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There isn’t one objectively “best” Castlevania game for every player. For classic, stage-based action, start with Castlevania Anniversary Collection; for the Game Boy Advance era, choose Castlevania Advance Collection; and for the Nintendo DS era and modern convenience features, choose Castlevania Dominus Collection. If you want the Soma Cruz story, play Aria of Sorrow before Dawn of Sorrow.
Konami says Castlevania debuted in 1986 and marks its 40th anniversary in September 2026. These recommendations are based on the games and features in each collection—not on an unsupported universal ranking.
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Which Castlevania collection should you play first?
| Collection | Best for | Included games and platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Castlevania Anniversary Collection | Classic, mostly stage-based action and a look at the early series | Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: The Adventure, Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge, Castlevania Bloodlines, and Kid Dracula, plus a bonus book. Nintendo lists it among the Castlevania collections for Switch; see Konami’s collection page. |
| Castlevania Advance Collection | Action-exploration from the Game Boy Advance era | Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow, and Dracula X. The first three originally appeared on Game Boy Advance; Dracula X originally appeared on Super NES. Nintendo lists the collection for Switch in its Castlevania Collections Bundle. |
| Castlevania Dominus Collection | Nintendo DS-era games and documented convenience features | Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, Haunted Castle, and Haunted Castle Revisited. Konami lists Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. See Konami’s Dominus Collection page. |
Choose by the kind of play you want rather than treating the collections as interchangeable. Anniversary is the clearest fit for classic stage-to-stage action, while Advance and Dominus represent later collections of action-exploration games. The games inside each collection vary, so check the lineup before choosing a platform or edition.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChoose Anniversary Collection for classic Castlevania
The eight-game Anniversary Collection spans early entries across several platforms and includes a bonus book. It is the natural starting point if you want to see how the original, stage-based style developed across the series.
#1 Best Overall
- LIMITED EDITION: Official Limited Run Games release #251 of the Castlevania Dominus Collection featuring Order of Ecclesia cover art for Nintendo Switch
- GAME FORMAT: Physical DVD-ROM release, not a digital download, packaged in standard Nintendo Switch game case
- CONTENT: Action-packed collection of classic Castlevania games, rated T for Teen by ESRB
- PACKAGING DIMENSIONS: Comes in standard Switch case measuring 6 inches high, 3 inches wide, and 2 inches deep
- REGION AND LANGUAGE: US release with English language support, compatible with Nintendo Switch systems
One important exception to the action-stage pattern is Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest. Konami describes it as an action RPG centered on exploration and puzzle solving, so it plays differently from the more linear entries in the collection. If you want a straightforward first taste of classic Castlevania, begin with another game in the set; approach Simon’s Quest when you’re specifically interested in its exploratory structure.
Choose Advance Collection for the Game Boy Advance era
Castlevania Advance Collection groups three games that originally appeared on Game Boy Advance—Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, and Aria of Sorrow—with Dracula X, which originally appeared on Super NES. It’s the strongest match if your priority is that handheld-era lineup and its action-exploration approach.
Rank #2
- COLLECTION CONTENTS: Features multiple classic Castlevania titles in one comprehensive Nintendo Switch collection from Konami
- LIMITED EDITION: Special Limited Run physical release for Nintendo Switch collectors and series enthusiasts
- GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE: Action-packed side-scrolling adventure featuring vampire hunting, gothic environments, and classic Castlevania combat
- RATING DETAILS: Teen-rated game suitable for players 13 and older, containing fantasy violence and mild themes
- PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY: Exclusively designed and optimized for the Nintendo Switch gaming system
Play Aria of Sorrow before Dawn of Sorrow
If you’re following Soma Cruz’s story, start with Aria of Sorrow in the Advance Collection, then play Dawn of Sorrow in the Dominus Collection. Konami describes Dawn of Sorrow as taking place one year after Aria of Sorrow; the games are sold in separate collections.
Choose Dominus Collection for DS games and extra convenience
Dominus Collection contains the three Nintendo DS games Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia, alongside Haunted Castle and Haunted Castle Revisited. Konami documents rewind, quick save, regional versions, artwork, music, and an encyclopedia. Those features make this collection worth considering if you want the DS-era games with additional ways to manage or explore the collection.
Rank #3
- Three incredible action adventure games from the Castlevania series have finally returned, for the first time!
- Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia
Konami lists Dominus for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The official collection page is the best place to confirm the supported platform and included features before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 40th anniversary changes for players
Konami announced its anniversary campaign on September 25, 2026. The original Castlevania was temporarily offered free through the App Store and Google Play until October 24, 2026, according to Konami’s anniversary announcement. That offer has an end date; check the relevant store to confirm availability before relying on it.
Rank #4
The same announcement listed PlayStation Store sale dates of September 23–October 7, 2026, and Steam sale dates of September 24–October 1, 2026. As of October 4, 2026, the Steam sale window had ended, while the listed PlayStation window had not. Discounts and participating games differed by storefront, so check the store directly rather than assuming a particular collection is on sale.
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Konami also announced soundtrack releases and a 40th-anniversary orchestral concert planned for spring 2027 in London, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, as well as anniversary merchandise. These are collector-related announcements, not reasons to choose one game collection over another.
Best Value
- 17 Levels - Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
- 5 Bosses - Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
- 150 or so weapons and skills - Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
- Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
- Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
What about Belmont’s Curse?
Konami announced Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse for October 15, 2026. That date is after the October 4, 2026 information date used here, so it should be treated as an announced future release—not as a game already available to play. Check Konami’s current announcements if you’re reading this after the announced date.
Quick Recap
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