Original Castlevania Is Free on Mobile for Its 40th Anniversary
Konami is offering the first Castlevania game as a free download on the App Store and Google Play from September 25 to October 24, 2026. The promotion celebrates the series' 40th anniversary ahead of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, which is being made by the team behind the Dead Cells Castlevania DLC. Touchscreen controls may make the game harder, but save states can help players avoid losing progress.
Konami is marking Castlevania's 40th anniversary by making the original NES game free on the App Store and Google Play. The offer runs from September 25 through October 24, 2026, and once redeemed, the app stays playable offline after the window closes.
The release precedes Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by the team behind the Dead Cells Castlevania DLC. The first game is known as a tougher, methodical action-platformer; on mobile, touchscreen controls may add difficulty, though save states can reduce lost progress.
This free re-release could introduce a landmark NES title to mobile players who missed it, while giving longtime fans an easy anniversary download. It may also build momentum for Belmont's Curse by connecting the series' origins with its newer creative collaborators. The main beneficiaries could be mobile users and lapsed fans, though touchscreen controls may limit how many newcomers stick with it. Its limited redemption window may create mild urgency without requiring ongoing spending.