Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse review

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is the deepest of the NES games. Konami's history page sets it 100 years before Simon Belmont's birth, with Trevor Belmont able to team up with three partner spirits: Grant DaNasty, Sypha and Alucard, who later stars in Symphony of the Night. Branching Paths of Fate lead through up to 17 possible levels, including the Clock Tower and a sunken city. You buy it in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection for $19.99, the same eight-game package as Super Castlevania IV, sold on Steam, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. It ranks below Super Castlevania IV because the controls and difficulty are older and harsher: Konami's own copy calls it the supreme challenge, and the Steam page for the Anniversary Collection does not list the rewind and save features found in the Advance and Dominus collections. The collection's English Steam reviews are 81% positive from 1,884. For series fans, it is also the setting for the new Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.

Who it is for

players who want the hardest classic NES Castlevania

Price

$19.99 one-time on Steam for the Castlevania Anniversary Collection (eight games).

Included is a unique eBook with details provided by developers, artists and others inspired by the Castlevania legacy which sheds a fresh light into the world of Castlevania. $19.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Set 100 years before Simon Belmont's birth, with Trevor Belmont as the hero
• Three partner spirits: Grant DaNasty, Sypha and Alucard
• 17 possible levels through branching Paths of Fate, per Konami
• Sub-weapons include the Battle Axe and Invisibility Potion
• Sold with Super Castlevania IV in the Anniversary Collection

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Same $19.99 eight-game collection as Super Castlevania IV
• Strength: First appearance of Alucard, who leads Symphony of the Night
• Strength: Available on Steam, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One
• Weakness: Collection has 81% positive English Steam reviews from 1,884, the lowest of the Konami collections
• Weakness: Konami's own copy calls it the supreme challenge, so it is hard for newcomers
• Weakness: No rewind feature is listed for the Anniversary Collection, unlike the Advance and Dominus collections

Key facts

• Original release: September 19, 1990 (NES, North America)
• Hero: Trevor Belmont
• Partners: Grant DaNasty, Sypha, Alucard
• Possible levels: 17
• Collection price: $19.99

Where it ranks

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is No. 7 in our Best Castlevania Games verdict.