CASTLEVANIA
Created by Konami in 1986 with Akumajō Dracula, Castlevania is one of the most influential action-platforming and action-RPG franchises in video game history. Spanning nearly four decades, the saga follows the eternal conflict between Count Dracula and the Belmont clan of vampire hunters across dozens of games, animated television series, comics, and media.
Cronologia
Panoramica
Debuting in 1986 with Konami's original Famicom Disk System release, Castlevania (known in Japan as Akumajō Dracula) established a gothic dark fantasy universe centered on the immortal Lord of Vampires, Count Dracula, and the Belmont clan who wield the sacred whip Vampire Killer.
Across dozens of video game titles and collections, the franchise evolved from challenging linear 8-bit platformers into non-linear exploration action-RPGs, co-founding the popular 'Metroidvania' subgenre.
Beyond video games, Castlevania expanded into animation with two Netflix series—the 4-season Castlevania (32 episodes) and Castlevania: Nocturne (2 seasons)—alongside comic books, light novels, and major crossover expansions like Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania and Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania.
Origini
The franchise originated in 1986 with the simultaneous Japanese releases of Akumajō Dracula on the Famicom Disk System and Vampire Killer on the MSX2 computer, created and published by Konami.
Heavily inspired by classic horror folklore and cinema, the lore traces back in-universe to 1094 when Leon Belmont swore an eternal oath to hunt the creatures of the night in Lament of Innocence.
Subsequent generations of the Belmont family—including Trevor Belmont in the 15th century, Simon Belmont in the 17th century, and Richter Belmont in the 18th century—continued the bloodline's duty. The franchise underwent a revolutionary transformation in 1997 with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on PlayStation, which introduced open-ended exploration and RPG mechanics to the series.
Personaggi
I PEZZI DI CASTLEVANIA
Collezionismo
For retro gaming and pop-culture collectors, Castlevania is a crown jewel franchise.
Rare physical video game releases command premium value among collectors, including original PC Engine Super CD-ROM² copies of Rondo of Blood, Sharp X68000 cartridges, boxed NES originals, and handheld cartridges for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS featured in the Castlevania Dominus Collection. Beyond game cartridges, sought-after collectibles include promotional merchandise (such as exclusive items from Netflix's 2018 'Dracula's Blood Drive' event), original art prints by Ayami Kojima, IDW comic miniseries like The Belmont Legacy, and physical remaster bundles.
Curiosità
• Producer Adi Shankar cited Japanese anime like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Ninja Scroll as major influences on the Netflix animated series. • The 2024 Castlevania Dominus Collection includes Haunted Castle Revisited, a ground-up remake of the 1988 arcade game.
• In October 2018, Netflix and the American Red Cross organized 'Dracula's Blood Drive,' offering blood donors exclusive merch and early episode screenings. • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) helped coin the term 'Metroidvania' by introducing non-linear action-RPG design. • In 1990, Scholastic published a gamebook novelization of Simon's Quest written by FX Nine as part of the Worlds of Power series.
Film
• Dracula's Curse Animated Movie (Cancelled / Reworked): Announced in 2007 by writer Warren Ellis and producer Koji Igarashi as a DVD movie adapting Castlevania III, later reworked into the 2017 Netflix animated series.
Serie TV
• Captain N: The Game Master (1989–1991): Animated cartoon series featuring a comedic incarnation of Simon Belmont.
• Castlevania (2017–2021): 4-season (32 episodes) Netflix animated series produced by Powerhouse Animation and written by Warren Ellis, adapting Castlevania III and Curse of Darkness. • Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–2025): Netflix animated sequel series set during the French Revolution in 1792 starring Richter Belmont and Maria Renard (Season 1 released in 2023; Season 2 released in 2025).
Videogiochi
• Castlevania (1986) – Famicom Disk System / NES • Vampire Killer (1986) – MSX2 • Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) – Famicom Disk System / NES • Haunted Castle (1988) – Arcade • Castlevania: The Adventure (1989) – Game Boy • Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989) – NES / Famicom • Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun / Kid Dracula (1990) – Famicom / Game Boy • Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (1991) – Game Boy • Super Castlevania IV (1991) – Super NES • Castlevania Chronicles / Akumajō Dracula (1993) – Sharp X68000 / PS1 • Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993) – PC Engine Super CD-ROM² • Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994) – Sega Genesis / Mega Drive • Castlevania: Dracula X (1995) – Super NES • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) – PlayStation / Sega Saturn • Castlevania Legends (1997) – Game Boy • Castlevania (Castlevania 64) (1999) – Nintendo 64 • Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (1999) – Nintendo 64 • Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001) – Game Boy Advance • Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) – Game Boy Advance • Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003) – Game Boy Advance • Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (2003) – PlayStation 2 • Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005) – Nintendo DS • Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (2005) – PlayStation 2 / Xbox • Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006) – Nintendo DS • Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (2007) – PlayStation Portable • Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008) – Nintendo DS • Castlevania Judgment (2008) – Wii • Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (2009) – WiiWare • Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (2010) – Xbox 360 / PS3 • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010) – PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (2013) – Nintendo 3DS / PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (2014) – PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC • Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood (2018) – PlayStation 4 • Castlevania Anniversary Collection (2019) – Multiplatform • Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls (2019 Mobile / 2021 Apple Arcade) • Castlevania Advance Collection (2021) – Multiplatform • Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania (2023) – Cross-over Expansion • Castlevania Dominus Collection (2024) – Multiplatform • Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania (2024) – Expansion DLC • Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (2026) – Multiplatform
Libri & Fumetti
• Worlds of Power: Castlevania II - Simon's Quest (1990) – Scholastic gamebook novelization by FX Nine. • Akumajō Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight Art Works Manga (1997) – Prequel manga illustrated by Ayami Kojima for Sega Saturn release.
• Castlevania: Curse of Darkness Manga & Prequel (2005) – Prelude to Revenge promo comic and 2-volume manga by Kou Sasakura. • Castlevania: The Belmont Legacy (2005) – 5-issue comic miniseries published by IDW Publishing written by Marc Andreyko. • Akumajō Dracula: Kabuchi no Omoide / Nocturne of Recollection (2008) – Light novel set post-Symphony of the Night written by Miri Yu.
