Castlevania Vs Metroid: Which Series Is Best?

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It’s unusual for two video game series with no prior connection, like Castlevania and Metroid, to become so strongly associated, particularly given how different they are in almost every way except how they actually play.

The term “Metroidvania” comes from the popular games Castlevania and Metroid. These games emphasize exploring a large map that expands as you gain new skills and items. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Super Metroid are often considered the games that truly defined this style of gameplay, demonstrating how enjoyable exploration can be.

Comparing popular game series like Castlevania and Metroid is interesting. While a character like Simon Belmont exploring Dracula’s castle with a whip seems very different from Samus Aran blasting through a space station, are the core experiences actually that dissimilar?

This list only includes the official video games and doesn’t cover related media like the Castlevania Netflix series or the Metroid manga. It also excludes appearances in other games, such as the Castlevania content in Vampire Survivors.

10. Contemporaneity

Winner – Metroid

Both Castlevania and Metroid are critically acclaimed and popular with fans, but their success hasn’t always meant big sales. Konami and Nintendo haven’t consistently prioritized these series, so fans are thrilled whenever a new game or update is released.

Konami has been successfully bringing back some of its classic games recently. The remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was a hit, and it suggests we’ll see more remakes in the future. Plus, Silent Hill f is a strong contender for Game of the Year in 2025, and fans loved the remake of the original Silent Hill 2.

Despite its popularity, the Castlevania series hasn’t received the same attention as other franchises. Currently, the best fans can hope for are the ports available on the Nintendo DS. While there was a TV series and some Castlevania content added to games like V Rising, there are no plans announced for remakes or entirely new Castlevania games.

Despite not always getting the recognition it deserves, Metroid has still given fans some fantastic games, such as Metroid Dread. And with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the way, and the gameplay shown so far looking amazing, it could be another Game of the Year winner.

9. Narrative & Lore

Castlevania

Similar to many video game series, there aren’t any clear, long-term plans for Castlevania or Metroid. Developers seem to be adding to the story as they go, referencing past games when it fits and overlooking continuity when needed.

When it comes to storytelling, Castlevania stands out. Its rich history follows families of vampire hunters, like the Belmonts, who have battled Dracula and his forces across centuries. This long-running conflict provides developers with a vast and detailed world to build upon, spanning from the past to the present day.

Unlike some games, Metroid doesn’t focus heavily on its backstory, simply because there isn’t a large amount of established lore. Though a few characters reappear, the series prioritizes strong gameplay over building a complex, detailed universe.

8. Difficulty

Metroid

Let’s skip over the original Nintendo (NES) games in both series – they were all notoriously difficult and frustrating. Instead, we’ll focus on the era that really defined these games, starting with Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

The two game series, Castlevania and Metroid, play very differently. Castlevania focuses more on role-playing elements, letting players improve their characters by gaining levels, finding better gear, using healing items, and unlocking a variety of abilities. Metroid, on the other hand, is more focused on fast-paced action.

Metroid games generally don’t give you a lot of different combat options, so you have to really learn the systems they do offer and become skilled with them. I personally appreciate that Metroid doesn’t make things easy – it challenges you to improve and meet its demands instead of providing simple shortcuts to victory.

7. Storytelling

Castlevania

People play Castlevania and Metroid games because they’re fun to play. While dedicated fans might be interested in a story-focused game based on these series, most players want the action and exploration – they wouldn’t want to just read about a character’s feelings, like Ridley’s, instead of experiencing the gameplay.

While not everyone cares about stories in games, the Castlevania series consistently delivers a strong narrative in each installment. Metroid fans, on the other hand, often have to rely on things like text logs or brief audio clips to understand the plot.

Castlevania games really immerse you in the story with lots of characters and cutscenes that build the conflict and motivate you to continue. Metroid, on the other hand, doesn’t focus as much on Samus’s personal story, except for one attempt – Metroid: Other M – which was widely disliked by fans.

6. Art Direction

Castlevania

It’s hard to say which franchise is better, considering how many different artists have worked on both over time. Sometimes those interpretations don’t work out so well – for example, the designs for Castlevania Judgment by the artist of Death Note nearly ruined the game.

Despite strong competition, Castlevania ultimately stands out because of its incredible range of characters, monsters, and settings, all brought to life with beautiful art.

While Metroid is a strong contender, its limited characters and somewhat repetitive environments prevent it from fully competing with Castlevania. The biggest drawback is that nothing in the Metroid series has reached the artistic heights of Ayami Kojima’s work on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

5. Music

Castlevania

It’s interesting how the music really highlights the differences between these two games, despite their surface-level similarities. Metroid creates a dark, sci-fi feel with atmospheric music, while Castlevania blends gothic horror with a strong anime influence.

I absolutely love the music in Metroid! It’s so atmospheric and really captures the feeling of those games. But honestly, if I put a bunch of tracks on shuffle, they all start to sound a little…samey. It’s perfect for being in the game, creating that immersive world, but it means there aren’t a ton of songs I’d put on repeat outside of it, you know? Not many instant classics for my playlist, sadly.

Castlevania boasts amazing music, like “Vampire Killer” and “Divine Bloodlines,” that’s perfect for getting you pumped up – whether you’re playing a game or just hitting the road. It instantly makes you feel ready for action!

4. Characters

Castlevania


Image Via Konami

Castlevania clearly comes out ahead in this comparison, largely because its characters – both good and bad – are much more developed and interesting. The characters in Metroid, on the other hand, lack strong personalities beyond how they look, and even those aren’t particularly compelling.

Although I’m not including the Castlevania Netflix series here, it’s impressive it was even made. Could Nintendo create a Metroid movie or show? Yes, but writers would need to create a lot of new material, especially to develop Samus Aran’s character.

Not every version of Belmont or Dracula is incredibly complex, but many of them are well-developed and engaging to watch in cutscenes. While Metroid focuses more on impressive visuals and action, players who like to delve into character stories won’t find much to satisfy them here.

3. The 2D Games

Castlevania

It’s a tight competition, as both series are known for delivering iconic games. The Metroid franchise, for example, boasts classics like Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid: Samus Returns, and the latest installment, Metroid Dread.

The Castlevania series boasts several popular 2D titles, including Symphony of the Night, Order of Ecclesia, Portrait of Ruin, Dawn of Sorrow, Aria of Sorrow, and Harmony of Despair.

I think the Castlevania series is the better choice. I simply enjoy exploring its castles more than the space settings of other games. Castlevania’s RPG features also make each game feel unique, something that Metroid sometimes lacks, as its installments can feel too much alike.

2. The 3D Games

Metroid

While Castlevania has generally been stronger overall, Metroid really shines when it comes to its 3D games – they’re much better than Castlevania’s.

Castlevania hasn’t translated well into 3D gaming. While some attempts have been decent, most have been quite poor. Even a talented creator like Hideo Kojima wasn’t able to deliver a truly great 3D Castlevania experience.

The Metroid series gave us the fantastic Metroid Prime trilogy. While Metroid: Other M also came out, most criticisms of that game focus on its story and characters, not how it actually plays.

The Metroid series is known for its consistently excellent 3D games, and the upcoming fourth installment looks promising. In contrast, Castlevania has struggled to make the transition to 3D, never quite capturing the magic of its 2D roots.

1. Winner

Castlevania

The Metroid series nearly succeeded with its 3D installments. Ultimately, whether a game is in 2D or 3D doesn’t define a great Metroidvania, as fantastic examples exist in both styles.

The Castlevania series has consistently tried new things and taken risks, and while not every attempt has worked, the successes have been truly memorable. Compared to that, Metroid games tend to be more conservative, usually only adding a new ability or weapon. However, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond seems to be a more ambitious departure for the series.

As a huge fan of both, if I could only replay one game today – either Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Super Metroid – I’d absolutely pick Castlevania. It’s just got so much depth and so many different ways to approach it, I know I could play it again and again and still discover new things. While I love Super Metroid, it doesn’t offer quite the same level of replayability for me, so Alucard and Dracula’s castle get my vote!

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2025-11-03 20:12