The transition from 2D to 3D in Castlevania’s history is seen as a significant moment by some, while others attribute this shift to the release of Symphony of the Night in 1997. This game marked the beginning of the “Metroidvania” genre recognition and sparked the creation of multiple sequels on the GBA and DS, as well as inspiring numerous imitators in the years that followed. Despite the success of Symphony of the Night, many old-school Castlevania fans still prefer the “Classicvania” style from before 1997. In an effort to cater to these fans, a new fan-made game called Castlevania ReVamped has been developed by Lv4 Games for Windows and Linux platforms. This game aims to blend the nostalgic aesthetics of the NES-era Castlevania games with the modern, non-linear, gear-gated gameplay of Metroidvania. The result is an impressive mix that stands up to Konami’s own work in the genre.

If you’re interested, the Linux version is compatible with Steam Deck. You can find the download links here.