What is the best Castlevania game of all time?

From the brutal NES original to the genre-defining Metroidvania landmark and beyond, the series spans decades of gothic adventure with very different play styles. Which entry earns its place on the throne?

1. 1
   Castlevania (1986)

   The original NES gothic action-platformer where Simon Belmont battles Dracula with a whip.
2. 2
   Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

   A branching NES prequel featuring multiple playable characters including Alucard.
3. 3
   Super Castlevania IV

   A SNES classic that reimagined the original with enhanced graphics and eight-directional whipping.
4. 4
   Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

   A PC Engine masterpiece featuring Richter Belmont with multiple routes and Maria as a secret character.
5. 5
   Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

   The groundbreaking 1997 Metroidvania featuring Alucard exploring an inverted castle.
6. 6
   Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

   A 2003 GBA entry featuring Soma Cruz absorbing monster souls set in the year 2035.
7. 7
   Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

   A 2005 DS sequel to Aria of Sorrow featuring touchscreen magic seal mechanics.
8. 8
   Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

   A challenging 2008 DS entry starring Shanoa who wields magical glyphs instead of a whip.
9. 9
   Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

   A 2006 DS game featuring a dual-character system set during World War II.
10. 10
    Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

    A GBA launch title starring Nathan Graves with a card-based DSS magic system.
11. 11
    Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

    A 2010 3D reboot featuring Gabriel Belmont voiced by Robert Carlyle in a God of War-style format.
12. 12
    Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

    A 2002 GBA entry featuring Juste Belmont exploring twin overlapping castles.