View source for Software:Castlevania

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Castlevania
|image = Castlevania logo.png
|caption = Logo of the ''Castlevania'' series, introduced with 2003's ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lament of Innocence|Lament of Innocence]]''
|developer = 
* [[Company:Konami|Konami]] 
* [[Company:Eighting|Eighting]] (2008)
* [[Software:M2 (game developer)|M2]] (2009)
* [[Company:MercurySteam|MercurySteam]] (2010–2014)
* [[Company:Kojima Productions|Kojima Productions]] (2010)
|publisher = Konami
|platforms = {{collapsible list|
* [[Engineering:Amiga|Amiga]]
* [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]
* [[Software:Arcade game|Arcade]]
* [[Engineering:Commodore 64|Commodore 64]]
* [[Engineering:DOS|DOS]]
* [[Engineering:Game Boy|Game Boy]]
* Game Boy Color
* Game Boy Advance
* [[Software:IOS|iOS]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]]
* [[Software:MSX2|MSX2]]
* {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}}
* [[Engineering:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]]
* Nintendo DS
* [[Engineering:Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System]]
* [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]]
* [[Engineering:PlayStation Vita|PlayStation Vita]]
* [[Engineering:Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis]]
* [[Engineering:Sega Saturn|Sega Saturn]]
* [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
* [[Engineering:TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine]]
* [[Engineering:Wii|Wii]]
* [[Engineering:Wii U|Wii U]]
* [[Engineering:X68000|X68000]]
* [[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]
* [[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]
* [[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]]}}
|genre = [[Software:Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
|first release version = ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''
|first release date = {{Start date|1986|9|26}}
|latest release version = ''Castlevania Advance Collection''
|latest release date = {{Start date|2021|9|23}}
|spinoffs =
|creator = Hitoshi Akamatsu<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/>
}}

'''''Castlevania''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|s|əl|ˈ|v|eɪ|n|i|ə}}), known in Japan as {{nihongo foot|'''''Akumajō Dracula''''',|悪魔城ドラキュラ|Akumajō Dorakyura|"''Demon Castle Dracula''"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}<ref name="translation">{{cite video game |title=Castlevania: Harmony of Despair |developer=[[Company:Konami|Konami]] |publisher=Konami|date=August 4, 2010|quote='''Japanese:''' 歴代の「悪魔城ドラキュラ」シリーズから選ばれた登場キャラクターを操作して、仲間たちと悪魔城に乗り込み、宿敵ドラキュラ伯爵に立ち向かおう。 '''English translation:''' Take control of past protagonists from the Castlevania series to brave the Demon Castle alongside friends and defeat the ancient enemy Count Dracula.}}</ref>  is a gothic horror action-adventure video game series and media franchise about Dracula, created and developed by [[Company:Konami|Konami]]. It has been released on various platforms, from early systems to modern consoles, as well as handheld devices such as mobile phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=27053|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804042623/http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=27053|archive-date=August 4, 2008 |title=Windows Mobile – PocketGear.com: Mobile Apps, Software & Games for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Blackberry, Android, Palm and Java devices! |publisher=Classic.pocketgear.com |access-date=August 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.konamimobile.com/gamedetail.aspx?rkw=castle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603080736/http://www.konamimobile.com/gamedetail.aspx?rkw=castle|archive-date=June 3, 2008 |title=Konami Mobile |publisher=Konami Mobile |access-date=August 11, 2010}}</ref> The franchise has expanded into several spin-off video games and other media, including comic books<ref name="IDWComic">{{cite web|url=http://castlevaniadungeon.net/Features/cvcomic.html|title=Castlevania: The Belmont Legacy|work=The Castlevania Dungeon|access-date=August 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611220926/http://castlevaniadungeon.net/features/cvcomic.html|archive-date=June 11, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> and an animated television series.<ref name="IGNRetrospective">{{cite web|author=Mark Bozon|date=January 18, 2007|url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2007/01/19/castlevania-the-retrospective?page=1|title=Castlevania: The Retrospective|page=5|website=IGN|access-date=July 12, 2008}}</ref>

''Castlevania'' is largely set in the eponymous castle of Count Dracula, the main antagonist of the Belmont clan of vampire hunters.<ref name="DenOfGeek"/> It debuted with 1986's ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'' for the [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] Family Computer Disk System.<ref name=MobyGames>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/castlevania/release-info |title=Castlevania (1986) NES release dates |work=[[Social:MobyGames|MobyGames]] |access-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112142831/http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/castlevania/release-info |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first entry and the majority of its sequels are side-scrolling action platformers, and were succeeded by the 1997 game, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Castlevania]]''. Originally released for the [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], it returned to the [[Software:Nonlinear gameplay|nonlinear gameplay]] seen in ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest|Castlevania II]]'', which introduced [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing]] elements and exploration.<ref name="USGamerInterview">{{cite web | url = https://www.usgamer.net/articles/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-wouldnt-have-happened-without-castlevania-2-simons-quest | title = Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Wouldn't Have Happened Without Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest | first = Nadia | last = Oxford | date = September 7, 2018 | access-date = September 7, 2018 | work = USGamer | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181001030938/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-wouldnt-have-happened-without-castlevania-2-simons-quest | archive-date = October 1, 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> Several installments later adopted ''Symphony of the Night''{{'}}s gameplay, and along with ''[[Software:Super Metroid|Super Metroid]]'', it has popularized the [[Software:Metroidvania|Metroidvania]] genre.<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/castlevania-creator-koji-igarashi-im-not-a-big-deal-w452193|title='Castlevania' Creator Koji Igarashi: 'I Don't Feel That I'm a Big Deal'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525134257/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/castlevania-creator-koji-igarashi-im-not-a-big-deal-w452193|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 2010 saw the release of ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]'', a 3D [[Software:Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] reboot of the series developed by [[Company:MercurySteam|MercurySteam]]<ref name="GamePro" /> and [[Company:Kojima Productions|Kojima Productions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/kojima-taking-on-castlevania-with-lords-of-shadow-5274898|title=Kojima Taking On Castlevania With Lords Of Shadow|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=June 1, 2009|website=Kotaku}}</ref>

''Castlevania'' is one of Konami's most successful and prominent franchises;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/project-51-to-explore-castlevania-storyline/69268/?biz=1 | title=Project 51 to Explore Castlevania Storyline | access-date=March 21, 2009 | date=August 4, 2006 |first=Chris |last=Marlowe | website=GameDaily | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116022409/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/project-51-to-explore-castlevania-storyline/69268/?biz=1 | archive-date=January 16, 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> several of its entries are ranked among the best video games ever made.<ref>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617164708/http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html|archive-date=June 17, 2012|url= http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html|title=The Top 25 Videogame Franchises|work=IGN|date=July 7, 2010 | url-status=dead|access-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref>

==Games==

{{Timeline of release years
| subtitle = Original series in green<br />''Lords of Shadow'' series in yellow
| range1 = 1986 – 2009
| range1_color = #0BDA51 #228B22
| range2 = 2010 – 2018
| range2_color = Gold Goldenrod
| 1986a = ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''
| 1986b = ''[[Software:Vampire Killer|Vampire Killer]]''
| 1987 = ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest|Castlevania II]]''
| 1988 = ''[[Software:Haunted Castle (video game)|Haunted Castle]]''
| 1989a = ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure|Castlevania]]''
| 1989b = ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Castlevania III]]''
| 1991a = ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge|Castlevania II]]''
| 1991b = ''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]''
| 1993b = ''[[Software:Castlevania Chronicles|Akumajō Dracula]]''
| 1993c = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Rondo of Blood|Castlevania]]''
| 1994 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Castlevania]]''
| 1995 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Dracula X|Castlevania]]''
| 1997a = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Castlevania]]''
| 1997b = ''[[Software:Castlevania Legends|Castlevania Legends]]''
| 1999a = [[Software:Castlevania (1999 video game)|''Castlevania'' (Nintendo 64)]]
| 1999b = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness|Castlevania]]''
| 2001 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon|Castlevania]]''
| 2001b = ''[[Software:Castlevania Chronicles|Castlevania Chronicles]]''
| 2002 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance|Castlevania]]''
| 2003a = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow|Castlevania]]''
| 2003b = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lament of Innocence|Castlevania]]''
| 2005a = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow|Castlevania]]''
| 2005b = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Curse of Darkness|Castlevania]]''
| 2006 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin|Castlevania]]''
| 2007b = ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles|Castlevania]]''
| 2008a = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia|Castlevania]]''
| 2009 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth|Castlevania]]''<!--2009 is CORRECT, the game is release in December, 2009 in Japan, do NOT change this to 2010 just because the NA version released later than the original version-->
| 2010b = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]''
| 2013 = ''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate''
| 2014 = ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2|Castlevania]]''
}}
<!--Timeline for main series only, do not include spin-offs or re-releases. I.e Judgment, Castlevania Grimoire of Souls or Castlevania Requiem-->

Most ''Castlevania'' titles have been released in Japan, North America, Europe and Australia on various video game consoles, personal computers (PC) and mobile phones, with additional [[Software:Video game remake|remakes]] and re-releases.<ref name=CVHistory>{{cite web | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/history#menu-top | title=HISTORY Castlevania web portal | access-date=January 10, 2018 | date=January 10, 2018 | publisher=Konami | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002064844/https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/history#menu-top | archive-date=October 2, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The first console title, ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'', was released on the Famicom Disk System in 1986 and in North America in 1987 on the [[Engineering:Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES).<ref name=MobyGames/> A [[2D computer graphics|2D]] sidescrolling action game where the player progresses through six [[Software:Level (video games)|stages]], many principal features of the ''Castlevania'' series originated with it.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/at-30-castlevania-may-be-dead-but-its-influence-lingers-beyond-the-grave | title=At 30, Castlevania May be Dead, But Its Influence Lingers Beyond The Grave | access-date=September 27, 2016 | date=September 27, 2016 | author=Jeremy Parish | publisher=USGamer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929062528/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/at-30-castlevania-may-be-dead-but-its-influence-lingers-beyond-the-grave | archive-date=September 29, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> It has been ported to many platforms, such as the [[Engineering:NES Classic Edition|NES Classic Edition]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Gary|title=NES Classic Edition: The final 30 games list revealed as Nintendo talk mini N64|url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/690813/NES-classic-Edition-games-confirmed-Nintendo-N64|access-date=August 9, 2016|date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> Also released in 1986 was ''[[Software:Vampire Killer|Vampire Killer]]'' for the [[Engineering:MSX|MSX]] home computer, which played significantly differently from the original ''Castlevania'', where players had to search for the exit before they could proceed to the next stage.<ref>Jeremy Parish, [http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8827111&publicUserId=5379721 Famicom 25th, Part 17: Live from The Nippon edition] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120629230850/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8827111&publicUserId=5379721 |date=June 29, 2012 }}, 1UP.com, August 1, 2008</ref> Following that year, in 1987, ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest|Castlevania II]]'' further departed from the standard platforming genre of the first ''Castlevania'' for a game more similar to the nonlinear gameplay of ''[[Software:Metroid|Metroid]]'', with several role-playing elements such as a world map which the player is free to explore and revisit.<ref name=1UP-Parish>Jeremy Parish, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034651/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=7212636 Metroidvania Chronicles II: Simon's Quest], 1UP.com, June 28, 2006</ref><ref>Kurt Kalata and William Cain, [http://castlevaniadungeon.net/games/cv2.html Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (1988)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723035624/http://castlevaniadungeon.net/games/cv2.html |date=July 23, 2011 }}, Castlevania Dungeon, accessed February 27, 2011</ref> 

The franchise's first arcade game, ''[[Software:Haunted Castle (video game)|Haunted Castle]]'' (1988), returned to the linear platforming gameplay of the original.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/haunted-castle |title=Haunted Castle for Arcade |work=[[Social:MobyGames|MobyGames]] |access-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016151536/http://www.mobygames.com/game/haunted-castle |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> This continued with the first handheld [[Engineering:Game Boy|Game Boy]] entry, ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure|Castlevania]]''<ref>{{cite web|date=January 1, 1999 |url=http://castlevaniadungeon.net/games/cva.html|title=Castlevania: The Adventure (1989) |publisher=GameSpy|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109100414/http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/Games/cva.html|archive-date=January 9, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> and the NES sequel, ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Castlevania III]]'', both released in 1989. ''Dracula's Curse'' added features to the original gameplay, including [[Software:Nonlinear gameplay#Branching storylines|alternate stages]] and multiple [[Software:Player character|playable character]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hidden Gems |page=2 |first=Jeremy |last=Parish|date=October 26, 2005|website=1UP.com|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3145017|access-date=April 14, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018171804/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3145017|archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> ''The Adventure'' saw a Game Boy sequel, ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge|Castlevania II]]'', in 1992 and a remake, ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth|Castlevania]]'', developed by [[Software:M2 (game developer)|M2]] for the WiiWare service in 2009.<ref name=CVHistory/>

The franchise's first 16-bit home console game, ''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]'', was released for the [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES) in 1991.<ref name=IGNRetrospective/> A ''Castlevania'' title for the Sharp X68000 [[Engineering:Home computer|home computer]] was released in Japan in 1993 and would not be available in English until ''[[Software:Castlevania Chronicles|Castlevania Chronicles]]'' (2001) for the [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref name=IGNHistory/> During the same year, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Rondo of Blood|Castlevania]]'' was released for the PC Engine and was not localized in English until it was included with ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles|Castlevania]]'' (2007) for the [[Engineering:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]].<ref name=CVHistory/> The first ''Castlevania'' produced for a [[CD-ROM]], ''Rondo of Blood'' featured Red Book audio and fully voiced dialogue.<ref name="Gamespot History">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/history_castlevania/p7_02.html|title=The History of Castlevania – Page 7|author1=Whalen, Mike|author2=Giancarlo Varanini|website=GameSpot|access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617102518/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/history_castlevania/p7_02.html|archive-date=June 17, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The game's content would be reused in ''[[Software:Castlevania: Dracula X|Castlevania]]'', a game for the SNES in 1995.<ref name=IGNHistory/> ''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Castlevania]]'' (1994) was the first ''Castlevania'' entry produced for a [[Company:Sega|Sega]] console, the [[Engineering:Sega Genesis|Genesis]]. It would not be re-released until 2019 as part of the ''Castlevania Anniversary Collection''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |title=Castlevania: Bloodlines, forsaken by Konami, is a masterpiece worth replaying |work=Polygon |date=March 18, 2018 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/18/17131344/castlevania-bloodlines-sega-genesis-reissue-konami |access-date=March 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318155542/https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/18/17131344/castlevania-bloodlines-sega-genesis-reissue-konami |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=CVCollectionLineUp>{{cite web |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/castlevania-anniversary-collection-screenshots-price-point/ |title=Castlevania Anniversary Collection screenshots, price point |publisher=Nintendo Everything |date=April 21, 2019}}</ref>

In 1997, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Castlevania]]'' and ''[[Software:Castlevania Legends|Castlevania Legends]]'' were launched for the PlayStation and Game Boy, respectively.<ref name=CVHistory/> ''Symphony of the Night'' introduced a major change to the gameplay, incorporating role-playing elements and a nonlinear map that the player could freely explore, which was previously seen in ''Simon's Quest'' and Nintendo's ''[[Software:Metroid|Metroid]]'' series.<ref name=1UP-Parish/><ref>{{cite web| year=2006| title=The Top 25 Videogame Franchises| url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617164708/http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html| archive-date=June 17, 2012}}</ref> Elements of ''Symphony of the Night'' would influence the gameplay of future titles, beginning with the Game Boy Advance entries ''Circle of the Moon'', ''Harmony of Dissonance'', and ''Aria of Sorrow'', which were released from 2001 to 2003.<ref name=CVHistory/> ''Aria of Sorrow'' received a 2005 sequel, [[Software:Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow|Dawn of Sorrow]] for the Nintendo DS, which was followed by ''Portrait of Ruin'' (2006) and ''Order of Ecclesia'' (2008).<ref name=CVHistory/>

Under the development of Konami's Kobe branch, the first game in the series to employ [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] was ''Castlevania'' for [[Engineering:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]] in 1999, and it received an expansion called ''[[Software:Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness|Castlevania]]'' later that year.<ref name="Gamespot History"/>  In 2003, the next 3D ''Castlevania'' title, ''Lament of Innocence'' debuted for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]] with combat-oriented [[Software:Hack and slash|hack and slash]] gameplay that drew comparisons to ''[[Software:Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'' and retroactively, ''[[Software:God of War (2005 video game)|God of War]]''.<ref>Kurt Kalata and William Cain, [http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/games/loi.html ''Castlevania: Lament of Innocence'' (2003)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520011729/http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/games/loi.html |date=May 20, 2012 }}, Castlevania Dungeon, accessed February 27, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.1up.com/previews/god-of-war_8 God of War (PS2)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034701/http://www.1up.com/previews/god-of-war_8 |date=June 29, 2011 }}, 1UP.com, accessed February 27, 2011</ref> It was followed two years later by ''[[Software:Castlevania: Curse of Darkness|Castlevania]]''.<ref name=CVHistory/>

A reboot of the franchise launched with ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]'' in 2010, a multi-platform 3D action title developed by [[Company:MercurySteam|MercurySteam]] and co-produced by Hideo Kojima.<ref name=GamePro/> It was followed by two sequels, ''Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate'' for {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} in 2013, and ''Lords of Shadow 2'' in 2014.<ref name=CVHistory/> ''Lords of Shadow 2'' was the last mainline game in the franchise to date, due to Konami shifting focus to mobile games and gambling in the 2010s.<ref>Crecente, Brian. [https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/14/8605313/konami-interview-mobile-is-where-the-future-of-gaming-lies Konami CEO: 'Mobile is where the future of gaming lies'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601185511/https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/14/8605313/konami-interview-mobile-is-where-the-future-of-gaming-lies |date=1 June 2023 }}. Polygon. Retrieved on February 11, 2018. Hideki Hayakawa: "Gaming has spread to many platforms, but at the end of the day, the platform that is always closest to us, is mobile. Mobile is where the future of gaming lies...with multiplatform games, there's no point in dividing the market into categories anymore. Mobiles will take on the new role of linking the general public to the gaming world."([http://jin115.com/archives/52080348.html Original interview in Japanese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131636/http://jin115.com/archives/52080348.html |date=11 February 2018 }})</ref>

In 2021, rumours began circulating that, following internal restructuring at Konami to refocus on PC and console games, a new main entry in the series was in development.<ref name=VGC>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/konami-is-set-to-revive-metal-gear-castlevania-and-silent-hill/ |title=Konami is set to revive Metal Gear, Castlevania and Silent Hill|publisher=Video Games Chronicle|date=October 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/04/konamis-return-to-games-continues-with-new-studio-opening Konami's Return to Games Continues with New Studio Opening]</ref>

===Spin-offs===
''Castlevania'' has spawned numerous spin-offs, the first being the 1990 platformer, ''[[Software:Kid Dracula (1990 video game)|Kid Dracula]]'' for the Famicom, a parody which stars the eponymous character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/akumajou-special-boku-dracula-kun/ |title=Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun |work=Gamespot |access-date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520155246/http://www.gamespot.com/akumajou-special-boku-dracula-kun/ |archive-date=May 20, 2015 }}</ref> It was released for the first time in English for the ''Castlevania Anniversary Collection'' (2019).<ref name=CVCollectionLineUp/> The game received a sequel for the Game Boy, also titled ''[[Software:Kid Dracula (1993 video game)|Kid Dracula]]''.<ref name=IGNRetrospective/> 

''Castlevania''{{'}}s first [[Software:Fighting game|fighting game]], ''[[Software:Castlevania Judgment|Castlevania Judgment]]'' debuted for the Wii in 2008 and was developed by [[Company:Eighting|Eighting]].<ref name=CVHistory/> ''[[Software:Castlevania: Harmony of Despair|Castlevania]]'', released in 2010, was an online, multiplayer title in-which players could play as past ''Castlevania'' characters and explore stages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5567240/castlevania-harmony-of-despair-hands-on|title=Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Hands-on From E3 2010|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=June 19, 2010|work=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|access-date=August 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903011315/http://kotaku.com/5567240/castlevania-harmony-of-despair-hands-on|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A mobile game called ''Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls'' was released on September 16, 2019 for [[Software:IOS|iOS]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/castlevania-grimoire-of-souls-announced-for-ios-devices-498995.phtml |title=Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls announced for iOS devices |website=Destructoid |date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

Arcade and slot machines based on the series have been produced. ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Arcade|Castlevania]]'' (2009), a light gun shooter utilizing an LED remote, has been released in Japan and Europe.<ref>{{cite web | author=Ashcroft, Brian | date=July 23, 2008 | title=Castlevania Japanese Arcade Game Hands-On | url=http://kotaku.com/5028044/castlevania-japanese-arcade-game-hands+on | work=Kotaku.com | access-date=August 3, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502125258/http://kotaku.com/5028044/castlevania-japanese-arcade-game-hands+on | archive-date=May 2, 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Japanese-exclusive ''[[Software:Pachislot Akumajō Dracula|Pachislot Akumajō Dracula]]'' series is a line of  pachislot titles released between 2009 and 2017.<ref name=Pachislot>{{cite web|url= http://777.nifty.com/cs/catalog/777_777/catalog_akumajyodracula2_1.htm|title= Castlevania II(KPE)|language= ja|publisher= 777@nifty|access-date= June 23, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130529035608/http://777.nifty.com/cs/catalog/777_777/catalog_akumajyodracula2_1.htm|archive-date= May 29, 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref> The first three are based on the video game ''Dracula's Curse'', while a fourth game based on the ''Lords of Shadow'' reboot, ''Pachislot Akumajō Dracula: Lords of Shadow'', was made available in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://777.nifty.com/pachislot/akumajyodraculalos/6S1716/|title= 悪魔城ドラキュラ Lords of Shadow(KPE)|language= ja|publisher= 777@nifty|access-date= June 23, 2013|archive-date= July 8, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170708092654/https://777.nifty.com/pachislot/akumajyodraculalos/6S1716/|url-status= dead}}</ref>

''Castlevania'' characters and elements have appeared in crossovers and other titles such as the ''[[Software:Konami Wai Wai World|Konami Wai Wai World]]'' series, ''[[Software:Contra: Hard Corps|Contra]]'', ''[[Software:DreamMix TV World Fighters|DreamMix TV World Fighters]]'', ''Bomberman R'' and ''[[Software:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |title=Castlevania's Simon Belmont and Richter Belmont join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/8/17663906/super-smash-bros-ultimate-simon-belmont-richter-castlevania-nintendo-direct-switch |website=Polygon |date=August 8, 2018 |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=August 8, 2018 |ref=137 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808181206/https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/8/17663906/super-smash-bros-ultimate-simon-belmont-richter-castlevania-nintendo-direct-switch |archive-date=August 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Common elements==

===Gameplay===
[[File:Castlevania nes 03.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of ''Castlevania'' on the NES]]

''Castlevania'', released for the NES in 1986 is a platform game in which the player takes the role of Simon Belmont, a descendant of the Belmont clan, a family of vampire hunters. He travels to Dracula's castle, Castlevania, and fights his way through the castle annihilating Dracula himself and the castle. Belmont's main weapon is a whip called the Vampire Killer, while the secondary weapons include throwing daggers, bottles of holy water that act as small fire bombs, throwing axes that arc overhead, a watch that stops time, and a cross that acts like a boomerang. These are powered by hearts which are collected by destroying candles and killing monsters. Hidden items such as power-ups and food (health replenishment) items are found by attacking walls within the levels, a feature inspired by [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]'s ''[[Software:Super Mario Bros.|Super Mario Bros.]]'' with hidden items across the game's levels.

[[File:CPoR-BattleScreen.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Screenshot of ''Castlevania'', which features Metroidvania gameplay. In the top screen is the map, which records the player's progress as they explore the castle.]]

''Vampire Killer'', released in 1986 for the MSX 2 computer and developed alongside the original ''Castlevania'' (the two share the same title in Japanese), departs from the more straightforward platforming gameplay of ''Castlevania'', instead introducing an open-ended, exploration-heavy form of gameplay. ''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'' featured nonlinear gameplay even more open-ended than that of ''Vampire Killer'', with several exclusive elements such as a world map the player was free to explore and revisit. The player could also purchase supplies, equipment and weapon upgrades in several different towns, making it more like an action role-playing game. It introduced a persistent world with a day-night cycle which altered gameplay, and offered three possible endings depending on the time it took to complete the game. ''Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse'' for the NES has more in common with the original NES ''Castlevania'' and added features, including nonlinear elements such as alternate branching paths with different stages and alternate endings depending on the player's choices, as well as multiple player characters.

A turning point in the gameplay mechanics of the series was ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Castlevania]]''. Expanding on the open-ended style of gameplay previously used in ''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'', ''Symphony of the Night''{{'}}s style of gameplay has been termed "[[Software:Metroidvania|Metroidvania]]" due to its similarities with the nonlinear and exploration-focused side-scrolling games of the [[Software:Metroid|''Metroid'' series]]. It used role-playing elements, such as collectible weapons, armor and hidden orbs. Many subsequent ''Castlevania'' games have since followed this template.

===Plot and setting===

{| class="infobox bordered" style="font-size:100%"
|+ ''Castlevania'' series fictional chronology
|-
! Original series
|-
|
{{nowrap|'''1094''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lament of Innocence|Lament of Innocence]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1476''': ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Dracula's Curse]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1479''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Curse of Darkness|Curse of Darkness]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1576''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure|The Adventure]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1591''': ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge|Belmont's Revenge]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1691''': ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1698''': ''[[Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest|Simon's Quest]]''}}<br /> 
{{nowrap|'''1748''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance|Harmony of Dissonance]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1792''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Rondo of Blood|Rondo of Blood]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1797''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Symphony of the Night]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1800s''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia|Order of Ecclesia]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1917''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Bloodlines]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1944''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin|Portrait of Ruin]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''2035''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow|Aria of Sorrow]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''2036''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow|Dawn of Sorrow]]''}}<br />
|-
! ''Lords of Shadow'' series
|-
|
{{nowrap|'''1047''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Lords of Shadow]]''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1073–1101''': ''Mirror of Fate''}}<br />
{{nowrap|'''1102–2057''': ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2|Lords of Shadow 2]]''}}
|-
| Sources:<ref name="chron1" /><ref name="timeline"/><ref name="chron3" /><ref name="chron4" /><ref name="chron5" /><ref name="chron6" /><ref name="chron7" /><ref name="chron8" />
|}
The ''Castlevania'' franchise heavily references the horror films produced by Universal Pictures and Hammer Film Productions.<ref name="DenOfGeek">{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/castlevania/258652/castlevania-a-dracula-masterpiece-90-years-in-the-making |title=Castlevania: A Dracula Masterpiece 90 Years in the Making |work=Den of Geek! |access-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926200259/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/castlevania/258652/castlevania-a-dracula-masterpiece-90-years-in-the-making |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Creator of the series, Hitoshi Akamatsu, wanted players to feel like they were in a classic horror film.<ref name="MicomInterview">{{cite magazine |date=August 1993 |title=WE ASKED THE DEVELOPERS "What is the charm of Dracula?" |url=https://thearkhound.tumblr.com/post/183537621473/1993-castlevania-commentary-from-micom-basic |magazine=Micom BASIC |access-date=June 24, 2019}}</ref> Werewolves, zombies, Frankenstein's monster, and [[Biology:Count Dracula|Count Dracula]] make recurring appearances.<ref name="DenOfGeek"/> Alucard, introduced in ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Castlevania III]]'', is a reference to the character of the same name from the 1943 film, ''Son of Dracula''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.looper.com/76144/untold-truth-castlevania/ |title=The truth about Castlevania |first=Christopher |last=Gates |date=August 27, 2017 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |website=Looper}}</ref> The games include [[Social:Folklore|folklore]] and mythological monsters such as [[Unsolved:Medusa|Medusa]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/neflix-castlevania-review |title=Netflix's Castlevania, Reviewed: Yet Another Botched Video Game Adaptation |author= Scott Meslow and Joshua Rivera|date=October 10, 2017 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |website=GQ}}</ref> as well as direct references to literary horror.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/10/09/virtually-overlooked-castlevania-bloodlines-genesis |title=Virtually Overlooked: Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis) |first=JC |last=Fletcher |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |website=Endgadget}}</ref> ''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Castlevania]]'' explicitly incorporates the events of [[Biography:Bram Stoker|Bram Stoker]]'s ''Dracula'' into the series,<ref name="CVStory">{{cite web | title=Castlevania Storyline | url=http://castlevaniadungeon.net/storyline.html | work=The Castlevania Dungeon | access-date=August 2, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718050007/http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/storyline.html | archive-date=July 18, 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> and the recurring character Carmilla is based on the 1872 novel ''Carmilla'' by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/castlevania-netflix-season-2-ending-explained/2/ |title=Castlevania Season 2's Ending Explained |first=Kayleigh |last=Donaldson |date=October 27, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

''Castlevania'' mainly takes place in the castle of Count Dracula,<ref name="DenOfGeek"/> who resurrects every hundred years to take over the world.<ref>{{cite book| title=Castlevania Chronicles instruction manual| year=2001| publisher=Konami| id=SLUS-01384 | pages=4–5}}</ref> With the exception of some games, the players assume the role of the Belmonts, a clan of vampire hunters who have defeated Dracula for centuries with the Vampire Killer.<ref name="IGNHistory"/> The Vampire Killer is a legendary whip that is passed down to their successors and can only be used by them.<ref name="IGNHistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/en/feature/21098/ign-presents-the-history-of-castlevania/4 |title=IGN Presents the History of Castlevania |last=Ciolek |first=Todd |date=February 25, 2014 |website=IGN |access-date=March 6, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In ''Castlevania: Bloodlines'', the whip has been inherited by John Morris, the son of Quincey Morris, who is a distant descendant of the Belmonts.<ref name="CVStory"/> Other recurring characters throughout the series include the dhampir Alucard, who sides with Trevor Belmont against his father Dracula in ''Dracula's Curse''.<ref name="GameSpotCastlevaniaHistoryP5">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/history_castlevania/p5_01.html |title=The History of Castlevania – Page 5 |website=GameSpot |author=Whalen, Mike |author2=Varanici, Giancarlo |date=September 10, 1998 |access-date=February 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705064549/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/history_castlevania/p5_01.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }}</ref> Trevor is joined by Sypha Belnades, a vampire hunter who fights using magic and marries Trevor by the end of the game.<ref>{{cite book| title=Castlevania Judgment instruction booklet| year=2008| publisher=Konami| pages=21–22}}</ref> Descendants of the Belnades clan, such as Carrie Fernandez<ref>{{cite book| title=Akumajou Dracula Mokushiroku instruction manual| year=1999| publisher=Konami| id=NUS-ND3J-JPN | pages=28–29}}</ref> and Yoko Belnades, would make appearances as playable characters in later titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/castlevania-aria-of-sorrow/5542p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041216040309/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/castlevania-aria-of-sorrow/5542p1.html| title=GameSpy: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Preview|author=Nutt, Christian|publisher=GameSpy|date=January 18, 2003|archive-date=December 16, 2004}}</ref>

''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]'' is a reboot of the franchise, with its first game set in Southern Europe during the Middle Ages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/konami-sheds-light-on-lords-of-shadow-5039382 |title=Konami Sheds Light On Lords Of Shadow |work=Kotaku |date=20 August 2008 |access-date=September 26, 2018 }}</ref> The main character, Gabriel Belmont, is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, an elite group of holy knights who defend people from supernatural creatures.<ref>{{cite web| title = Castlevania: Lords of Shadow| url = http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/e3_2009/castlevania/| publisher = [[Company:Konami|Konami]]| access-date = January 25, 2013| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161204131913/http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/e3_2009/castlevania/| archive-date = December 4, 2016| df = mdy-all}}</ref> With a retractable chain whip called the Combat Cross, Gabriel fights a malevolent force known as the Lords of Shadow in order to obtain the God Mask, which he believes can bring back his deceased wife.<ref name="GamePro">{{cite web|last=Tennant |first=Dan |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/210643/konami-announces-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-at-e3-press-conference |title=Konami announces Castlevania: Lords of Shadow at E3 press conference |publisher=Gamepro.com |access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607072215/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/210643/konami-announces-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-at-e3-press-conference|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> In ''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate'', Gabriel stars as Dracula, the main antagonist of Simon and Trevor Belmont.<ref name="Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate Announced For Nintendo 3DS">{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-fate-announced-for-nintendo-3ds/ |date=May 29, 2012 |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate Announced For Nintendo 3DS |publisher=Siliconera |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024135/https://www.siliconera.com/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-fate-announced-for-nintendo-3ds/ |archive-date=November 12, 2020  }}</ref> The sequel, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2|Castlevania]]'' is set during modern times, where Dracula is looking for a way to put an end to his immortality.<ref name="Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Confirmed for 3DS-IGN">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/29/castevania-mirror-of-fate-confirmed-for-3ds |title=Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Confirmed for 3DS – |website=IGN.com |date=May 29, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416025418/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/29/castevania-mirror-of-fate-confirmed-for-3ds |archive-date=April 16, 2013  }}</ref>

In 2002, the games ''[[Software:Castlevania Legends|Legends]]'', ''[[Software:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon|Circle of the Moon]]'', ''[[Software:Castlevania (1999 video game)|Castlevania]]'' (1999), and ''[[Software:Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness|Legacy of Darkness]]'' were retconned from the official chronology by Koji Igarashi, a move which had been met with some criticism by fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://games.ign.com/top-100-game-creators/55.html |title=55. Koji Igarashi |publisher=IGN Entertainment |work=IGN |access-date=February 25, 2010 |author=Staff |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305072618/http://games.ign.com/top-100-game-creators/55.html |archive-date=March 5, 2009 }}</ref> Igarashi noted that ''Legends'' conflicted with the plotline of the series, and that the reason for ''Circle of the Moon''{{'}}s removal was not due to his non-involvement with the game, but instead the intention of the game's development team for ''Circle of the Moon'' to be a stand-alone title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152109|title=Tales from The Crypt: Castlevania's 20th Anniversary Blow-Out (Web Archive)|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|date=July 26, 2006|website=1UP.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604120530/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152109|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=May 19, 2007}}</ref> The American 20th Anniversary Pre-order Bundle for ''[[Software:Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin|Portrait of Ruin]]'' in 2006 featured a poster with a timeline that re-included the games other than ''Legends''.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite journal| title = Castlevania The Timeline| publisher = [[Company:Konami|Konami]] Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd.| series = 20th Anniversary Pre-Order Bundle|date=December 2006}}</ref> In 2007, Konami still excluded them from the canon on the official Japanese website.<ref name="chron1"/> Igarashi has said that he considered the titles a "subseries".<ref name="Nintendo Power, July 2008">Nintendo Power, July 2008</ref>

==Development==
{{Quote box|width=20%|
|quote =
Being aware of the horror movies from long ago (long before the slasher flicks), I wanted the players to feel like they were in a classic horror movie.|source=—Hitoshi Akamatsu, 1993<ref name="MicomInterview"/>}}

''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'' was directed and programmed by Hitoshi Akamatsu for the Family Computer Disk System in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,100574/|title=Hitoshi Akamatsu Video Game Credits and Biography|publisher=MobyGames|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312125542/http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,100574/|archive-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/> The game's staff roll features names taken from horror film icons, with Akamatsu being credited as 'Trans Fishers', a reference to film director Terence Fisher.<ref name="GTPopFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4_T0NYGhK4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/P4_T0NYGhK4| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Who Created Castlevania?|website=GameTrailers}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This is possibly because Konami did not allow the use of real names at the time in order to prevent other companies from hiring people who worked for them.<ref name="GTPopFacts"/><ref name="UenoInterview">{{Citation|title=The Making Of: Super Castlevania IV|journal=Retro Gamer|issue=119|date=August 15, 2013|pages=30–35|postscript=.}}</ref> An admirer of cinema, Akamatsu approached projects with a "film director's eye", and said the visuals and music for ''Castlevania'' were "made by people who consciously wanted to do something cinematic."<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary">{{Cite web |url=http://shmuplations.com/castlevania/ |title=Castlevania – Developer Commentary |publisher=Shmupulations|access-date=May 10, 2019 }}</ref> The protagonist Simon Belmont uses a whip because Akamatsu liked the mechanics of a weapon able to repel enemies, and also because Akamatsu was a fan of ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''.<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/> After the success of ''Castlevania'', it was released in cartridge format for the [[Engineering:Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES) as one of its first major platform games.<ref name="IGNRetrospective"/> The international title ''Castlevania'' was the result of Konami of America senior vice president Emil Heidkamp's discomfort with ''Akumajō Dracula'', which he believed translated as "Dracula Satanic Castle."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Harris|first1=Blake|title=Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation|date=2014|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York, NY|isbn=9780062276698|pages=200–201|edition=First}}</ref> Because of Nintendo of America's censorship policies at the time, most instances of blood, nudity and religious imagery were removed or edited in early ''Castlevania'' games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3313|title= Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse regional comparison|publisher= Movie-Censorship.com|date= November 29, 2011|access-date= December 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/26/gdc-09-confronting-censorship-in-videogames|title= GDC 09: Confronting Censorship in Videogames|author= Michael Thomsen|website= IGN|date= March 25, 2009|access-date= December 7, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131030011819/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/26/gdc-09-confronting-censorship-in-videogames|archive-date= October 30, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>

Akamatsu directed ''Castlevania II: Simon's Quest'' in 1987, which adopted gameplay similar to Nintendo's ''Metroid''. When asked if ''Metroid'' had any inspiration, Akamatsu instead cited ''Maze of Galious'', another Konami title which featured exploration and puzzle solving.<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/> His last game in the series, ''Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse'' (1989), returned to the standard platforming genre of ''Castlevania''.<ref name="IGNRetrospective"/> Since Konami's ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' games sold many copies, their development was prioritized above other titles, leading the developers for ''Dracula's Curse'' to make a game that would outdo them.<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/> ''Simon's Quest'' and ''Dracula's Curse'' were not a commercial success, and Akamatsu was demoted to working in one of Konami's game centers before he chose to resign.<ref name="AkamatsuDevCommentary"/>

In 1993, three ''Castlevania'' games were in parallel development, which included ''[[Software:Castlevania Chronicles|Akumajō Dracula]]'', ''Rondo of Blood'', and ''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Bloodlines]]''.<ref name="DraculaXGuidebook">{{cite book|title=Akumajou Dracula X Rondo of Blood Official Guidebook|date=1993|publisher=Shogakukan|isbn=978-4091024619|pages=106–110}}</ref> Directed and produced by Toru Hagihara,<ref name="DraculaXGuidebook"/> ''Rondo of the Blood'' was the first installment made for a CD-ROM and the first to be fully voiced.<ref name="IGNHistory"/> Hagihara would go on to direct a sequel, ''Symphony of the Night'' (1997) for the PlayStation, with Koji Igarashi joining him as the assistant director and story writer.<ref name="Retrogamer">{{cite journal |date=April 2007 |title=The Making of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night |journal=Retro Gamer |issue=36 |access-date=August 30, 2013 |url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2012/09/feature_the_making_of_castlevania_symphony_of_the_night |first=Damien |last=McFerran |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201232101/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2012/09/feature_the_making_of_castlevania_symphony_of_the_night |archive-date=February 1, 2013 }}</ref> Joining the staff was artist Ayami Kojima, who was hired to introduce a new look for ''Castlevania''. She would be the character designer for several future ''Castlevania'' titles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://shmuplations.com/symphony/ |title=Symphony of the Night – 1997 Developer Interview |publisher=Shmupulations |access-date=May 10, 2019 }}</ref> Igarashi said it began development as "something of a side story series". From the outset, the game was supposed to take the franchise in a new direction.<ref name="Nintendo Power, July 2008"/> The gameplay took a departure from the original platforming entries, instead adopting nonlinear exploration and role-playing game elements, which were last seen in ''Simon's Quest''. The critical reaction to ''Simon's Quest'' and its gameplay allowed them to pitch ''Symphony of the Night'' to Konami.<ref name="USGamerInterview"/> Igarashi was eventually asked to finish the game as the assistant director after Hagihara was promoted to head of the division.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Igarashi |first=Koji |subject-link=Koji Igarashi |interviewer=James Mielke |title='Castlevania' Producer Koji Igarashi: "I Honestly Don't Feel That I'm a Big Deal At All" |date=September 20, 2016 |publisher=Glixel |url=http://www.glixel.com/interviews/koji-igarashi-i-honestly-dont-feel-that-im-a-big-deal-w452181 |access-date=May 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517100514/http://www.glixel.com/interviews/koji-igarashi-i-honestly-dont-feel-that-im-a-big-deal-w452181 |archive-date=May 17, 2017  }}</ref> On release, ''Symphony of the Night'' was well-received and became a sleeper hit, but its commercial performance was mediocre, particularly in the United States where it was meagerly publicized.<ref name="Gamespot History"/>

The first ''Castlevania'' game to feature 3D computer graphics began development in 1997 on the [[Engineering:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]] by Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe (KCEK) as ''Dracula 3D''.<ref name=d64>{{cite web|url=http://ign64.ign.com/articles/061/061303p1.html|title=Dracula 64 Out for Blood|access-date=May 24, 2007|author=IGN Staff|date=September 24, 1997|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017171539/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/061/061303p1.html|archive-date=October 17, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Like most of its predecessors, it was an action-adventure and platforming game. It was eventually released as ''[[Software:Castlevania (1999 video game)|Castlevania]]'' in 1999 and received an expanded version titled ''[[Software:Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness|Castlevania]]'' during the same year.<ref name="Gamespot History"/> KCEK's last ''Castlevania'' game was the acclaimed ''[[Software:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon|Circle of the Moon]]'',<ref name="COTMMetaCritic"/> released as a launch title for the Game Boy Advance in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/adventure/castlevaniacircleofthemoon/news/2631160/tgs-2000castlevania-circle-of-the-moon-hands-on?mode=previews|title=TGS 2000 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Hands-On|author=Staff|date=September 22, 2000|work=GameSpot|publisher= CBS Interactive Inc.|access-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> ''Circle of the Moon'' was the first entry to feature [[Software:Metroidvania|Metroidvania]] gameplay since ''Symphony of the Night''.<ref name="Gamespot History"/> Igarashi, who was not involved with the game, was critical of ''Circle of the Moon''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=77052 |title=Konami's vampire Harmony |access-date=February 25, 2010 |date=July 18, 2002 |magazine=Computer and Video Games |author=Minkley, Johnny |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402012951/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=77052 |archive-date=April 2, 2009 }}</ref> In 2002, he retconned ''Castlevania Legends'' (1997) and the games developed by KCEK from the series' chronology due to story conflicts, which was met with some resistance from fans.<ref name="IGNIGA"/> After KCEK was dissolved during 2002, the Game Boy Advance received a second installment, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance|Castlevania]]'', now produced by Igarashi and developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET).<ref>{{cite web|author=GameSpot staff|date=September 19, 2002|title=TGS 2002: Castlevania Q&A|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2002-castlevania-qanda/1100-2880807/|website=GameSpot|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171429/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2002-castlevania-qanda/1100-2880807/|archive-date=April 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Starting with ''Harmony of Dissonance'', the Japanese games adopted ''Castlevania'' as the title for a brief period. According to Igarashi, the developers did this since Count Dracula is not always the main antagonist.<ref>{{cite web | year=2002 | title=New 3D Castlevania on GameCube? | url=http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=3627 | work=GamesAreFun | access-date=June 13, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211103124/http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=3627 | archive-date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> This continued with ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lament of Innocence|Castlevania]]'' (2003), a 3D title developed as a new starting point for the series.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311061512/http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/october03/castlevania/index.shtml|archive-date=March 11, 2005|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/october03/castlevania/index.shtml|date=October 2003|title=Igarashi & Yamane on Lament of Innocence|author=Nutt, Christian|work=GameSpy|pages=1–2|publisher=IGN Entertainment|access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> Konami eventually returned to the title ''Akumajō Dracula'' with the Japanese release of 2005's ''[[Software:Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow|Castlevania]]'' for the Nintendo DS. ''Dawn of Sorrow'' and ''Portrait of Ruin'' (2006) introduced a new art style in hopes of broadening the player demographic and preventing younger Nintendo DS owners from being put off by Ayami Kojima's art. This discontinued with ''[[Software:Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia|Castlevania]]'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite web| year=2005| title=Whip Smart: Konami's Koji Igarashi On Mastering Castlevania| url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2372/whip_smart_konamis_koji_igarashi_.php| access-date=December 6, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019074852/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2372/whip_smart_konamis_koji_igarashi_.php| archive-date=October 19, 2012| url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to concern over the poor sales of the recent ''Castlevania'' games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ChristianNutt/20150508/243070/A_look_back_at_over_a_decade_of_Koji_Igarashi_interviews.php|title=A look back at over a decade of Koji Igarashi interviews|first=Christian |last=Nutt|website=Gamesutra|date=8 May 2015 }}</ref> a number of prototypes in development competed to become the next ''Castlevania'' installment, which included a game by Igarashi announced at Tokyo Game Show 2008 and ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]'' by Spanish studio [[Company:MercurySteam|MercurySteam]].<ref name="IGAInterview">{{Cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/mine-yoshizaki-and-koji-igarashi-on-creating-otomedius-excellent/ |title=Mine Yoshizaki And Koji Igarashi On Creating Otomedius Excellent |date=October 31, 2011 |website=Siliconera |access-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317015916/https://www.siliconera.com/mine-yoshizaki-and-koji-igarashi-on-creating-otomedius-excellent/ |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Konami told MercurySteam the game would be an original [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property]] (IP) when it was first greenlit as a ''Castlevania'' title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ripten.com/2010/09/03/hands-on-with-the-final-version-of-lords-of-shadow-and-producer-david-cox-getsome |title=Everything You Need to Know About Lords of Shadow {{pipe}} Ripten Video Game Blog |publisher=Ripten |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509141829/http://www.ripten.com/2010/09/03/hands-on-with-the-final-version-of-lords-of-shadow-and-producer-david-cox-getsome/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Konami eventually asked them to cease work on ''Lords of Shadow'' while it was still in its early stages, until producer David Cox showed the Japanese senior management the game and was offered help by video game designer Hideo Kojima.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/08/26/the-story-of-how-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-was-canceled-then-resurrected-dracula-style |title=The Story Of How 'Castlevania: Lords of Shadow' Was Canceled, Then Resurrected, Dracula-Style » MTV Multiplayer |publisher=Multiplayerblog.mtv.com |date=August 26, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234331/http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/08/26/the-story-of-how-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-was-canceled-then-resurrected-dracula-style/ |archive-date=September 30, 2012  }}</ref> According to Igarashi, development on his project had not been going smoothly, and Konami had canceled it and chose ''Lords of Shadow'' as the pitch for the next ''Castlevania'' entry.<ref name="IGAInterview"/> Produced by Dave Cox and Hideo Kojima, ''Lords of Shadow'' was a multi-platform 3D action-adventure reboot of the series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Randy |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-began-as-remake-of-nes-original |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow began as remake of NES original |publisher=Joystiq |date=April 9, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013192626/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-began-as-remake-of-nes-original |archive-date=October 13, 2012  }}</ref> Kojima offered his input on the project and also oversaw the game's localization in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Laura |url=http://gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6273399&skipmc=1 |title=Kojima teases weekend announcement – News at GameSpot |website=GameSpot |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003081804/http://www.gamespot.com/news/kojima-teases-weekend-announcement-6273399 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the first ''Castlevania'' to feature celebrity voice talent, starring Robert Carlyle in the lead role and Patrick Stewart.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Laura |url=http://www.vg247.com/2010/09/23/castlevanias-gabriel-started-off-as-a-barbarian-says-cox/ |title=Castlevania's Gabriel started off as a barbarian, says Cox |website=VG247 |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506101420/http://www.vg247.com/2010/09/23/castlevanias-gabriel-started-off-as-a-barbarian-says-cox/ |archive-date=May 6, 2012  }}</ref> The art style departed from the previous games in favor of one inspired by Guillermo del Toro's work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2013/11/top-10-secret-facts-about-castlevania-lords-of-shadow/ |title=Top 10 Secret Facts About Castlevania: Lords of Shadow  |publisher=Capsule Computers |date=November 21, 2013 |access-date=June 24, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/lords_of_shadow/review-3.html |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Review for Xbox 360 |publisher=VideoGamer.com |date=September 28, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406115545/http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/lords_of_shadow/review-3.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012  }}</ref> ''Lords of Shadow'' was met with positive reception in 2010 and a commercial success, becoming the best selling ''Castlevania'' game to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercury-steams-mission-to-be-the-next-naughty-dog|title=Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mercury Steam's mission to be the next Naughty Dog|website=Eurogamer|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=May 24, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529121255/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercury-steams-mission-to-be-the-next-naughty-dog|archive-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref> It was followed by two sequels, ''Mirror of Fate'' (2013) and ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2|Castlevania]]'' (2014). ''Lords of Shadow 2'' was not as well received as its predecessor.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Cox |first=Dave |last2=Álvarez |first2=Enric |interviewer=Wesley Yin-Poole |title=We got caught in a s***storm |date=September 20, 2016 |publisher=Eurogamer |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercurysteam-konami |access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912053512/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercurysteam-konami |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Following its release, an anonymous source claiming to be employees from MercurySteam alleged that development on the game had been troubled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2014/02/28/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dev-discusses-troubled-development-blames-director-for-mediocre-game/|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 dev discusses troubled development, blames director for 'mediocre' game|author=Dave Cook|work=VG24/7|date=February 28, 2014|access-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304045258/http://www.vg247.com/2014/02/28/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dev-discusses-troubled-development-blames-director-for-mediocre-game/|archive-date=March 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

After having been moved to Konami's social division in 2011, Igarashi felt he was unable to release any new games when Konami shifted its focus towards mobile game development.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/05/koji-igarashi-bloodstained-kickstarter/|title=Castlevania's Producer Emerges From the Wreckage of Konami {{!}} WIRED|magazine=Wired|access-date=May 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717100454/https://www.wired.com/2015/05/koji-igarashi-bloodstained-kickstarter/|archive-date=July 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He left in March 2014 to independently create ''[[Software:Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night|Bloodstained]]'', a spiritual successor to ''Castlevania''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-17-castlevania-developer-koji-igarashi-leaves-konami |title=Castlevania developer Koji Igarashi leaves Konami |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=March 17, 2014 |publisher=Gamer Network |work=Eurogamer |access-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318031816/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-17-castlevania-developer-koji-igarashi-leaves-konami |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Dave Cox followed Igarashi's resignation a few months later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-producer-quits-konami-after-17-years/1100-6421987/|title=Castlevania Producer Quits Konami After 17 Years|first=Eddie |last=Makuch|website=GameSpot}}</ref> Recent ''Castlevania'' titles released under Konami's recent business model include pachinko and slot machines based on the IP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.konami.com/corporate/en/business/casino.html|title=Gaming & Systems Business|website=Konami}}</ref><ref name="Pachislot"/>

===Audio===
''Castlevania'''s music features a wide range of compositions, with themes reused throughout the series. It has been critically acclaimed<ref name="gamasutra2"/><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.factmag.com/2016/08/01/castlevania-mondo-reissue/| title = Castlevania series gets deluxe five-album reissue on Mondo|work = Fact Mag|access-date = 2023-07-11}}</ref> and released on many albums, initially under the King Records label.<ref name="CVDiscography">{{cite web| url = https://www.squareenixmusic.com/series/dracula/discography.shtml| title = Castlevania Series :: Discography|work = Square Enix Music Online|access-date = 2013-02-02}}</ref> In addition to original soundtracks, it has also inspired remix albums, which include orchestra, rap and heavy metal arrangements.<ref name="CVDiscography"/> In 2010, ''Castlevania – The Concert'' was performed in [[Place:Stockholm|Stockholm]], Sweden by longtime ''Castlevania'' composer, Michiru Yamane, and the Stockholm Youth Symphonic Orchestra.<ref name="CastlevaniaConcert">{{cite web| url = http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/reports/castlevaniaconcert.shtml| title = Game Music:: Castlevania: The Concert :: Report by Kevin Sánchez|work = Square Enix Music Online|access-date = 2013-02-02}}</ref>

The music for the first installment, ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'', was composed by Kinuyo Yamashita and Satoe Terashima.<ref>Personal site of Kinuyo Yamashita, [http://yamako.ciao.jp/html/work_e.html Work] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175142/http://yamako.ciao.jp/html/work_e.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref><ref>Personal site of Kinuyo Yamashita, [http://cocoa.candybox.to/yamako1/mkakikomitai/mkakikomitai.cgi Message Board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325084157/http://cocoa.candybox.to/yamako1/mkakikomitai/mkakikomitai.cgi |date=March 25, 2009 }}</ref> The game's staff roll featured pseudonyms, with Yamashita credited as James Banana.<ref>Castlevania Realm, [http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/NewCV/cvlib-credits.htm#cv1 Credits List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704024932/http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/NewCV/cvlib-credits.htm#cv1 |date=July 4, 2007 }}</ref> Yamashita said she did not know anything about video games at the time and composed for ''Castlevania'' shortly after graduating from college. Under strict hardware constraints,<ref>{{cite news | title = Nintendo is music to the Minibosses | author = Anthony Broadman | page = F | newspaper = Arizona Daily Star | date = April 16, 2004 }}</ref> she would first write the scores before entering it as data into a computer.<ref name="YamashitaAboutCV">Personal site of Kinuyo Yamashita: About Castlevania [http://yamako.ciao.jp/html/main_e.html#QA About Castlevania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306005331/http://yamako.ciao.jp/html/main_e.html#QA |date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> The hardware for the first 16-bit title, ''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]'', allowed for a more atomspheric environment in the game, and was composed by Masanori Adachi and Taro Kudo.<ref name="UenoInterview"/>

Known primarily for her work on the ''Castlevania'' series, Michiru Yamane first composed music for the [[Engineering:Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis]] game, ''Castlevania Bloodlines''. Yamane was under pressure at the time because the series was already popular and known for its music.<ref name="gamasutra2">{{cite web|last=''Game Developer'' magazine|date=December 26, 2013|title=A classic interview with Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207767/A_classic_interview_with_Castlevania_composer_Michiru_Yamane.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208062929/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207767/A_classic_interview_with_Castlevania_composer_Michiru_Yamane.php|archive-date=December 8, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2018|website=Gamasutra|language=en}}</ref> She felt there was a link with the game's vampiric themes and the classical music she had grown up with, having studied Johann Sebastian Bach in university, and worked to integrate her style with the rock themes of the previous games.<ref name="Yamane1">{{Cite web|date=February 2010|title=Interview with Michiru Yamane (February 2010)|url=https://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/michiruyamane.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917112905/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/michiruyamane.shtml|archive-date=September 17, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2018|website=Square Enix Music Online}}</ref> Since ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Castlevania]]'', Yamane became involved with the development of the series with its former producer, Koji Igarashi.<ref name="Yamane2">{{Cite book|title=PlayStation Anthology|last1=Manent|first1=Mathieu|last2=Mellado|first2=Fabien|last3=Latour|first3=Franck|last4=Clerc-Renaud|first4=Antoine|publisher=Geeks Line|year=2014|isbn=9791093752327|location=United States|pages=178–183|chapter=Michiru Yamane}}</ref> ''Symphony of the Night'''s art director, Osamu Kasai, requested Yamane to join the team,<ref name="Yamane1"/> and she would draw inspiration from Ayami Kojima's concept artwork.<ref name="Yamane2"/> Unlike the FM synthesis that ''Bloodlines'' used, Yamane felt she had more freedom with ''Symphony of the Night'' as it was produced for a [[CD-ROM]], which made it capable of much higher quality music and sound.<ref name="Yamane1"/> She continued to compose for the series, including the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, which had note limitations like older home consoles, and also collaborated with other composers such as Yuzo Koshiro.<ref name="Yamane1"/> Before becoming a freelance composer, the last ''Castlevania'' game she scored was ''[[Software:Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia|Castlevania]]'' in 2008, which she worked on with Yasuhiro Ichihashi.<ref name="Yamane1"/>

For the 2010 reboot, ''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Castlevania]]'', the game was scored by Óscar Araujo using a 120-piece orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lords of Shadow Was a Castlevania Game All Along|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175699|publisher=1UP.com|first=Sam|last=Kennedy|date=August 21, 2009|access-date=January 25, 2013}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His work on ''Lords of Shadow'' earned him a nomination for breakout composer of the year by the International Film Music Critics Association,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moviecitynews.com/2011/02/international-film-music-critics-association-2011-nomineess|title=International Film Music Critics Association 2011 Nomineess Movie City News|publisher=Movie City News|date=February 12, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729144947/http://moviecitynews.com/2011/02/international-film-music-critics-association-2011-nomineess/|archive-date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> and he won "Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media."<ref>[http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-winners-for-scoring-excellence IFMCA announces its 2010 Winners for scoring excellence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301004356/http://filmmusiccritics.org/2011/02/ifmca-announces-its-2010-winners-for-scoring-excellence/ |date=March 1, 2011 }}</ref> Araujo went on to compose the sequels, ''Mirror of Fate'' and ''Lords of Shadow 2''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oscar Araujo |url=https://www.mobygames.com/person/66299/oscar-araujo/|publisher=MobyGames|first=|last=|date=July 26, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
<!--Template for main series only, do not include spin-offs or re-releases. I.e Judgment, Castlevania Double Pack or Castlevania Requiem-->
<div style="font-size:100%;float:right;border-right:1em solid white;margin-left:1em;">
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" id="softwarelist"
|+'''Aggregate review scores'''
!Game
!GameRankings
!Metacritic
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''
|{{center|70.92% (GBA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/921924-classic-nes-series-castlevania/index.html |title=Castlevania for Game Boy Advance |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003193357/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/921924-classic-nes-series-castlevania/index.html |archive-date=October 3, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure|The Adventure]]''
|{{center|55.07%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/585660-castlevania-the-adventure/index.html |title=Castlevania: The Adventure for Game Boy |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721124143/http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/585660-castlevania-the-adventure/index.html |archive-date=July 21, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge|Belmont's Revenge]]''
|{{center|83.50%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/585659-castlevania-ii-belmonts-revenge/index.html |title=Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge for Game Boy |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817110203/http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/585659-castlevania-ii-belmonts-revenge/index.html |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]''
|{{center|82.06%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588726-super-castlevania-iv/index.html |title=Super Castlevania IV for SNES |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828153033/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588726-super-castlevania-iv/index.html |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines|Bloodlines]]''
|{{center|83.50%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563315-castlevania-bloodlines/index.html |title=Castlevania Bloodlines for Genesis |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=March 17, 1994 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618154832/http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563315-castlevania-bloodlines/index.html |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Dracula X|Dracula X]]''
|{{center|71%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563534-castlevania-dracula-x/index.html |title=Castlevania Dracula X for SNES |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828101155/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563534-castlevania-dracula-x/index.html |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Symphony of the Night]]''
|{{center|93.03%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196885-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/index.html |title=Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for PS |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 2, 1997 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228191000/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196885-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/index.html |archive-date=December 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|93 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation|title=Castlevania: Symphony of the Night reviews on Metacritic|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=September 30, 1997|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218200432/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night|archive-date=December 18, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania Legends|Legends]]''
|{{center|52.88%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/564357-castlevania-legends/index.html |title=Castlevania Legends for Game Boy |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=March 11, 1998 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902180601/http://www.gamerankings.com/gameboy/564357-castlevania-legends/index.html |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|[[Software:Castlevania (1999 video game)|''Castlevania'']] (1999)
|{{center|72.71%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/196882-castlevania/index.html |title=Castlevania for N64 |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=December 31, 1998 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828052334/http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/196882-castlevania/index.html |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|78 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64|title=Castlevania (n64: 1999|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=January 26, 1999|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231014101/http://www.metacritic.com/game/nintendo-64/castlevania|archive-date=December 31, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness|Legacy of Darkness]]''
|{{center|63.80%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/196883-castlevania-legacy-of-darkness/index.html |title=Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness for N64 |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=November 30, 1999 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828101135/http://www.gamerankings.com/n64/196883-castlevania-legacy-of-darkness/index.html |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|—}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Circle of the Moon|Circle of the Moon]]''
|{{center|88.32%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/449471-castlevania-circle-of-the-moon/index.html |title=Castlevania: Circle of the Moon for GBA |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=June 10, 2001 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428012020/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/449471-castlevania-circle-of-the-moon/index.html |archive-date=April 28, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|91 <ref name="COTMMetaCritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-circle-of-the-moon/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|title=Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (gba: 2001|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=June 11, 2001|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306085827/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/castlevania-circle-of-the-moon|archive-date=March 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania Chronicles|Chronicles]]''
|{{center|73.53%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/468729-castlevania-chronicles/index.html |title=Castlevania Chronicles for PS |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 8, 2001 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806080435/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/468729-castlevania-chronicles/index.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|69 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-chronicles/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation|title=Castlevania Chronicles (ps: 2001|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=October 9, 2001|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126071055/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/castlevania-chronicles|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance|Harmony of Dissonance]]''
|{{center|85.12%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/554981-castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/index.html |title=Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance for GBA |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=September 16, 2002 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720193006/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/554981-castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/index.html |archive-date=July 20, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|87 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|title=Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (gba: 2002|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=September 17, 2002|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123210127/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance|archive-date=November 23, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow|Aria of Sorrow]]''
|{{center|87.86%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/589456-castlevania-aria-of-sorrow/index.html|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|title=Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow for GBA|work=GameRankings|date=May 6, 2003|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731043816/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/589456-castlevania-aria-of-sorrow/index.html|archive-date=July 31, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|{{center|91 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-aria-of-sorrow/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|title=Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (gba: 2003|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=May 6, 2003|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119054423/http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/castlevania-aria-of-sorrow|archive-date=November 19, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Lament of Innocence|Lament of Innocence]]''
|{{center|78.72%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/589680-castlevania-lament-of-innocence/index.html |title=Castlevania: Lament of Innocence for PS2 |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 21, 2003 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180311183640/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/589680-castlevania-lament-of-innocence/index.html |archive-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|79 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lament-of-innocence/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Castlevania: Lament of Innocence(ps2: 2003 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 21, 2003 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819120825/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/castlevania-lament-of-innocence |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow|Dawn of Sorrow]]''
|{{center|90.35%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/922145-castlevania-dawn-of-sorrow/index.html |title=Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for DS |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 4, 2005 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729154956/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/922145-castlevania-dawn-of-sorrow/index.html |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|89 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-dawn-of-sorrow/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (ds: 2005 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 4, 2005 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817172954/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/castlevania-dawn-of-sorrow |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Curse of Darkness|Curse of Darkness]]''
|{{center|70.37% (PS2)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/925894-castlevania-curse-of-darkness/index.html |title=Castlevania: Curse of Darkness for PS2 |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110062417/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/925894-castlevania-curse-of-darkness/index.html |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|70 (PS2)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-curse-of-darkness/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (ps2: 2005 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819120820/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/castlevania-curse-of-darkness |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin|Portrait of Ruin]]''
|{{center|84.98%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/930294-castlevania-portrait-of-ruin/index.html |title=Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for DS |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727034148/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/930294-castlevania-portrait-of-ruin/index.html |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|85 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-portrait-of-ruin/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (ds: 2006 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817191211/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/castlevania-portrait-of-ruin |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia|Order of Ecclesia]]''
|{{center|85.67%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/945837-castlevania-order-of-ecclesia/index.html |title=Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for DS |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 21, 2008 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825042136/http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/945837-castlevania-order-of-ecclesia/index.html |archive-date=August 25, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{center|85 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-order-of-ecclesia/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (ds: 2008 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 21, 2008 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818082458/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/castlevania-order-of-ecclesia |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth|The Adventure ReBirth]]''
|{{center|81.10%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/973241-castlevania-the-adventure-rebirth/index.html|title=Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth for WiiWare|work=GameRankings|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817155001/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/973241-castlevania-the-adventure-rebirth/index.html|archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|{{center|82 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-the-adventure-rebirth/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (wii) |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=December 28, 2009 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819124157/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/castlevania-the-adventure-rebirth |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow|Lords of Shadow]]''
|{{center|82.70% (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/952493-castlevania-lords-of-shadow/index.html |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for Xbox 360 |publisher=GameRankings |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424162923/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/952493-castlevania-lords-of-shadow/index.html |archive-date=April 24, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 83.33% (PS3)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/952494-castlevania-lords-of-shadow/index.html |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PlayStation 3 |work=GameRankings |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604025019/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/952494-castlevania-lords-of-shadow/index.html |archive-date=June 4, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 77.40% (PC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/718143-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-ultimate-edition/index.html|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC|work=GameRankings|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212023631/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/718143-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-ultimate-edition/index.html|archive-date=December 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|{{center|85 (PS3)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PlayStation 3 Reviews on Metacritic |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429165934/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/castlevania-lords-of-shadow |archive-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 83 (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for Xbox 360 Reviews on Metacritic |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604193031/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/castlevania-lords-of-shadow |archive-date=June 4, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 81 (PC)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-ultimate-edition/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC Reviews on Metacritic |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=December 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731134416/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-ultimate-edition |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
|''Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate''
|{{center|71.81% (3DS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/672440-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/index.html|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate for 3DS|work=GameRankings|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date=March 5, 2013|access-date=July 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530132031/http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/672440-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/index.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> <br /> 74.00% (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/727962-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-hd/index.html|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate for Xbox 360|work=GameRankings|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203235142/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/727962-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-hd/index.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> <br /> 63.75% (PS3)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/727961-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-hd/index.html|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate for PS3|work=GameRankings|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206005931/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/727961-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-hd/index.html|archive-date=December 6, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|{{center|72 (3DS) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (3ds: 2013 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=July 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501013326/http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/castlevania-lords-of-shadow---mirror-of-fate |archive-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 73 (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (Xbox 360: 2013 |work=Metacritic |publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]] |access-date=December 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030065508/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/castlevania-lords-of-shadow---mirror-of-fate-hd |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 70 (PS3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|title=Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (PS3: 2013|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221040331/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/castlevania-lords-of-shadow---mirror-of-fate-hd|archive-date=December 21, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|-
|''[[Software:Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2|Lords of Shadow 2]]''
|{{center|71.00% (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/672717-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for Xbox 360|work= GameRankings|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140218070502/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/672717-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|archive-date= February 18, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref> <br /> 63.12% (PS3) <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/672717-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for PS3|work= GameRankings|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140218070502/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/672717-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|archive-date= February 18, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref> <br /> 58.10% (PC)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/680451-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for PC|work= GameRankings|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317083429/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/680451-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/index.html|archive-date= March 17, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>}}
|{{center|70 (Xbox 360)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for Xbox 360|work= Metacritic|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140228121238/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2|archive-date= February 28, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref> <br /> 63 (PS3)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for PS3|work= Metacritic|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307124739/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2|archive-date= March 7, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref> <br /> 60 (PC)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.metacritic.com/game/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title= Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for PC|work= Metacritic|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140306125333/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2|archive-date= March 6, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>}}
|}
</div>

The ''Castlevania'' franchise had sold over 20&nbsp;million copies worldwide {{as of|2006|lc=y}};<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marlowe|first=Chris|date=August 4, 2006|title=Project 51 to Explore Castlevania Storyline|url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/project-51-to-explore-castlevania-storyline/69268/?biz=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211122814/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/project-51-to-explore-castlevania-storyline/69268/?biz=1|archive-date=December 11, 2007|access-date=December 26, 2018|website=GameDaily}}</ref> it had previously sold over {{nowrap|3.7 million}} units by 1993.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Castlevania Blood Spills on Genesis |magazine=Electronic Games |date=August 24, 1993 |volume=1 |issue=12 (September 1993) |page=15 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-09/page/n14}}</ref> The franchise has received mostly positive reviews, with the most acclaimed game being ''[[Software:Castlevania: Symphony of the Night|Symphony of the Night]]'' for the [[Engineering:PlayStation|PlayStation]] and the most panned being ''[[Software:Castlevania Judgment|Judgment]]'', with aggregate scores of 93 and 49, respectively, on Metacritic and 93.38% and 52.71%, respectively, on GameRankings.

Many of the games have appeared on lists of video games considered to be the best. ''Symphony of the Night'' appeared at #16 on ''IGN'' "Top 100 games" and was one of the first to be introduced on the ''GameSpot'' "The Greatest Games of All Time". Both acclaimed the game to successfully making a game in 2D while the industry was moving to 3D.<ref name="IGNIGA">{{cite web |url=http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html |title=IGN's Top 100 Games |publisher=Top100.ign.com |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419044513/http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-3.html |title=The Greatest Games of All Time |publisher=Gamespot.com |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716113432/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-3.html |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Castlevania III]]'' was named the 9th best 8-bit game by ''GameTrailers''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-ten-gt-countdown/19102 |title=GT Countdown Video Game, Top Ten 8-bit Games {{pipe}} Game Trailers & Videos |publisher=GameTrailers.com |date=May 3, 2007 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224113614/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-ten-gt-countdown/19102 |archive-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]'' was named the 11th best game of the SNES by ''ScrewAttack'' on their "Top 20 SNES Games".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-20-screwattack/31740 |title=ScrewAttack Video Game, Top 20 SNES Games (20–11) {{pipe}} Game Trailers & Videos |series=''ScrewAttack's Top 10'' |publisher=GameTrailers.com |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010225950/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/top-20-screwattack/31740 |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The series as a whole was named the 4th best franchise in games ever by IGN, behind only ''[[Software:Final Fantasy|Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Software:The Legend of Zelda|The Legend of Zelda]]'' and ''Mario'', and citing ''Super Castlevania IV'' and ''Symphony of the Night'' as highlights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html |title=The Top 25 Videogame Franchises – PC Feature at IGN |publisher=Pc.ign.com |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617164708/http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749073p5.html |archive-date=June 17, 2012 }}</ref> ''Aria of Sorrow'' was named the 2nd best game on the Game Boy Advance and one of the must buys for the system, according to the same website.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/772/772284p5.html |title=Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time – GBA Feature at IGN |publisher=Gameboy.ign.com |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804210902/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/772/772284p5.html |archive-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/390/390646p1.html |title=15 Must-Have GBA Games – GBA Feature at IGN |publisher=Gameboy.ign.com |date=July 2, 2003 |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808153040/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/390/390646p1.html |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Software:Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]'', ''[[Software:Super Castlevania IV|Super Castlevania IV]]'', and ''[[Software:Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow|Aria of Sorrow]]'' appeared on Nintendo Power's "Top 200 Games" list.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=January 2006 |title=Nintendo Power Issue 199 |url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-199-january-2006/page/42/mode/2up?view=theater |magazine=Nintendo Power |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=February 2006 |title=Nintendo Power Issue 200 |url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-200-february-2006/page/n61/mode/2up |magazine=Nintendo Power |location= |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> Trivia about the series has been mentioned in the ''Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamespot.com/articles/spot-on-iguinness-world-records-gamers-edition-i/1100-6185294/|title= Spot On: Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition|author= Emma Boyes|work= GameSpot|publisher= [[Company:CBS Corporation|CBS Corporation]]|date= January 30, 2008|access-date= August 11, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141221191854/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/spot-on-iguinness-world-records-gamers-edition-i/1100-6185294/|archive-date= December 21, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://newsok.com/guinness-brings-gaming-records-to-the-masses/article/3237058/?page=1|title= Guinness brings gaming records to the masses|author= Matthew Price|work= NewsOK|publisher= OPUBCO Communications Group|date= April 30, 2008|access-date= August 11, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104061856/http://newsok.com/guinness-brings-gaming-records-to-the-masses/article/3237058/?page=1|archive-date= November 4, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>

==In other media==

Simon Belmont was one of the stars in the animated series ''Captain N: The Game Master''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cnn.captainn.net/tev_char_simon.html|title=Captain N – Television Series – Characters – Simon Belmont|work=Captain N Network|access-date=August 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814031538/http://cnn.captainn.net/tev_char_simon.html|archive-date=August 14, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a member of the N-Team, a group of mostly video game characters who defended Videoland against the antagonist Mother Brain from ''[[Software:Metroid|Metroid]]''. Dracula, referred to only as "the Count", appeared as a villain in ''Captain N''. Alucard appeared in one episode, though he was portrayed as a rebellious skateboarding teenager. Several other ''Castlevania'' monsters had minor roles, including Frankenstein's Monster, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, and the Skull Knight. Simon is portrayed as egotistical on the show and his physical appearance differs from his design in the video game series.

In 2005, IDW Publishing released a comic book adaptation, ''Castlevania: The Belmont Legacy'', written by Marc Andreyko with art by E. J. Su. It was based on ''[[Software:Castlevania: The Adventure|Castlevania]]''.<ref name="IDWComic" /> In 2008, a graphic novel adaption of ''Curse of Darkness'' was released by Tokyopop in English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1824/CastlevaniaCurseofDarkness/1|title=Manga + Comics: Castlevania: Curse of Darkness|publisher=Tokyopop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312014557/http://tokyopop.com/product/1824/CastlevaniaCurseofDarkness/1|archive-date=March 12, 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=March 7, 2009}}</ref>

The streaming service [[Company:Netflix|Netflix]] released an American animated series titled ''Castlevania'' as part of its original programming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/netflix-quietly-announces-castlevania-series-for-2017/?view=list|title=Netflix Quietly Announces Castlevania Series For 2017|last1=Hill|first1=Jacob|website=CBR.com|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003124646/http://www.cbr.com/netflix-quietly-announces-castlevania-series-for-2017/?view=list|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The show is being showrun by Adi Shankar,<ref name="usgamer show">{{cite web|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/castlevania-headed-to-netflix-in-2017-from-warren-ellis-and-adi-shankar|title=Castlevania Headed To Netflix in 2017, From Warren Ellis and Adi Shankar|last=Williams|first=Mike|date=February 8, 2017|work=US Gamer|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080538/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/castlevania-headed-to-netflix-in-2017-from-warren-ellis-and-adi-shankar|archive-date=February 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> who had previously teased plans for an animated mini-series based on ''[[Software:Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse|Castlevania III]]'' in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/castlevania-animated-series-adi-shankar/|title=Super Violent 'Castlevania' Animated Series Coming from Producer Adi Shankar|last1=Trumbore|first1=Dave|website=Collider.com|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826133759/http://collider.com/castlevania-animated-series-adi-shankar/|archive-date=August 26, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/castlevania-tv-series-seemingly-confirmed-by-adventure-time-producer/?view=list|title=Castlevania TV Series Seemingly Confirmed By Adventure Time Producer|last1=Melrose|first1=Kevin|website=CBR.com|date=December 29, 2016|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003124649/http://www.cbr.com/castlevania-tv-series-seemingly-confirmed-by-adventure-time-producer/?view=list|archive-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and is written by [[Biography:Warren Ellis|Warren Ellis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/animating-guru-hirsh-is-back-with-new-company-netflix-project/article33942446/|title=Animating guru Hirsh is back with new company, Netflix project|last=Knelman|first=Martin|date=February 7, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207230437/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/animating-guru-hirsh-is-back-with-new-company-netflix-project/article33942446/|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Fred Seibert and Kevin Kolde co-produce.<ref name="usgamer show" /> The series is animated by Seibert's Frederator Studios and Powerhouse Animation Studios,<ref name="usgamer show" /> under Michael Hirsh's Wow Unlimited Media company. The show's first season released on July 7, 2017, and ran for four episodes, while the second season premiered on October 26, 2018, and ran for eight episodes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-premiere-dates|title=2018 Fall TV Premiere Calendar|work=Metacritic|access-date=October 12, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011190043/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-premiere-dates|archive-date=October 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/02/08/netflix-announces-castlevania-animated-series|title=Netflix Announces Animated Castlevania Series|last=Dornbrush|first=Jonathan|date=February 8, 2017|work=IGN|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209003832/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/02/08/netflix-announces-castlevania-animated-series|archive-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-first-trailer-for-netflixs-castlevania-s/1100-6450314/|title=First trailer for Castlevania Netflix|last=Pereira|first=Chris|date=May 24, 2017|work=GameSpot|access-date=May 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626174614/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-first-trailer-for-netflixs-castlevania-s/1100-6450314/|archive-date=June 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> By the time the second season became available in 2018, ''Castlevania'' had reportedly garnered nearly {{nowrap|30 million}} viewers worldwide according to Netflix analytics, becoming one of the most successful original animated shows on Netflix.<ref>{{cite news |title=30 Years Later: From Nintendo to Netflix, 'Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse' Unfolds a New Legacy |url=https://goombastomp.com/30-years-later-from-nintendo-to-netflix-castlevania-iii-draculas-curse-unfolds-a-new-legacy/comment-page-1/ |access-date=January 24, 2020 |work=Goomba Stomp |date=December 24, 2019}}</ref> A third season released on March 5, 2020, and ran for 10 episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/castlevania-renewed-season-3-netflix-richard-armitage-james-callis-1202493302/|title='Castlevania' Renewed For Season 3 On Netflix|last=Pederson|first=Erik|date=October 31, 2018|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031195019/https://deadline.com/2018/10/castlevania-renewed-season-3-netflix-richard-armitage-james-callis-1202493302/|archive-date=October 31, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The fourth and final season was released on May 13, 2021,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=April 16, 2021|title='Castlevania' Trailer: Chaos Erupts In Netflix Adult Animated Series' Final Season Debuting May 13|url=https://deadline.com/video/castlevania-trailer-season-4-debuting-may-13-netflix/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513140959/https://deadline.com/2021/04/castlevania-canceled-end-season-4-premiere-date-netflix-new-series-universe-1234735439/|archive-date=May 13, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> and a new series set in the ''Castlevania'' universe is in the works.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=April 29, 2021|title='Castlevania' To End With Season 4 As Netflix Eyes New Series In Same Universe|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/castlevania-canceled-end-season-4-premiere-date-netflix-new-series-universe-1234735439/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514234244/https://deadline.com/video/castlevania-trailer-season-4-debuting-may-13-netflix/|archive-date=May 14, 2021|access-date=April 29, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> It will focus on a descendant of Trevor, Richter Belmont, and Maria Renard in France during the French Revolution.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 11, 2021|url=https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1403385425109061633|title=Tweet|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=[[Company:Twitter|Twitter]]}}</ref>

The franchise has its own toy line manufactured by NECA which consists of six figures of Simon Belmont, Alucard, Dracula (available in two variants with one variant with its mouth closed and another one with its mouth open showing Dracula's vampire fangs), Succubus and a Pixel Simon mini figure which was exclusively available as a promotional item at Comic-Con 2007 where the figures were first shown in full form.<ref>{{cite web |author=Contact Michael McWhertor: Comment |url=http://kotaku.com/283042/necas-castlevania-figs-that-dont-suck?tag=gamingcomiccon07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127070554/http://kotaku.com/283042/necas-castlevania-figs-that-dont-suck?tag=gamingcomiccon07 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |title=NECA's Castlevania Figs That *Don't* Suck |publisher=Kotaku.com |date=July 26, 2007 |access-date=January 7, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toywiz.com/neacfibco2.html |title=NECA Castlevania |publisher=Toywiz.com |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127140409/http://www.toywiz.com/neacfibco2.html |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The franchise consists of a calendar of ''Lament of Innocence'' available with the limited edition of the game and containing seven illustrations<ref name="castlevania.armster.org">{{cite web |url=http://castlevania.armster.org/scans_artbook.php |title=vampire killer : a castlevania gallery & translation resource |publisher=Castlevania.armster.org |access-date=January 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713082433/http://castlevania.armster.org/scans_artbook.php |archive-date=July 13, 2012 }}</ref> and another released as a promotion for ''[[Software:Castlevania Judgment|Castlevania Judgment]]'' from April 2009 to March 2010 containing images of various ''Castlevania'' characters from the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-judgment/calendar-judgment(j).htm |title=Akumajou Dracula Judgment |publisher=Vgmuseum.com |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624011026/http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-judgment/calendar-judgment(j).htm |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Artbooks of many games<ref name="castlevania.armster.org"/> have been released. The franchise includes comics, prize collection artworks of ''Symphony of the Night'' and ''Judgment'' as part of its print media.

Adapted and illustrated by Kou Sasakura, a two-volume manga adaptation titled {{nihongo|''Castlevania: Curse of Darkness''|悪魔城ドラキュラ 闇の呪印|''Akumajō Dorakyura: Yami no Juin''}} was published in Japan from 2005 to 2006.<ref name="licensing">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-12/tokyopop-adds-castlevania-curse-of-darkness-manga|title=Tokyopop Adds ''Castlevania: Curse of Darkness'' Manga|date=March 12, 2008|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 2, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925064057/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-12/tokyopop-adds-castlevania-curse-of-darkness-manga|archive-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref>

===Cancelled projects===

A ''Castlevania'' television series was considered in the late 1980s as part of the ''Super Mario Bros. Power Hour'', a one-hour animation block of Nintendo-focused video game adaptations. Concept art was produced for the project by DIC Animation City. Only the Mario and ''The Legend of Zelda'' segments for the block were ultimately produced, airing in 1989 as part of ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/8/18536769/super-mario-bros-power-hour-metroid-castlevania-cartoons-dic|title=The Super Mario Bros. Super Show people once tried to make bizarre Metroid and Castlevania cartoons|website=Polygon|date=May 8, 2019}}</ref>

A ''Castlevania'' film was planned in the late 2000s. However, in December 2007, Rogue Pictures [[Software:Development hell|halted active development]] of ''Castlevania'' due to the writers' strike and, later, the sale of the studio to Relativity Media and possibility of a screen actors' guild strike.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977088?refCatId=2821|title=Strike stalls two more features|author=Michael Fleming|date=December 5, 2007|access-date=December 15, 2007|magazine=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106220847/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977088?refCatId=2821|archive-date=November 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 27, 2009, the ''Castlevania'' film was reported as officially canceled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/05/castlevania_movie_bites_the_dust|title=Castlevania Movie Bites the Dust|date=May 28, 2009|publisher=Nintendolife.com|access-date=August 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721222548/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/05/castlevania_movie_bites_the_dust|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="chron1">{{cite web|url= http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula/product/data.html|title= Konami Castlevania timeline 2007|language= ja|publisher= [[Company:Konami|Konami]]|access-date= March 21, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130318153738/http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula/product/data.html|archive-date= March 18, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>
<ref name="chron3">{{cite web |url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/lords_of_shadow/preview-1975-2.html |title=Lords of Shadow Interview for PS3 |publisher=VideoGamer.com |access-date=August 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324115341/http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/lords_of_shadow/preview-1975-2.html |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="chron4">{{cite web|author=Kurt Kalata|date=July 26, 2006|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152109|title=Tales from the Crypt: Castlevania's 20th Anniversary Blow-out|website=1UP.com|access-date=July 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215534/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152109|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref>
<ref name="chron5">{{cite web|last=Vasconcellos|first=Eduardo|title=Castlevania: Order of Shadows Q&A|url=http://uk.wireless.ign.com/articles/814/814655p1.html|website=IGN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507101225/http://uk.wireless.ign.com/articles/814/814655p1.html|archive-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="chron6">{{cite web|last=Fletcher|first=JC|title=Castlevania's last 'Rebirth' – as a pachinko machine|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/castlevanias-last-rebirth-as-a-pachinko-machine/|publisher=Joystiq|access-date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112002541/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/castlevanias-last-rebirth-as-a-pachinko-machine/|archive-date=November 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="chron7">{{cite web|title= Konami Parlor Entertainment's blog – February 28, 2012|url= https://www.kpenet.jp/kpe_ad/blog/old_2011.html|publisher= Konami Parlor Entertainment|access-date= June 20, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160818114424/https://www.kpenet.jp/kpe_ad/blog/old_2011.html|archive-date= August 18, 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref>
<ref name="chron8">{{cite web |title=Konami Parlor Entertainment's blog |date=February 28, 2012 |url=http://www.kpenet.jp/kpe_ad/dracula_Blog.html#blog120228 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326180747/http://www.kpenet.jp/kpe_ad/dracula_Blog.html#blog120228 |archive-date=2012-03-26 |url-status=dead}}
｢悪魔城ドラキュラ 闇の呪印｣が元となっています (Pachislot Akumajo Dracula is based on Curse of Darkness). ラルフ側から見たもうひとつの物語が､ パチスロ版の悪魔城ドラキュラI･IIのストーリーとなっています (Pachislot Akumajo Dracula I&II story is "another story" from Ralph's perspective).</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{official}}
* [https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/jp/ja/ ''Akumajō Dracula'' series] at Konami Tokyo {{in lang|ja}}
* {{KLOV game|id=6840|name=Akumajou Dracula}}
* {{mobygames|id=-group/castlevania-akumaj-dracula-series|name=The ''Castlevania'' series}}


[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Horror video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Castlevania}}