An essential collection of classic Castlevania, from arcade to 8 and 16-bit. The rewind softens their legendary difficulty, and the unreleased Japanese versions are a treat. Polished, though one wishes for a little more.
Your verdict
Category
Compilation1 player12+
Description
A collection of the early adventures of the Belmont clan hunting Dracula through cursed castles. Published by Konami, released worldwide in 2019. Eight classic whip-and-subweapon titles, a Japanese version never localized before, save states and rewind, plus a booklet tracing the series' history.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Here is a distillation of 8- and 16-bit chiptune genius: the Castlevania themes rank among gaming's most indelible, from the gothic earworm of Vampire Killer to Bloody Tears. Hearing those sound chips spit out melodies this ambitious is a reminder of why the saga shaped a whole generation's musical memory.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,3 GB📅16/05/2019
Published by Konami
Castlevania Anniversary Collection (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
An anthology gathering classics of the whip-cracking saga, this collection revives showdowns carved into action-game history. Dracula and his minions impose strict timing, knockback management and pattern reading inherited from the 8- and 16-bit eras. Legendary difficulty, unforgettable music and pixel staging make every duel a demanding rite of passage.
Is Castlevania Anniversary Collection still worth playing in 2026?
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a heritage object more than a single game. It gathers eight whip-cracking classics, from foundational NES entries to less exposed titles, including a Japanese version never released in the West. The emulation is clean, rewind and save states soften an often harsh difficulty, and the booklet traces the bloodline's history. Some titles have aged, with stiff controls and memorisation demands. But the genre's evolution reads clearly here, and for anyone curious about gaming history or a collector, the compilation remains precious and carefully assembled.
