Original ‘Castlevania’ is Free on iOS and Android for a Limited Time

Konami is celebrating Castlevania’s 40th anniversary by giving the game that started it all away on iPhone and Android devices.

The original Castlevania is now available for free download on the App Store and Google Play until October 24. The mobile release is a direct port of the original Nintendo Entertainment System version, complete with virtual touchscreen controls.

Originally released in Japan in 1986 before making its North American NES debut the following year, Castlevania introduced players to vampire hunter Simon Belmont and his journey through Dracula’s castle.  It’s a considerably more straightforward action-platformer than the exploration-heavy games that eventually helped inspire the “Metroidvania” genre, but much of the series’ identity is already there. That includes the Belmont family’s signature whip, elaborate gothic environments and music that would become synonymous with the franchise.

Konami, the original game’s developer and publisher, confirms that you can also play the title entirely offline. To play, you must redeem Castlevania on the App Store or Google Play before October 24th. Anyone who claims the game during the promotion can continue downloading and playing it after the offer ends. So, it’s highly encouraged, even if you have no intention of playing right now.

The giveaway is part of a larger 40th-anniversary celebration. Konami is discounting several Castlevania collections by as much as 80 percent across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Steam, while anniversary orchestral concerts are planned for Tokyo, London and Los Angeles in spring 2027.

Although simplistic for its time, Castlevania set up the long-running series that continues to this day. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, the latest entry in the series, releases on October 15th on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC. A free demo containing its opening chapter arrives October 1, with progress carrying into the full game.

The mobile release also arrives just weeks after Konami ended service for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, which originally launched globally through Apple Arcade in 2021.