Play Van Helsing (E)(Rising Sun) Online

Van Helsing for the Game Boy Advance came out in 2004, developed by Saffire and published by Rising Sun. It arrived during a time when the handheld was full of action platformers, and this one took its cues from the Hugh Jackman film, though it carved its own path with a gothic, monster-hunting vibe. The hardware limitations meant the developers had to focus on tight controls and clear visual feedback, which they handled pretty well.

You control Van Helsing himself, moving through side-scrolling stages filled with enemies like vampires, werewolves, and reanimated skeletons. Your main goal is to hunt down Dracula, but along the way you clear screen-by-screen areas, using a sword for close combat and a crossbow for ranged attacks. The crossbow feels especially satisfying; landing a hit causes vampires to burst into dust, and later upgrades let you fire rapidly, turning you into a mobile arsenal. Levels are short and focused, with enemies often ambushing from off-screen or dropping from above, keeping the tension high. It’s not an easy game; you need quick reflexes to dodge and counter, and health pickups are just scarce enough to make each encounter matter. Playing it feels like a brisk, aggressive hunt, where every shot and slash has weight.