Play Castlevania 5 Online

Game Overview

Oh man, Castlevania: Dracula X—this one's a weird little beast in the best way. It's that SNES Castlevania everyone kinda forgets about until they're halfway through it, sweating bullets over Richter Belmont's stiff jumps while skeletons chuck bones at you from off-screen. The pixel art? Gorgeous. That opening stage with the burning village still gives me chills.

It's not as flashy as Symphony of the Night, but there's something brutally satisfying about the way this game plays. You've got branching paths (some leading to secret bosses), whip upgrades that actually feel earned, and this one hallway with medusa heads that'll make you question your life choices. The soundtrack's full of those crunchy SNES renditions of classic Castlevania tunes—Bloody Tears still slaps here.

Fair warning though: Dracula's second form in this game might be the cheapest boss fight in the entire series. Bring patience, spare controllers, and maybe a stress ball.