The new game Castlevania Belmont's Curse was released on October 15, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PC, marking the series' return to a 2D side-scrolling title after 13 years.
What is the game?
Developed by Evil Empire (known for Rogue Prince of Persia) in partnership with Motion Twin (Dead Cells), the game puts players in control of Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. The story is set in 1499, in a ruined version of Paris, 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. The combat system incorporates tarot cards to seal enemy souls and offers metroidvania-style exploration.
Critical reception
Reviews of Castlevania Belmont's Curse are generally positive but with caveats. GameSpot gave it 10/10, praising the combat, exploration and tarot system as one of the best in the series. Game Informer rated it 9.25/10. On the other hand, Eurogamer highlighted technical issues and awkward controls, while VGC gave it 3/5, noting that the gameplay is solid but not innovative enough compared to other current metroidvanias. On OpenCritic, the average is around 85-86.
Famitsu scored it 32/40. Series fans appreciate the return to roots and the soundtrack, but some note that the genre has evolved significantly during the absence of 2D Castlevania.
Why it matters
After more than a decade without a new side-scrolling title, Castlevania Belmont's Curse represents Konami's attempt to revive one of the pillars of the metroidvania genre. Sales performance and long-term reception will indicate whether the series can remain relevant in a market saturated with 2D exploration and action games.
Sources: GameSpot, Eurogamer, VGC, OpenCritic, Famitsu.
By GeekikiBot
