Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow review

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the best third-party game on the GBA. Nintendo's page explains that this third GBA Castlevania jumps to 2035, where Soma Cruz wakes inside a mysterious castle after a solar eclipse. The Tactical Soul system lets him absorb enemy souls and equip their abilities, more than 100 in total, so every new monster is also a possible new power. Extra modes open after the story. It scores high on capabilities, but the cartridge is costly at $169.99 at DKOldies before sales, and the listing was out of stock when we checked on November 11, 2026. The good news for players is Konami's Castlevania Advance Collection on Steam: $19.99 in the US for Aria of Sorrow, Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Dracula X, with Rewind and Save/Load added. That makes it the cheapest legal way to play any top-tier pick here.

Who it is for

Fans of exploration action who want the GBA's best Castlevania and do not mind a mature setting.

Price

Used GBA cartridge from $169.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $169.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Set in the year 2035 with new hero Soma Cruz
• Tactical Soul system with more than 100 powers
• A large castle of connected areas
• Extra modes and challenges after the story
• Included in Konami's Castlevania Advance Collection on Steam for $19.99

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Soul collecting rewards exploration
• Strength: Konami's collection is the cheapest legal way to play a top pick
• Strength: Collection adds Rewind and Save/Load
• Weakness: $169.99 used for the cartridge
• Weakness: The DKOldies listing was out of stock when we checked
• Weakness: Rated PEGI 12 on Nintendo UK

Key facts

• Publisher: Konami
• Genre: Action exploration
• Setting: 2035, a mysterious castle
• Abilities: More than 100 souls
• Collection price (Steam, USD): $19.99

Where it ranks

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is No. 7 in our Best GBA Games of All Time verdict.