Castlevania is 40 — and Konami is handing out presents. To celebrate four decades of vampire hunting, the publisher is making the original 1986 Castlevania free to download on the App Store and Google Play until October 24, 2026, alongside deep discounts across the series as the franchise gears up for its next mainline entry.
The Classic That Started It All
The game being given away is the one that started everything: the 1986 NES original that introduced vampire hunter Simon Belmont and his whip-cracking battle against Dracula. It is one of the most influential action-platformers ever made — and if you have somehow never played it, a free download is about as low a barrier as gaming offers.
Deep Discounts Across the Series
The anniversary sale spans two storefronts. On the PlayStation Store, the Castlevania Anniversary Collection is 80 percent off until October 7, the Dominus Collection is 50 percent off, and the Advance Collection and the Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood bundle are both 70 percent off. Steam’s sale runs from September 24 to October 1, repeating the Anniversary Collection’s 80 percent discount, with the Dominus Collection at 50 percent, the Advance Collection at 70 percent, and the Lords of Shadow games — including the Ultimate Edition — at 80 percent off.
Belmont’s Curse Arrives October 15
The giveaway doubles as a drumroll for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, the new mainline entry from Evil Empire — the studio known for Dead Cells and Rogue Prince of Persia, whose playable build wowed crowds at PAX West earlier this month. The game follows Rose, daughter of Castlevania 3’s Trevor Belmont, as she fights her way through Paris and Dracula’s castle with the Vampire Killer whip in 1499. It launches October 15 on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S — and a demo arrives October 1 covering the entire first chapter, with progress that carries over to the full release. Expect 60FPS on all platforms except Switch, which targets 30FPS.
A Symphony of Anniversary Extras
If free games and sales were not enough, Konami has also planned a Castlevania 40th Anniversary orchestral concert for spring 2027, with performances in London, Tokyo and Los Angeles. And for immediate listening: the soundtrack to Castlevania: Black & Red is now available on most major streaming platforms. Not a bad birthday haul for a 40-year-old.