"What other Igavania game should I play?", a guide

I know that there will be many people who play Bloodstained: RotN who beforehand had little to no experience with Igarashi's previous games, so this post is to give an idea of, based on which things you favored or didn't like about Ritual of the Night, can steer you toward other experiences from these games. I'll go from earliest to latest. All below are male protagonist games unless otherwise noted.

Symphony of the Night
- The one that most people started with or have played
- You would prefer a focus on just equippable weapons and weapon techs rather than things like "shard" powers, but with some spells and having familiars.
- You like a bit of an easier game
- You like the twists and castle style of RotN
- Has the Ayami Kojima art style and classic Michiru Yamane soundtrack, a combination to come for other games but not all

Circle of the Moon
(Note: this is the only game on the list not actually originally produced by IGA himself, the Kobe team of Konami developed this, but it follows an Igavania formula)
- You would have preferred a focus on whips, and rather enhancing/building on a primary method of attack rather than having many different primary attack options
- More of a "Metroid" style progression
- You like a bit of a harder game
- Extra content for the game involves different ways to play/build the MC rather than additional characters
- No Kojima/Yamane, but a solid art style and OST

Harmony of Dissonance
- You would have preferred a focus on whips, and rather enhancing/building on a primary method of attack rather than having many different primary attack options. Has secondary weapons as well that can be combined with discoverable items for varying effects
- You like a bit easier of a game
- The Ayami Kojima art style is present, no Yamane 
- The game has an unusual OST that many do not like, but this may be a non-factor to you. Some say it is one the best composition wise, however

Aria of Sorrow
- You liked the Shard system of RotN and how you had multiple weapon types/a lot of attack options
- Kojima/Yamane combo is present 
- In addition to some of the best music on the Gameboy Advance, very good sound design overall (sound effects, etc), even when compared to and perhaps even above all the other games on this list
- Roughly comparable difficulty-wise to RotN, if perhaps a bit easier

Dawn of Sorrow
- You liked the Shard system of RotN and how you had multiple weapon types/a lot of attack options (built upon/expanded from Aria of Sorrow)
- Yamane is present, no Kojima, this game and the following one instead have more of a general Japanese animation look than the gothic manga style
- The most involved extra mode to date, "Julius Mode", which gives you a team of 3 playable characters and other interesting changes to the flow of the game
- You like a bit easier of a game
- A caveat that the game forces use of the DS stylus to draw "seals" when bosses are defeated in the main mode, which has mixed reception as being something neat/novel versus being a shoehorned DS feature gimmick

Portrait of Ruin
- Duality of male/female main characters at all times, the game has a partner system where you can control either at any time or have both on screen while controlling one
- You think that a combination of many primary + secondary weapon options character AND a character with a variety of magic sounds most interesting or enjoyable gameplay wise
- Yamane is present, no Kojima, this game and the previous one instead have more of a general Japanese animation look than the gothic manga style
- The most options for extra modes in one of these games to date, there are two other modes that each have two more playable characters, for a total of 6 playable characters in this game
- You like a bit easier of a game
- No DS feature gimmicks
- Takes place in a large variety of locations rather than in/around the castle

Order of Ecclesia
- Female main character. More of a stoic/silent and amnesiac character than the vibrant and assertive Miriam.
- Before RotN, considered the most refined of the games gameplay-wise/having a tight formula and balance
- You have an attack system that mixes in primary weapons and magic that are attained from enemies like shards, but in fewer number, though can be combined together for powerful special attacks. You always have two attacks at once, but they cost a "stamina bar" and your combination specials use hearts instead of recoverable MP
- Yamane is present (some of her best work imo with almost no re-use), no Kojima, but instead of Dawn and Portrait's look, for this game they used a new artist's (Masaki Hirooka) style that gives the game a gothic look that is not entirely like Kojima's, but very good
- The game follows a theme of trying a lot of new things while also being familiar, a feeling similar to RotN's. It barely at all involves the other games' lore/characters and has a world map/stage select rather than a castle focus.
- You liked having the town hub/quests of RotN
- You like a harder game

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These last few are not fully "Igavania" games, but were produced by him and worth mentioning and your consideration if the way they're described sounds interesting to you.

Lament of Innocence
- Full 3D castle exploration. You can return to/revisit areas, but the overall design is not as Metroidvania and more of a linear progression + choice of areas within a castle. Less in the way of secrets and discovery, more combat + combos and guarding
- You would have preferred a focus on whips, and rather enhancing/building on a primary method of attack rather than having many different primary attack options. Has secondary weapons as well that can be combined with discoverable items for varying effects (like Harmony of Dissonance)
- Kojima/Yamane combo is present
- Roughly similar to RotN in difficulty

Curse of Darkness
- Full 3D castle (and outside areas) exploration. You can return to/revisit areas, but the overall design is not as Metroidvania and more of a linear progression. Less in the way of secrets and discovery, more combat + combos
- Multiple weapon types with combos, no whip focus or whips at all unless you play a secondary mode's character, but the main feature re: gameplay difference is the most involved familiar system to date, the Innocent Devil system. It's basically a branching crafting path for familiars. Instead of linear enhancement of them like RotN's, you combine these + items to make newer creatures, similar to a Shin Megami Tensei game or Pokemon.
- Has a crafting system for weapons as well that is similar but simpler than RotN's
- Kojima/Yamane combo is present
- Roughly similar to RotN in difficulty

Harmony of Despair
- Multiplayer-focused Igavania game, which is still playable (but less enjoyable) in single player. Very heavy on the grinding aspects. Like many multiplayer RPG type games, "loot" and experience/levels for both your characters and their special attacks are a focus. You will be doing multiple passes through several set stages to improve your gear and skills. The stages feature a time limit, though it is usually not an issue.
- The majority of the Castlevania franchise's Igavania characters are playable, with multiple color choices, up to 6 players at a time, with the PS3 version also having local co-op. Roughly half of the characters available (and some of the stages/music) are DLC.
- Features mostly remixes of existing Castlevania songs, including several of Yamane's, but also classic Castlevania music. Ayami Kojima provides the character art.
- The game's difficulty varies depending on a Normal or Hard map choice, with Hard being unlocked later. More experienced/well-equipped players in your game will result in an easier gameplay experience.

Curse of the Moon
- Designed by Inti Creates
- You already like Bloodstained's world, characters, etc., but would prefer a classic 8-bit NES game that is stage-based and linear. A much shorter main experience, but with many play options, modes and endings that extend play time in an engaging way that change things up well
- Up to 4 total characters playable at once, three male and one female
- Set attack options per character that have secondary attacks changed via items found in the stages
- Yamne helps with the OST, but it is primarily designed by the Inti Creates' team and pretty good
- You like customization options in difficulty, which are available to you both via a menu option and which modes and ways of playing you approach (using one or many characters, Nightmare mode, "Ultimate" mode, solo no-powers Zangetsu, etc - all of which having their own endings and unique features)