Simon progresses through Dracula's castle in six blocks, each divided into three stages. The view scrolls horizontally through rooms containing platforms, stairs, candles, traps, enemies, and a boss encounter at the end of each block.

Press B to swing the whip and A to jump. Hearts collected from candles provide ammunition for secondary weapons such as the dagger, axe, holy water, boomerang, and stopwatch. Whip upgrades extend Simon's attack range, while damage, pits, stage timers, and limited lives control the pace of progression.

Learn the fixed movement patterns of bats, medusa heads, axe knights, and other enemies instead of rushing through every room. Upgrade the whip early, then preserve hearts for a secondary weapon that matches the next boss.

Use stairs and short jumps carefully: Simon's midair movement is limited, and knockback can send him into pits. Against bosses, attack during safe openings and prioritize survival over collecting every candle item.