Simon Belmont first picked up the Vampire Killer whip 40 years ago, and Konami is celebrating the anniversary by giving everyone a chance to return to Dracula’s castle for free.
The original Castlevania is now available as a free download for iOS and Android, part of a larger 40th anniversary celebration that also includes deep discounts across the series, newly released music and an orchestral concert planned for 2027. Konami is calling the mobile release Castlevania 40th Anniversary, but the game itself is the NES version of the 1986 classic that started the series.
Players have until October 24 to claim the free game. Anyone who downloads it during the promotion will continue to have access after the offer ends, including the ability to download it again later.
Castlevania, originally released in Japan as Akumajō Dracula for Nintendo’s Famicom Disk System on September 26, 1986, introduced Simon Belmont and the Belmont family’s centuries-long battle against Dracula. The game arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System internationally the following year, eventually growing into a franchise of more than 30 games and helping establish characters, music and monsters that remain closely associated with Konami four decades later.
For anyone looking to fill some gaps in their collection, Konami has also launched anniversary sales on PlayStation and Steam. The discounts reach as high as 80 percent, although the two storefront promotions end on different dates.
PlayStation Store: September 23 through October 7
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection – 80% off
- Castlevania Dominus Collection – 50% off
- Castlevania Advance Collection – 70% off
- Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood – 70% off
Steam Store: September 24 through October 1
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection – 80% off
- Castlevania Dominus Collection – 50% off
- Castlevania Advance Collection – 70% off
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Ultimate Edition) – 80% off
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (Digital Bundle) – 80% off
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Revelations DLC – 80% off
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD – 80% off
Konami is giving the series’ music some attention for the anniversary as well. The Castlevania Black & Red music collections arrived on streaming services September 26, bringing another selection of music from across the franchise to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other platforms.
Fans will also be able to hear some of that music performed live next year. The Castlevania 40th Anniversary An Orchestral Concert is scheduled for spring 2027, with performances planned for Los Angeles, London and Tokyo. Additional information about dates and tickets will be announced later.
The anniversary comes as Konami prepares for the next chapter of Castlevania. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is scheduled for release October 15, with a playable demo arriving October 1. The new 2D action-exploration game follows Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont, and takes the series to Paris in 1499. Demo progress will carry over into the full game when it launches.
Konami also appears to have more planned beyond what has already been announced. In a message thanking fans for supporting Castlevania over the past four decades, the development team closed with a simple tease: “We have much more in store for the series, so please stay tuned.”
For now, the game that started it all is free. Castlevania 40th Anniversary can be claimed on iOS and Android through October 24.
