Circle of the Moon was the first Castlevania to hit the GBA, and honestly? It’s still one of the toughest in the series. You play as Nathan Graves, a vampire hunter’s apprentice who gets yeeted into the depths of Dracula’s castle right after the big bad gets resurrected (classic timing).

The castle’s massive, full of winding corridors, hidden rooms, and monsters that drop gear when you wreck them. Your whip feels great to swing, and the classic sub-weapons—axes, holy water—are back too. But here’s the kicker: the DSS system. You collect these magic cards that combo together for different effects, like fire whips or temporary invincibility. Took me forever to figure out which pairs actually worked well.

Fair warning, though—this one’s brutal compared to later Metroidvanias. No shops, limited healing, and some enemy placements feel downright mean. But if you like a challenge with that classic Castlevania atmosphere, it’s a solid pick. Just maybe don’t throw your GBA when the werewolves gang up on you.