game, and like Symphony of the Night, features open up-ended exploration. It does so on the Game Boy Advance, however. Although in that location were other titles similar to Aria of Sorrow on the GBA, none of them got as close to the Symphony of the Night experience as Aria of Sorrow.

Mechanically, Aria of Sorrow is like to the GBA games that came before information technology. That said, about reviewers at the time found its story, graphics, and music superior, if only past a small-scale margin. Regardless, if you're looking for a go-to Castlevania game on GBA, it should be Aria of Sorrow.

3. Circle of the Moon

Circle of the Moon was the first Castlevania game released on the GBA. Much like Aria of Sorrow, Circle of the Moon mirrors the exploration of Symphony of the Night, though information technology isn't as refined as the GBA titles that would follow. In particular, Circumvolve of the Moon doesn't have full advantage of the GBA's graphical capabilities.

The graphics are dark and, as a outcome, difficult to run into. Although the core gameplay is some of the best the Castlevania series has seen, the overall experience isn't as fluid every bit Aria of Sorrow. Still, if you like open-concluded Castlevania games, Circumvolve of the Moon is a must play.

4. Dawn of Sorrow

Dawn of Sorrow was the first Castlevania game released as a Nintendo DS game, giving core gamers a reason to upgrade to Nintendo's latest handheld. Like our previous picks, Dawn of Sorrow was headed past Koji Igarashi, leaving intact the Metroid-esque exploration seen in previous titles.

In many ways, Dawn of Sorrow feels similar a refreshed Aria of Sorrow, merely with meliorate visuals and the convenience of two screens. Equally for other differences, Dawn of Sorrow features a few new gameplay mechanics, only cuts down the length significantly; Dawn of Sorrow is 1 of the shortest games in the Castlevania series.

5. Castlevania III: Dracula's Expletive

Breaking from the Koji Igarashi-led Castlevania games, Dracula's Curse is the first championship in the series that shows what information technology would eventually become. Castlevania III combines all of the best elements of Castlevania and Simon's Quest into a unmarried game, expanding the RPG elements seen with the 2nd release while not letting platforming autumn by the wayside.

Like Simon'due south Quest, Dracula's Curse features multiple endings depending on the paths you take throughout the game. Although easy to have for granted nowadays, it's important to remember that Dracula's Curse was released as an NES game in North America thirty years ago.

half dozen. Harmony of Dissonance

Harmony of Racket sits in between Circumvolve of the Moon and Aria of Sorrow on the GBA. Although more than refined visually than Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance feels like a footstep back mechanically, trying its best to mirror the Symphony of the Night experience. It'south even so a swell Castlevania game, just not every bit good as Aria of Sorrow.

7. Portrait of Ruin

Portrait of Ruin was the follow-upwards to Dawn of Sorrow on the DS. The game features nearly of the gameplay mechanics of the original DS championship, but tries to build upon it in various ways, sometimes for the better and other times for the worse. For the nigh part, Portrait of Ruin is notwithstanding some other bang-up Castlevania game, though with some occasionally awkward gameplay.

viii. Order of Ecclesia

Rounding out the Nintendo DS lineup of Castlevania games — and the latest original 2D game in the serial — is Lodge of Ecclesia. Upon its release in 2008, Order of Ecclesia received more often than not positive reviews. Notwithstanding, with the increasing discontent in the brackish nature of the series, Order of Ecclesia was overshadowed by the titles that came earlier it.

ix. Bloodlines

Moving away from the more modernistic titles, Castlevania: Bloodlines is the first of the serial to testify up equally a Sega Genesis game. Equally the only Castlevania title on any of Sega's consoles, Bloodlines is often overlooked with most players pointing toward Super Castlevania 4 as the all-time sixteen-scrap choice. For classic Castlevania gameplay, however, information technology'southward difficult to beat Bloodlines.

ten. Super Castlevania IV

Post-obit closely backside Bloodlines is Super Castlevania IV. Despite beingness released 3 years prior to Bloodlines, Super Castlevania Four is actually the meliorate-looking game. Still, information technology has a few issues. Super Castlevania is a straightforward second platformer, and although the gameplay is fantabulous, it doesn't feature many of the RPG mechanics that the serial is known for.

11. Castlevania

Past mod standards, Castlevania has a handful of issues, particularly compared to later entries in the series. Still, it'south tough to write a list of the all-time Castlevania games without paying homage to the original. Known for its knuckle-busting difficulty, Castlevania gear up the tone for a series that's now more than 30 years quondam.

12. Castlevania Two: Belmont'due south Revenge

With Belmont'south Revenge, we have our first taste of Castlevania'southward confusing naming conventions. It's actually the fifth game released chronologically, but the proper noun comes from the fact that it was the second title released every bit a Game Boy game. Although lacking compared to later Castlevania titles, Belmont's Revenge is the best game the series has seen on Game Boy.

13. Lords of Shadow

Breaking from the second sidescrolling roots of the series, Lords of Shadow is a 3D action-hazard game originally released as an Xbox 360 game and PlayStation three game in 2010. Hideo Kojima, manager of the Metal Gear series and Death Stranding, really helped produce Lords of Shadow, and although it's a break from Castlevania tradition, information technology's i of the improve activeness games of the era.

14. The Adventure ReBirth

Slightly earlier the release of Lords of Shadow, Konami released The Adventure ReBirth exclusively for WiiWare. ReBirth is a re-cosmos of the outset Castlevania championship released on Game Boy, The Adventure. Oftentimes hailed equally i of the worst Castlevania games of all time, The Adventure features dated visuals and unforgiving difficulty, both of which were stock-still with ReBirth.

xv. Lament of Innocence

Post-obit Symphony of the Night every bit the 2d Castlevania title on a Sony platform, the anticipation for Lament of Innocence prior to its release was through the roof. Although an splendid 3D action game, Lament of Innocence breaks from the platforming seen in Symphony of the Night in favor of a more traditional third-person experience. Like many of the best PS2 games, it was one-of-a-kind.

16. Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest

Not to be confused with Belmont's Revenge, Simon'due south Quest is the second game in the Castlevania series. Ditching the action-platforming of the first game in favor of more than RPG mechanics, Simon'south Quest is a snapshot of the series in limbo. Although the kickoff showing of many mechanics that would later on define Castlevania, Simon's Quest focuses too heavily on them, pain the game overall.

17. Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate

Mirror of Fate is the sequel to the original Lords of Shadow, though it was treated every bit more than of a spinoff. Released originally for the 3DS in 2013, Mirror of Fate tried to re-create all of the wrong parts of its console predecessor. With little in the manner of exploration and a redundant combat system, Mirror of Fate feels like no more than than a slightly higher up-par action game.

18. Lords of Shadow 2

Unfortunately, Castlevania's latest showing is one of its worst. Lords of Shadow 2, despite existence six years onetime, is the last truthful Castlevania game Konami released. Although a fun hack-and-slash game, Lords of Shadow 2 doesn't live up to the original game. The graphics experience outdated, the level design is basic, and the gameplay, although fun, is mindless.

19. Curse of Darkness

Like Lords of Shadow ii, Expletive of Darkness is a decent action game, but a poor Castlevania game. Released for the original Xbox and PlayStation 2 in 2005, Curse of Darkness features similar 3D activeness gameplay to Lament of Innocence. However, its lackluster level design and monotonous encounters leave the entry feeling stale.

20. Legacy of Darkness

Legacy of Darkness is an expansion of the original Castlevania N64 game , remaking the original game and calculation a prequel. Despite Konami's best efforts to enhance and build upon the strengths of the original 3D Castlevania game, Legacy of Darkness is yet some other N64 game that doesn't measure upwards to the current competition. The overall game is simplistic and shallow, with outdated, depression-quality visuals and a clumsy gameplay experience.

21. Legends

It'due south hard enough to sympathise the complexity of a game like Symphony of the Night , and fifty-fifty Legends outdoes them for the lowest bar on game ratings . Rounding out the Game Male child lineup of games and released just months afterward Castlevania's best championship, Legends feels outdated in every fashion. Fifty-fifty the Castlevania franchise's creators and faithful fan base don't dispute Koji Igarashi's rather harsh review of Legends being "…an embarrassment for the series."

22. The Adventure

Rounding out our list is Castlevania's first foray onto the Game Male child: Castlevania: The Adventure . The Run a risk would have been a great game if consoles properly supported its pattern. Gameboy sets the bar pretty low on visuals, and this game is no exception. The real dealbreaker, still, is that The Take chances is nearly unbeatable, and its incommunicable level of difficulty simply makes for frustrating gameplay.

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Is Rank 14 Gear the Best in the Game UPDATED