If you're looking for an alternative to a certain Konami series, how about this new 8-bit sidescrolling platformer? The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest is described as a "parody/homage", and will be coming to the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms at some point in 2025.
You'll even play as a guy named Simon who must resurrect and then slay Dracula by jumping between the overworld and various mansions. There are also minigames, a range of weapons and items, and a built-in randomiser to keep you coming back for more. Here's a bit of extra information (via Steam):
"The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest is a parody/homage side-scrolling platformer that immerses players in an ominous 8-bit world. The titular hero named Simon Quest has just arrived in Transylvania only to discover his vampire hunting rival, Stan Helsing, has already slain the evil Count Dracula. In order to reclaim the glory that should be his, he journeys across Wallachia to gather what he needs to resurrect the dark count piece by piece and kick his ass himself!"
Sequence Breaking Encouraged! In both the overworld and in mansions, there are plenty of alternate pathways (and choices) you can make. You may think every mansion has a linear route, but you'll find there are other paths you can take to clear them! For those adventurous enough to seek an unorthodox journey in the overworld, you can even try taking on later mansions early. In fact, doing so might even yield you a different ending...
Minigames Galore! When you need to catch a break from your perilous journey for glory, consider drowning yourself in minigames! Scattered throughout the world, you can challenge yourself with Memory, roll out in Crabbin Races, try your hand at Crane Game, or even do some Launch Surfing!
Different Equipment Chains You'll find plenty of gnarly weapons and items to help you become the rightful hero of this story. The only question is: Which of them are worthy of you?
Built-In Randomizer Mix up your experience by randomizing items, or enable other options in the game to craft a truly unique journey!

What are your thoughts about this upcoming release? Will you be checking it out on release? Tell us in the comments.
[source store.steampowered.com, via gematsu.com]
Comments 45
I can't help but compare this to Infernax, which covered similar ground but came up with it's own world and characters. It wasn't this blatant. These sorts of references were already getting worn out a decade ago. On paper the game looks interesting but we'll have to see if the gameplay can overcome the lack of an identity.
It certainly reminds me more of SEGA's Master of Darkness than anything.
@Zebetite
Couldn't agree more, clearly there's some effort and talent put into this, it feels like a pretty big waste to have it just be a parody instead of having its own identity.
Make no mistake, the game could still be good but still, have some faith in your own game.
Based on the trailer, this almost could’ve been saved for Crab News Thursday.
I swear I saw Spore Spawn and a Phanto in that trailer
As someone who /loves/ Simon's Quest? I say go nuts. Have fun with it. In fact, own this parody. I wanna see it!
Kinda wish this was a proper 8-Bit Castlevania sequel.
Looks cool.
On my radar
Gameplay looks real solid and plenty of fun references, though would prefer less blatant "remix" of original CV2.
@Kirbyo
That was definitely a Phanto. A very big, creepy one.
Anyway, this game looks awesome.
I was into the title but hearing randomizer and sequence breaking and all that jazz dropped my interest, same with that long time to release. I don't want some aren't we so funny veneer to gloss over painfully loose design in the name of the Almighty sequence breaking. As it stands Order of Ecclesia will probably remain the closest thing to a faithful evolution of the Simon's Quest style.
Looks really cool! Looking forward to it. Wish that Konami cared about Castlevania as much as other people do.
Love retrowares stuff. So I'll be buying
I'm surprised it's not a rom hack
I loove Castlevania, and actually, one of my favourite aspects of Castlevania is how it doesn't take itself too seriously. (like all the unnecessarily detailed and occasionally anachronistic food items for example). So a parody Castlevania game is actually quite appealing to me. And I just love how they're getting away with calling the protagonist "Simon Quest". Like.. that's so blatant, it's hilarious.
@daveMcFlave @Kirbyo maybe the Phanto was also a homage to Carmilla's Mask? I mean, it definitely IS Phanto. Same with Spore Spawn
@EarthboundBenjy Distant predecessor to Johnny Quest
So... Simon's Quest done right? Hell I wish this dev rather redo Simon's Quest to fix it. Either way I'm down for this fo sho.
@MasterGraveheart I am buying this 100%. At full price. I LOVE Simon's Quest!!!!!
This looks pure fun. Definitely going to keep an eye on it.
It's parody, but looks like just my kind of dumb. Very much looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing!
@zbinks Same. If you haven't tried Odallus though, give it a shot. It's nearly perfect.
I actually want it to be serious story about defeating dracula rather than parody 😕
This is by the Prison City guys.
Hum, surprised by the negativity in the comments. I for one wouldn’t be interested if this was just another modern day Metroidvania - not my thing. The parody nature is the only reason why I am intrigued. That, I suppose, is the target audience: People who remember the originals who wanna go down memory lane and have a laugh.
Honestly, there’s 34 quadrizillion modern “original” Metroidvanias, why are you asking for this to be another one?
Regarding the game, I agree that it remains to be seen if gameplay holds up beyond the parody. Lets wait and see.
I have always loved Castlevania II, warts and all. This looks great, I look forward to playing it!
While the game itself looks alright, I agree with the previous comments that this homage is way too on the nose. Plus, Retroware is kinda shady considering their associations.
@Zebetite Hadn't heard of Infernax, but now I have and it's on my wishlist, so, thanks! Looks like it's got a lot more character than this game for sure, those little pixelated cutscenes look brilliant.
Looks fun and hilarious, definitely adding it to the wishlist!
@MontyCircus Ah that's good to know. I thought Prison City was great.
Some games journalist with a sense of IP law should provide a separate score to games based on how much they plagiarize. They even ripped the Spore Spawn fight out of Super Metroid. Shameless. Imagine copying someone else's homework in school and calling it 'parody.'
I feel like this oversteps the line between parody/homage and infringement. Maybe they're intentionally trying to get Konami to threaten legal action simply to make them publicly acknowledge that Castlevania exists?
I'm no big city lawyer...but hopefully this gets released and is good. 2025 is a ways away.
Looks great, would be amazing to see this on Evercade.
@MontyCircus Yep. The article doesn’t mention the developer anywhere.
It's January 2024... I'll have forgotten all about this game in February 2024, let alone "2025"!
Tell me more... in a year?!
It seems good enough to wish that it doesn't cross any legal boundaries. I look forward to this game being very expansive and having more of its own identity come next year.
@zbinks have you tried bloodstained curse of the moon it’s literally made by former castlevania devs and it’s 8 bit . It’s a unofficial sequel to castlevania 3
Bloodstained curse of the moon has been out a few years and is made by ex castlevania developers, and it’s 8bit . Its castlevania with a different name
As is the case with so, so, SO many games, it looks amazing and it is so saddening that it's in obvious jest. I would LOVE it if it was more serious. But I guess silly stuff is just more popular.
The beehive level irks me greatly. But other than that and the obvious sillyness, it does look amazing. I hope more games will be made in this style, some more serious then.
2025...yeah if we have society left by then.
oh hell yeah, this owns
If I can't have Infernax 2 yet (or ever) then this will do me just fine
@Kirbyo You did. Also, thank you. I never knew what the plant boss from super was called.
@accc Konami did give us some nice collections, so they know. Whether they give us a new one or not remains to be seen. But I hope
@Daniel36 Interesting. I thought the beehive level was the clear highlight of the trailer, and to me it doesn’t even remotely look „silly“. Bees, wasps, hornets can be genuinely terrifying. So walking through an oversized hive sounds like proper horror material to me.
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