HoD isn't even the worst Metroidvania in the series!
(CotM so bad)
I will fight you.
Definitely give any of the handheld Castlevanias you haven't yet played (except HoD) a shot. None of them beat SotN's atmosphere, in my opinion, but they all add their own little spin to the formula and are much better balanced in terms of difficulty, which is to say you might actually die if you try to play with your eyes closed.