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?

Castlevania (1986)

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

1/12

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

A branching NES prequel featuring multiple playable characters including Alucard.

2/12

Super Castlevania IV

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

3/12

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

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

4/12

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The groundbreaking 1997 Metroidvania featuring Alucard exploring an inverted castle.

5/12

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

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

6/12

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

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

7/12

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

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

8/12

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

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

9/12

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon

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

10/12

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

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

11/12

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

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

12/12