Castlevania follows Trevor Belmont in a medieval Eastern European conflict with Dracula; Castlevania: Nocturne follows a later Belmont, Richter, in revolutionary-era France. They share a universe, but Nocturne is a distinct, stand-alone installment rather than a scene-by-scene continuation.
How the two series differ
| Feature | Castlevania | Castlevania: Nocturne |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Medieval Eastern Europe | France in 1792, during the French Revolution |
| Belmont protagonist | Trevor Belmont | Richter Belmont, a later descendant of the family |
| Central conflict | Trevor tries to save Eastern Europe from Dracula | Richter and his allies resist vampires allied with aristocrats and a vampire messiah |
| Place in the franchise | The earlier animated series, which ran for four seasons | A two-season stand-alone installment expanding the same universe, set roughly 300 years later |
| Game connection | Inspired by Konami’s Castlevania game series | Loosely inspired by a 1993 game Netflix Tudum calls Blood of Rondo |
What is Castlevania about?
Netflix’s 2017 announcement describes the original animated series as a dark medieval fantasy about the last surviving member of the Belmont clan trying to save Eastern Europe from Vlad Dracula Tepes. Trevor is the Belmont at the center of that story. Netflix says the series ran for four seasons. Netflix’s announcement introduced the series, while Netflix Tudum describes its four-season run.
![Castlevania Seasons 1&2 (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ItMVYbvZL._SL160_.jpg)
![Castlevania: The Complete Fourth Season (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514ShbN2zJL._SL160_.jpg)
What changes in Nocturne?
Nocturne shifts the action to France in 1792, at the height of the French Revolution. Its protagonist is Richter Belmont, a later descendant of the vampire-hunting family. Netflix’s synopsis says Annette seeks him out as resistance forms against aristocrats allied with a vampire messiah. The show is described as set roughly 300 years after the earlier series.
Netflix calls Nocturne the next installment in the Castlevania universe, while Tudum describes it as a stand-alone story that expands that world. Its second-season synopsis brings Alucard into Richter’s group as they race to stop Erzsebet Báthory. That shared setting and returning character connect the shows, but the new series has its own period, lead Belmont and central conflict. Netflix’s Media Center synopsis gives the setting and premise; Tudum’s season-two account covers the continuation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Is Nocturne a sequel, and do you need to watch the original first?
It is part of the same fictional universe and follows the original series by about three centuries, so it is a follow-on installment in that broad sense. Netflix also calls it stand-alone, which means its central story is distinct rather than a direct, uninterrupted continuation of Trevor’s plot. Watching the earlier series first can provide context for the shared world, but Netflix’s stand-alone description indicates that Nocturne has its own story to follow.
How closely does Nocturne follow the games?
Netflix says the original series was inspired by Konami’s Castlevania game series. For Nocturne, Netflix Tudum describes a loose connection to a 1993 game it calls Blood of Rondo. “Loosely” matters: the source does not claim the animated series reproduces the game’s plot exactly. Netflix’s wording is the basis for the game name here; it does not establish a particular edition, platform, or regional release title.
Rank #2
Where can you find the series?
Netflix lists Castlevania: Nocturne on its title page. Streaming availability can vary by country and change over time, so check the listing in your region. The cited listing is specifically for Nocturne.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
