Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX) similar games & best alternatives

Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX)

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita • 2016

Should you play it?

Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX) is an arcade action platformer full of creatures from medieval myths from Spain and the rest of Europe, as well as from chivalric romances. The extended version of the classic Maldita Castilla, originally created by the indie Locomalito.

What works
  • Authentic retro arcade feel
  • Challenging but fair difficulty
  • Tight and responsive controls
  • Great pixel art and music
  • Good variety of enemies and bosses
Things to keep in mind
  • High difficulty may frustrate some players
  • Some unfair or cheap deaths reported
  • Lack of modern conveniences like level select
  • Limited weapon usefulness
  • No cooperative or social features

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio

  • Atomik: RunGunJumpGun

  • Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX

  • The Messenger

  • Blaster Master Zero 2

  • Berserk Boy

  • Horace

  • Chronicles of the Wolf

  • Cathedral

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Atomik: RunGunJumpGun

  • Blaster Master Zero 2

  • Berserk Boy

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Bread & Fred

  • Escapism

    Age of Empires II (Retired)

  • Fantasy

    Crisol: Theater of Idols

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX): A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Continuation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

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    "Players can choose different weapons and strategies; some levels require specific approaches, but overall players have freedom in movement and tactics."

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  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

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    "The game is challenging and requires skillful timing and coordination, with a steep learning curve and mastery needed."

    Capsule for Bread & Fred Bread & Fred

    "The game is challenging and requires skill mastery, pattern recognition, and precise timing."

  • Competition

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    "Focus is on individual progression and personal challenge rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

    Capsule for The Braves The Braves

    "Focus is on individual progression and personal challenge rather than direct player-versus-player competition."

  • Continuation

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    "Players often engage in repeated attempts and long sessions to improve strategies and achieve success."

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    "Players often engage in long sessions with repeated attempts due to difficulty and desire to achieve better endings."

  • Cooperation

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    "The game is a single-player experience with no cooperative elements."

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    "The game is a single-player experience with no cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

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    "Some creative elements in boss design and quirky dialogue, but gameplay follows classic platformer conventions."

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    "Some creative enemy and boss designs, but gameplay largely follows established retro platformer structures."

  • Domination

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    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and self-focused."

    Capsule for Hollow Knight Hollow Knight

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and self-focused."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

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    "Players use the game as a nostalgic escape and stress relief, immersing in medieval fantasy and strategic challenges."

    Capsule for Age of Empires II (Retired) Age of Empires II (Retired)

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic escape into a challenging fantasy world inspired by medieval and arcade themes."

  • Expectation

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

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    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and nostalgia rather than obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

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    "Some experimentation with enemy patterns and weapon use, but mostly established routines."

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    "Some experimentation with weapon choice and strategies, but largely follows known patterns and routines."

  • Exploration

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    "Levels contain secrets and collectibles encouraging exploration within linear stages."

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    "Includes hidden items and secrets encouraging some exploration within levels."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

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    "Minimal customization or personalization; players use preset characters and aesthetics without significant self-expression."

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    "Minimal customization or self-expression; players use preset characters and aesthetics."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

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    "Strong fantasy and horror elements with a unique setting inspired by Spanish folklore and Lovecraftian themes."

    Capsule for Crisol: Theater of Idols Crisol: Theater of Idols

    "Strong fantasy setting with medieval Spanish mythology and supernatural elements."

  • Fellowship

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    "No social or community features; strictly single-player."

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  • Growth

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    "Players develop skills to master difficult challenges and improve performance."

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    "Players develop skills and knowledge through repeated play and mastery of difficult challenges."

  • Health

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    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for The Drifter The Drifter

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  • Idle

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    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to challenging controls and obstacles."

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  • Intimacy

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    "No social or emotional relationship building; solitary gameplay."

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  • Leadership

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    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."

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  • Progression

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    "Players collect items and unlock multiple endings, showing some sense of advancement."

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    "Players collect weapons, items, and unlock endings, showing a sense of advancement."

  • Relaxation

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    "High difficulty and tension create sustained challenge rather than relaxation."

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    "High difficulty and tension create sustained challenge rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

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    "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and synthwave soundtrack provide sensory stimulation and nostalgic pleasure."

    Capsule for 198X 198X

    "Enjoyable retro pixel art and FM synth music provide sensory stimulation and nostalgic pleasure."

  • Status

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    "No social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on personal achievement."

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    "No social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on personal achievement."

  • Story

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    "Has a narrative with lore and mythology, but story is minimal and mostly serves as context for gameplay."

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    "Includes a narrative inspired by medieval Spanish mythology, though minimal and conveyed mostly through gameplay."

  • Strategy

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    "Requires planning weapon loadouts, learning enemy weaknesses, and solving simple puzzles."

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  • Thrill

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    "The game provides suspense and excitement through difficult platforming and intense boss battles."

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    "The game provides suspense and excitement through challenging encounters and boss fights."

  • Value

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    "Players find good value in the game's depth and replayability, especially when purchased on sale."

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    "Players find good value in the game especially when purchased on sale, appreciating its content and challenge."

  • Violence

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    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with various weapons and attacks."

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    "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with projectiles and weapons."

  • Survival

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    "Players must avoid death and manage limited health and lives to progress."

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Last update: 01/06/2026