Konami has done a good job of re-releasing their classic games for modern systems, with Castlevania getting some great collections. We’ve had the classic collection of NES, SNES, and Game Boy titles, followed by excellent compilations of the GBA and DS games. More of these Konami compilations seem likely, and we can’t wait to see that Gradius collection coming soon.
This begs the question, why hasn’t Castlevania: Symphony of the Night been re-released numerous times for various gaming consoles?
At the time of writing, the only modern systems where fans can buy Symphony of the Night are PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, and mobile devices. While these aren’t the worst systems to play this game on, the fact that it’s not available on Steam or Nintendo Switch is a disgrace.
Considering just how popular Metroidvania games are for handheld devices, the fact that Castlevania: Symphony of the Night can’t legally be played on Steam Deck or Switch is crazy. These systems are home to games like Hollow Knight, Chasm, and Axiom Verge, all of which are inspired by Konami’s PS1 gem. How this game hasn’t joined them in 2025 is baffling.
Netflix’s Castlevania anime is an obvious reason to re-release Symphony of the Night. The original series and its follow-up, Nocturne, prominently feature Alucard, who is the game’s lead protagonist. Rictor and Maria also appear in the game, and its re-release would have benefited greatly from the Netflix anime’s momentum.
Symphony of the Night has had the weirdest re-release history. After coming out on the PS1 and Sega Saturn, this game would return as part of Dracula X Chronicles for PSP. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 was also home to a unique Symphony of the Night port, while the PS3 had a classic PS1 rom. The re-release on PS4 and mobile uses the version in Dracula X Chronicles, which has a new script and voice acting.
It’s only a matter of time before Konami will re-release Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, as their recent collections have shown. Now that we have collections for Suikoden, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Contra, it seems like a 3D Castlevania compilation could be in the works. We’re just wondering why Konami hasn’t re-released this game a bunch of times by now.
Fans give Capcom a lot of guff for constantly re-releasing the original version of Resident Evil 4, but it’s a great move. This lets new players appreciate a classic that inspired tons of third-person shooters. It also lets fans try the original game before or after playing the remake, which is a genius bit of preservation.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night should be Konami’s Resident Evil 4. A timeless classic that has inspired hundreds of games since. From indie hits like Hollow Knight to major releases such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Symphony of the Night’s DNA can be seen in all of these titles. This game should be released in every console generation with no shame whatsoever.
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