8Bit/Digi

A Look at the The Transylvania Adventure Demo

Steam Next Fest June 2026 was an opportunity for gamers to try out a variety of games coming soon. Among the titles I got to play was one that is a parody of Castlevania. The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest was among the many games available to demo during the event.

The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest is an upcoming game from Retroware that recreates the Castlevania experience with a unique sense of humor while preserving the franchise’s defining aspects. This coverage of the demo is a preview and should not be considered a review. I plan to publish a full review once the game officially launches.

The demo is available exclusively on PC via Steam starting June 19, 2026.

Welcome to Transylvania

The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest is both a parody and homage to the Castlevania series. The story follows Simon Quest, who arrives to Transylvania and discovers his rival has already slain Dracula. To reclaim the glory that should be his, he journeys across Wallachia to gather what he needs to resurrect the dark count so he can slay him himself.

Playthrough of The Transylvania Adventure

The demo begins with players choosing to experience it as an action game or an adventure game. Selecting the adventure option starts the demo from the beginning, with Simon Quest arriving in Transylvania by boat and making his way to Bram Town before heading to the mansion. Starting as an action game begins at the entrance to Bram Mansion. For this preview, I selected the action experience.

I made my way through the entrance, collecting hearts. Inside, they begin fighting a variety of monster foes from zombies to bats to skeletons. At the halfway point, the pathway collapses and players must navigate an underground labyrinth to make it back to the surface. Back on the surface, I continued making my way through the stage while fighting skeletons and bats. Unlike earlier, platform sections now add a new layer of challenge while keeping a Castlevania tradition. A poorly timed jump in these moments can result in getting knocked off by an incoming bat. Patience is key, and waiting for the bat to pass proved the way to overcome this obstacle.

After making it through the stage, I came to the end and had to battle the final boss, Haunted Armor. Armed with a flail, he requires players to stand in the right spot and time their step back to avoid getting hit. When he pulls the flail back, that is the moment to strike, first with the whip and then with throwing knives. Once his health starts to drop, he begins throwing knives of his own, forcing players to dodge and deflect them. Sticking with the same strategy, I ended up defeating the boss.

After defeating Haunted Armor, my playthrough was scored and I collected a piece of Dracula. The main demo ends there, but additional areas around the mansion remain to explore.

Thoughts on The Transylvania Adventure

Gameplay follows the standard Metroidvania setup in a world filled with monsters and hidden dangers. Players must navigate traps, platforms, and mazes that test their skills at every turn. Combat centers on a whip and throwing knives, and taking out foes earns players XP. Leveling up raises stats like health and sharpens overall performance, ensuring steady growth throughout the journey. In both visuals and audio, it captures the charm of the Castlevania series during the SNES era while using modern hardware to enrich the world with detail. It looks and sounds like a classic game, yet it is not held back by the limitations of the era but instead embraces them.

Overall, this is a game Castlevania fans will enjoy, and that is why they should give the demo a playthrough when it drops.

More to Come

The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest is set to launch for the PlayStation 4&5, Xbox Series X|S, the Nintendo Switch, and the PC. The demo will only be available for the PC; it’s unknown when it will be available for other consoles. It will be available starting on June 19, 2026, during Steam Next Fest June 2026.

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the retro gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.