Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Review: A Stylish Return for the Belmont Family

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Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Review: Worth Playing? (2026)

The Belmont family is back. This Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse review looks at the new 2D action-exploration game that arrives in the series’ 40th anniversary year. It has a fresh heroine, a gothic Paris and a whip that does far more than strike enemies.

The game launches on October 15, 2026. Early scores and the free demo already show a strong start. Here is what you can expect.

What Is Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a 2D action-exploration game from Konami. Evil Empire and Motion Twin developed it. These are the teams behind Dead Cells and Rogue Prince of Persia.

The game continues the story of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. It focuses on dark locations, tough boss fights and creative whip movement.

Game Information

Developers: Evil Empire and Motion Twin
Publisher: Konami
Genre: 2D action, exploration, Metroidvania-style adventure
Release date: October 15, 2026
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch
Mode: Single-player
Free demo: Available now on all four platforms, with progress carrying over to the full game

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Story

The story takes place in Paris in 1499. That is 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. You play as Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont.

Rose fights through burning streets and the catacombs under the city. Her first major enemy is The Fallen, a mysterious monster that terrorizes Paris. She carries the legendary Vampire Killer whip into every battle.

Gameplay and Game Logic

The game mixes fast combat with careful exploration. Two ideas stand out: the whip and the Arcana system.

The Whip

The whip is more than a weapon. Rose can latch onto special points, platforms and even enemies. This lets her close distances, attack from new angles and reach hard places.

Movement in the air matters a lot. The levels are full of traps and mechanisms. So you need precise jumps and good timing. When it all clicks, moving through the castle feels very smooth.

Arcana and Tarot Cards

Rose carries a tarot deck from her mother, Sypha Belnades. This is the game’s twist on classic sub-weapons.

Defeated bosses are sealed into cards and become Arcana.
Each Arcana unlocks new abilities and areas.
Optional challenges called Works of Mercy unlock upgrades known as Blessings.
You can swap weapons and Arcana to suit each situation.

Defeated bosses also appear on the cards and can talk to Rose. This gives the story extra personality.

Exploration

Each map has its own tasks and puzzles. Previews compare the overall structure to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Konami calls it an exploration-based 2D action game.

Adjustable Difficulty

Boss fights are tough. But the game lets you adjust the damage you take and the number of potions you carry. This makes it friendly for both new players and series veterans.

Visuals, Music and Voice Cast

Famitsu praised the detailed Paris and castle environments. It also praised the music. The visual style and pace feel closer to a modern indie game, which gives the series a fresh look.

The trailer showed a new arrangement of the classic track Bloody Tears. The game also has a strong voice cast:

Abby Trott as Rose Belmont
JB Blanc as Trevor Belmont
Alejandra Reynoso as Sypha Belnades
Graham McTavish as Dracula
Liam O’Brien as Isaac

Reynoso and McTavish return from the Netflix animated series. O’Brien returns from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.

Early Reception

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse has started well. The Japanese magazine Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40, with all four reviewers giving it 8 out of 10. Players who tried the demo also enjoyed the whip movement and the fast pace. Some found a hidden weapon in it, the Cestus gauntlets, which deal more damage the more they connect.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse System Requirements

The PC version has modest requirements.

Minimum

OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Storage: 10 GB available space

Recommended

OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-10400
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Storage: 10 GB available space

The Switch version runs at 30 fps. Other platforms run at 60 fps.

Price, Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses

Standard Edition: $29.99
Midnight Edition: $39.99

The Midnight Edition adds a digital sound and art gallery, Trevor and Sypha costumes and the Family’s Grace relic. Pre-ordering either edition gives you an Alucard costume.

You can also try the free demo first. It runs on all four platforms, and your progress carries over.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?

Yes. If you enjoy Castlevania, Metroidvanias or fast 2D action, this is a game to play. The whip movement is creative. The Arcana system adds depth. The Paris setting looks great, and the voice cast brings the story to life.

At $29.99, the price is friendly too. Try the free demo, and you will quickly see whether it suits you.

Our rating: 8.5/10