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

Castlevania (1986)

The original NES gothic action-platformer where Simon Belmont battles Dracula with a whip.

2

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

A branching NES prequel featuring multiple playable characters including Alucard.

3

Super Castlevania IV

A SNES classic that reimagined the original with enhanced graphics and eight-directional whipping.

4

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

A PC Engine masterpiece featuring Richter Belmont with multiple routes and Maria as a secret character.

5

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The groundbreaking 1997 Metroidvania featuring Alucard exploring an inverted castle.

6

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

A 2003 GBA entry featuring Soma Cruz absorbing monster souls set in the year 2035.

7

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

A 2005 DS sequel to Aria of Sorrow featuring touchscreen magic seal mechanics.

8

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

A challenging 2008 DS entry starring Shanoa who wields magical glyphs instead of a whip.

9

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

A 2006 DS game featuring a dual-character system set during World War II.

10

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

A GBA launch title starring Nathan Graves with a card-based DSS magic system.

11

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

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

12

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

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