When two vampire sisters make it their mission to awaken Dracula, a pair of friends must track them down and put a stop to their plans. In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, single-players may journey through such environments as an English town home and an Egyptian desert as they slay over 100 enemies in their search for the girls. Designed to inspire teamwork, gamers must switch between Jonathan and Charlotte in order to navigate through each level. Each character is skilled in a unique ability. For example, Jonathan is better with hand-to-hand combat while Charlotte can wield the power of magic. When combining their strengths, the pair may execute a "Summon" attack to raise demons against their enemies. Occasionally, the duo can accept side quests offered by Wind, a spirit in the game.

While online, Gamers may connect to a wireless network and set up their own store where other players may buy items on display. To avoid cheating, all items cannot be sold for more or less than the in game worth. After shopping, players may join together and complete a "Boss Rush" that is similar to the cooperative multiplayer game included with Dawn of Sorrow. Gamers work together to eliminate the end character of each stage in the shortest amount of time to earn a rare item. Players may also customize their character image using a set of default images and the touch-screen paint program. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide