A pleasant surprise on the backward compatibility list
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, Konami’s funky multiplayer-focused greatest-hits remix of past games, is playable on Xbox One. The 2010 Xbox 360 title just joined the backward compatible list.
Castlevania Harmony of Despair is coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility todayhttps://t.co/qPMRNs2ZLopic.twitter.com/Uvch5PFuzz
— Larry Hryb (@majornelson)June 13, 2025
The game never quite lived up to its home-run potential as a co-op-focusedCastlevaniagame, but it can be rewarding with a diligent group.Harmony of Despairborrows familiar characters like Alucard and Shanoa and runs them through loot-driven platforming gauntlets that culminate in boss fights.
I was thinking aboutHarmony of Despairjust the other day in light of the recentCastlevania Anniversary Collectiongossip. The game’s backward-compatible status might be the push I need to play it again. It’s been so long that all of the nagging annoyances have faded and only fond memories remain.
I’m not thrilled about being nickel-and-dimed by numerous DLC packs (ranging from extra characters to full-on stages), but I am weirdly in the mood for cooperativeCastlevaniahijinks right now.
I wouldn’t mind seeing them take another stab at this concept with the right team and budget.
