Konami may be preparing to release a new collection focused on the 3D entries in the Castlevania series, according to hints found within a trailer celebrating the franchise's 40th anniversary. The trailer, which chronicles the history of Castlevania from its 1986 NES debut to the upcoming Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, featured portraits of several key games. Among these were Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, titles that have yet to receive modern console re-releases.
A Shift to 3D
These three titles represent a departure from Castlevania's traditional 2D side-scrolling format, focusing instead on 3D action gameplay. Lament of Innocence, released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, received a moderately positive reception. Curse of Darkness followed in 2005, introducing a more open structure. The 2010 reboot, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, developed by MercurySteam, is often cited as the most critically acclaimed 3D installment in the series. The selection suggests a focus on the most well-regarded 3D entries, potentially overlooking titles like the N64 Castlevania or Lords of Shadow 2, which were met with less favorable reviews.
A History of Collections
Konami has previously released several Castlevania collections. The Castlevania Anniversary Collection arrived in 2019, featuring early titles from the franchise. This was followed by the Castlevania Advance Collection in 2021, which included the Game Boy Advance games and Castlevania: Dracula X. Most recently, the Castlevania: Dominus Collection was released in 2024, bringing together the Nintendo DS titles. With most of the 2D and handheld entries already re-released, a focus on the 3D catalog appears to be the next logical step for the publisher.