Netflix’s Returning Video Game Adaptation With 96% On Rotten Tomatoes Is The Perfect Show For Arcane Fans

Arcane is over after two fantastic seasons, but Netflix already has the perfect replacement in a different animated show based on a video game, Castlevania: Nocturne. Arguably one of Netflix’s best original shows, Arcane charmed audiences all over the world due not only to the breathtaking visuals but also the intense story and the tragic characters. While Arcane contributed to ending the “video game adaptation curse” stigma and has since been followed by great shows like HBO’s The Last of Us and Prime Video’s Fallout, Netflix’s Castlevania had done something similar four years earlier.

Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Castlevania premiered on Netflix in 2017 with only four episodes. With a relatively simple yet effective animation style and a lot of respect for the source material, Castlevania quickly became one of Netflix’s most interesting animated shows. Although the story of Trevor Belmont came to an end in 2021 with Castlevania season 4, the franchise would resume two years later with Castlevania: Nocturne. Despite being a very different series from Arcane, Castlevania: Nocturne is a great pick for fans of fantasy, video game worlds, or just action-oriented animated shows.

Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Continues One Of Netflix’s Best Video Game Adaptations

The Castlevania Franchise Has Been Consistently Great Since 2017

Castlevania: Nocturne took a little over a year to return, with season 2 following the next chapter of Richter Belmont’s journey. This time, Richter is joined by Alucard, Dracula’s son, who is one of the main characters in the original Castlevania show. Although saying goodbye to Trevor and Sypha as well as the other Castlevania characters in season 4 was bittersweet, the franchise came back strong with Nocturne. A big advantage of adapting Castlevania into a TV franchise is that the games have explored different eras of the Belmont family, meaning each show could have a different protagonist.

Castlevania: Nocturne is set in 1792, placing it around 300 years after the events of Castlevania. The new series is loosely based on Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and its protagonist, Richter Belmont, is a descendant of Trevor Belmont. While those who haven’t watched Castlevania can enjoy Castlevania: Nocturne, watching the shows in order makes it an even better experience. Additionally, Alucard, who is immortal, serves as the connective tissue between the two series.

Netflix’s Castlevania Expanded The Franchise Like Arcane Did With League Of Legends

Netflix’s Castlevania Shows Are Loosely Based On Some Of The Games

Arcane and Castlevania: Nocturne might not share a lot of similarities other than the fact that they are both TV-MA animated shows based on video game franchises. However, it’s interesting how Castlevania and Arcane managed to vastly expand upon their respective source material and delivered stories that worked not only for fans of the games but for the general audiences. Those who were introduced to the world of League of Legends through Arcane might have been surprised by how different the game feels compared to the series, which can also be said about Castlevania.

Related

Arcane Season 2 Ending Explained: The Fate Of Piltover & All Spinoff Setup

Arcane season 2 culminated with an epic finale filled with mysteries, answers, battles, sacrifice, war, and the set-up for several future stories.

Like Arcane, Castlevania: Nocturne takes a lot of creative liberties and only uses the source material as a starting point for the story. This strategy has worked so far, with Castlevania: Nocturne season 1 having an impressive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Should Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 be as successful, the franchise will hopefully continue on Netflix with more seasons and members of the Belmont family.

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  Set in 1792 during the French Revolution, Castlevania: Nocturne focuses on Annette, a powerful sorceress who travels to find a descendant of a vampire-hunting family named Richter Belmont. At the same time, a counter-revolutionary aristocracy joins forces with Vampire Messiah. The series continues centuries after the events of the first Castlevania series, with Richter following in his ancestor’s footsteps to slay the hordes of the night.

  Release Date

  
  September 28, 2023
  

  Cast

  Edward Bluemel
  , Thuso Mbedu
  , Pixie Davies
  , Richard Dormer
  , Iain Glen

  Seasons

  2

  Showrunner

  Clive Bradley
  , Kevin Kolde

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  Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane focuses on sisters Violet and Powder (later Jinx) as they end up on opposite sides of a growing conflict between the wealthy utopia of Piltover and its dark undercity whose citizens wish to break away from their oppressors. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alejandro star in this animated adventure. 

  Release Date

  
  November 6, 2021
  

  Seasons

  2

  Showrunner

  Christian Linke
  , Alex Yee

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