Slaying vampires always feels good, and 2D action-adventure and exploration game Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is no exception. The first entry in the iconic horror platformer in more than a decade, Evil Empire and Konami have crafted a love letter to past titles that, while not changing much of the formula, delivers an experience worthy of the Belmont name.
Platform reviewed:PS5
Available on:PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date:October 15, 2026
Despite a fantastic animated adaptation (and great spinoff series with Nocturne), Castlevaniahas been six feet under as Konami barely revisited the series. Seldom for tie-ins with Dead Cells and re-releases, so fans were ready to sink their fangs into a new title.
Fortunately, it would come from the Dead Cells team, Evil Empire. Its mastery of the craft with the Metroidvania genre made it a safe but effective pick to hand the Vampire Killer whip to. And, lo and behold, they ran with it and made something fans will love.
You must whip it, whip it good
Surprisingly, the game is a sequel of sorts to both Netflix’s Castlevaniaand Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse. As Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, she is tasked with stopping the newfound dangers flooding Paris.
With her father’s guidance and all the Belmont tactics, she’ll discover the root of it all, as well as how she and her mysteriously cursed arm fit into things.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse does go a good distance with its narrative, but it doesn’t reach too high. It’s got some twists, turns, and great moments, though it can feel sparse. Of course, most of the fun will come from your experience dashing and slashing, but it can feel uneven with its cinematic counterparts. Still, it’s serviceable enough for you to want to keep playing and see more.
Rose Belmont, as the daughter of Trevor and Sypha, is a pretty likeable protagonist. She’s not one-note by any means and struggles with her emotions, especially with the spotlight now on her. However, it’s the supporting cast that provide her with what she needs to be a worthy Belmont.
Without spoilers, her Confidantes will be her moral compass, and it’s up to her to choose which direction she wants to go in. Props go to many of the fantastic performers in the game, as everyone works perfectly with their respective characters.
A missable little pile of secrets
Once you set foot off the docks of the Seine, you’re instantly thrust into classic Castlevaniagameplay: slay monsters and maneuver through obstacles. There are small tutorials, but for the most part, Paris is an open book, and you’re free to flip through the pages almost immediately.
Action-wise, it also harkens to classic Castlevania, with Rose using a variety of weapons to kill the many creatures of the night. There are many types of weapons, from the iconic whip to flashy gauntlets. Finding new versions of them throughout the world is always a treat, as it never disappoints when you equip them and test them out. Personally, the whip was a go-to, as it rewarded distance with better damage output, though the spear was a close second.
Also, with Rose’s abilities, which she’d earn after certain bosses, it unlocks various attacks, like throwable crosses or pillars of fire. It leaves customization very open, letting you play how you’d like in terms of combat.
The level design inCastlevania: Belmont’s Curseis simply phenomenal. From trap-filled chasms to eerily beautiful vistas, the team has done a wonderful job making levels look seemingly impossible but enticing enough to make you want to persevere and keep going.
Without going into spoilers, Rose’s journey goes beyond the confines of Paris into various regions. Each of them has some theme and gimmick that makes them memorable in both a playing sense and a backtracking sense. As this is a Castlevania game, you will find yourself going back to certain locations to find secrets and clues for other locations. Luckily, with new abilities like an air dash and, of course, a grappling hook whip, you’ll be able to do so easily and rapidly.
That said, the level design in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is phenomenal. Traps and platforming take advantage of Rose’s abilities, including ones she earns throughout her adventure. It takes precision and good reflexes to maneuver through them, and it never gets old. It can get frustrating, though, especially if you’re going back and forth a ton. Still, finding what you need after a seemingly impossible challenge feels so good.
Slaves to our family’s wishes
As the first new 2D Castlevania in decades, there have been noticeable increases in graphical fidelity since then.
Belmont’s Curse blends 2D with 3D to bring a Dead Cells-like style to the gameplay and look. It does keep the drawn silhouettes of characters for dialogue, but in-game cutscenes are all flat 3D. While the pixelated depth in past titles like Symphony of the Night and Order of Ecclesia is sorely missed, Evil Empire’s redesign works well with the series and fits right in.
Frame-rate-wise, there were rarely any hiccups during the playthrough. There was a stutter or two during certain moments with tons of monsters, but it was pretty seldom. However, there were a handful of glitches with the audio, as it would cut in and out and, often, restart with each level transition. While rare, some glitches with the gameplay, like phased-out enemies or awkward platforming, would happen.
It’s also important to mention that it can be quite a difficult game. The series is known for being brutal, and Belmont’s Curse is no exception. A death can bring you way back and reset tons of progress. It’s a worthwhile challenge, but it is one that takes time and patience. Bosses will be the bane of many people’s existence, as some of them, especially late-game ones, are super difficult. It can feel a bit overkill, but it’s nonetheless satisfying to whittle them down and then finally get the last laugh.
In short, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is classic Castlevaniabrought to the modern age. Evil Empire and Konami have crafted a title that, while it’s not the huge blockbuster many would hope for, is a well-done action platformer. It doesn’t go too far outside the box, but it makes the most of what it does have.
With fantastic level design and combat, the franchise is in a position to return to its glory days and its bloody reign over the action platformer genre.
Should you play Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?
Play it if…
You love a great balance of platforming and combat
You get the best of both worlds with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, with the platforming and combat. Each aspect works extremely well and, most of the time, it’s a delicate dance between the two, even intersecting each other at times. It’s frenetic but exhilarating at the same time.
You enjoy a challenge in all areas
You will die a ton of times in Belmont’s Curse, and it’ll be in many different ways. However, if that is a big motivator for you, then you’ll have a wonderful time here. Precise platforming, expert hand-eye coordination, and a tinge of hesitation are required to make it, so if that’s up your alley, it’s the perfect challenge.
You love having the world be a puzzle in itself
Exploration in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse isn’t just required, but rewarded. There are dozens of secrets hidden throughout the many stages, and backtracking only leads to better opportunities for you. Plus, hints for many connecting points, especially bosses, can be found.
Don’t play it if…
You’re looking for something easygoing
As mentioned before, Belmont’s Curse is a difficult title. It doesn’t hold your hand much, and you will die a ton. While it may be possible to play this without throwing your controller in frustration, it’s not the most positive or happy-go-lucky title, given its dark world and countless pools of blood.
Accessibility features
While the game touts its difficulty, there are available accessibility features to lessen it. There are also various visual adaptations for thicker outlines or colorblind mode. In addition, subtitles are available in different languages, as well as voice-overs. However, despite some accessibility, some things, like one-hit-kill traps, exist and can be frustrating.
How I reviewed Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
I played Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse for around 16 hours, seeing much of the game’s map, bosses, and secrets. I also got many of the available weapons and spells, as well as heart and mana containers. In addition, I did play the demo, which was released prior to the game’s release, and transferred the save file from that to the full title.
I played the game on a base PS5with the DualSense Wireless Controller and HyperX Cloud 3 wired gaming headset, all on a Roku 4K TV.
