Play Akumajou Dracula (Japan) Online

Game Overview

Akumajou Dracula—the original Castlevania, but with that extra Japanese Famicom flavor. You play as Simon Belmont, stuck with the family business of whipping vampires and dodging Medusa heads in Dracula’s castle. The controls feel stiff at first (good luck changing direction mid-jump), but that’s part of the charm. Candles drop hearts for your sub-weapons, and the music? Absolute 8-bit bangers.

Fun fact: The Japanese version has slightly different enemy placements and a password system instead of the US release’s brutal continue system. Still punishing, but in a slightly more forgiving way. If you’ve only played the American version, this one’s worth a look just for the little differences.