Castlevania

Castlevania is a gothic action-platformer franchise created by Konami in 1986. Born on NES with the first episode signed Hitoshi Akamatsu, the saga immediately sets its foundations: the Belmont lineage, vampire hunters, face Dracula across the ages in labyrinthine castles.

Several episodes forged the series' reputation. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989, NES) introduces Trevor Belmont and a branching structure. Super Castlevania IV (1991, SNES) pushes the genre to its technical limits. But it's Symphony of the Night (1997, PS1), directed by Koji Igarashi, that redefines everything: free exploration, RPG progression, interconnected map - a model so influential that it gives its name to an entire genre, the Metroidvania (well okay, along with Metroid...).

The Castlevania DS games (Dawn of Sorrow, Order of Ecclesia) extend Igarashi's legacy on handheld, while the Lords of Shadow trilogy (2010-2014, MercurySteam) attempts a more action-oriented 3D reinterpretation, with mixed reception. Since Lords of Shadow 2 in 2014, the franchise has remained silent on the mainline games front.

Castlevania's influence on the industry is massive: without Symphony of the Night, titles like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells or Ori would probably not have the same form. The series also benefited from renewed interest thanks to the animated Netflix adaptation (2017-2021), critically acclaimed. Twelve years after its last main installment, the franchise returns with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire and expected for October 2026.