Play Akumajou Dracula Online

Konami released Akumajou Dracula for the Game Boy in 1989, bringing the series to a handheld for the first time. It arrived during the early years of the system, a time when developers were still figuring out how to translate complex console adventures onto that small, green-tinted screen. This game was their attempt to pack the exploration and gothic atmosphere of Castlevania into your pocket.

You control a vampire hunter navigating a cursed castle room by room, using your whip to attack monsters and break candlesticks for hearts, which act as ammunition for secondary weapons like axes or holy water. Your goal is to find and defeat Dracula, which involves retracing your steps through a non-linear map after collecting key items to unlock new areas. The pacing is deliberate, the platforming is demanding, and enemies frequently respawn when you leave a screen, making progress feel earned through repetition and memorization. It feels like a tense, methodical crawl through a hostile and claustrophobic fortress.