Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)

The sequel that broke the mould. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) traded the original's linear stages for open-world exploration, RPG mechanics, and a day-night cycle — years before Symphony of the Night made it fashionable.

Simon Belmont must lift Dracula's curse by collecting and burning his scattered remains across a sprawling, non-linear map. Cryptic townsfolk, hidden paths, and multiple endings gave it a sense of mystery that few NES games matched. Divisive at launch, it's now recognised as a pioneering entry in the series.

Less common than the original on the secondhand market. Loose cartridges appear regularly; complete copies with manual are notably harder to find. A must-have for serious NES collectors.