Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is the first new mainline 2D side-scrolling Castlevania in over a decade.
It launches on October 15, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam/Microsoft Store).
Standard edition is around $29.99; the Midnight Edition adds a digital sound/art gallery and costume bonuses.
Story & Setting
Set in 1499 Paris (about 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse), the city is overrun by monsters as Dracula’s castle appears in the middle of it.
You play as Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades.
She wields the Vampire Killer whip while investigating a supernatural conspiracy, dealing with a cursed mark on her arm tied to Dracula’s legacy.
Trevor appears as a supporting character.
It’s positioned as a continuation of the classic timeline (with nods to the Netflix anime in art style and voice actors).
Gameplay
It’s a modern Metroidvania/action-exploration game developed by Evil Empire (with involvement from Motion Twin, the Dead Cells team). Key features include:
- Fluid, fast combat with the whip used for both attacks and grappling/traversal.
- Multiple weapon types, relics, and a standout tarot/Arcana system: Defeated bosses are sealed into tarot cards that grant spells, special abilities, and progression challenges (“Works of Mercy”).
- Exploration of a large map with platforming, secrets, ability-gated areas, and environmental puzzles.
- Parry mechanics, customizable difficulty options, and checkpoints.
- Classic Castlevania monsters and bosses (Death, Medusa, Carmilla, etc.) alongside new ones, plus new arrangements of series music like “Bloody Tears.”
A free demo (covering the early game) has been available since early October, with save progress carrying over to the full version.
Reviews
Early scores are strong overall. Metacritic is around 86 (Generally Favorable) based on dozens of reviews; OpenCritic sits near 85 with very high recommendation rates.
It ranks among the better-reviewed entries in the series’ history (though below peaks like Symphony of the Night or some GBA titles).
Highlights:
- Game Informer: 9.25 — Praised the combat, exploration, tarot system, and sense of revival for the series. Called it a strong return that makes them excited for the franchise’s future.
- GameSpot: Essential/high praise — Described it as the series at its best, with top-tier combat, traversal, and a cohesive tarot system that ties everything together. Compared favorably to Symphony of the Night.
- Shacknews: 10 — One of the best Castlevania games ever, excellent combat, art, music, and exploration.
- Others (IGN ~8, various 8–9.5s) highlight the fluid action, visuals, bosses, and modernization while noting some feel it’s more of a strong modern Metroidvania than a pure classic Castlevania experience.
Criticisms in mixed reviews (e.g., some 7s or lower) include gameplay that can feel familiar rather than revolutionary in a crowded genre, occasional technical issues (especially noted on Switch), difficulty spikes, or Rose feeling less compelling than the surrounding cast.
Overall, it’s widely seen as a successful, high-quality return for the series that should satisfy both longtime fans and Metroidvania players, especially those who liked Evil Empire’s work on Dead Cells.
The demo is still the best way to try the feel of the combat and exploration before the full release.
