Some games just feel right within minutes. It does not happen often, but Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse manages to stick the landing better than I could have imagined. I spent hands-on time with it at gamescom 2026, and I walked away with one clear thought: Castlevania is back, and it is in very good hands. Konami has tapped Evil Empire, the team behind Dead Cells and its much-loved Return to Castlevania expansion, to bring the series home. Based on what I played, that trust was well placed.
It has been 12 years since the last mainline entry, Lords of Shadow 2, and the last true 2D action-exploration game in the series dates back to Order of Ecclesia in 2008. With the franchise marking its 40th anniversary this year and the Netflix anime bringing in a whole new crowd of fans, Evil Empire took on this challenge and managed to deliver. I will say it bluntly: this is some of the best I have seen Castlevania be since the Nintendo DS days, and potentially even the PlayStation days—yes, it is that good.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is set in Paris in 1499, 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. The city is burning, monsters pour from the shadows, and Trevor Belmont rides in with his daughter, Rose. The two are soon split up, and the adventure belongs to her. Rose is the child of Trevor and Sypha, but she is not just a copy of her parents; she is so much more. She is young, quick, and a little snarky, and a welcome change from the brooding hunters the series is known for. I will be honest, it was good to see a fresh character in the leading role.
The first thing that hit me was the look and just how stunning Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is, even in its opening minutes. This is not pixel art, and some purists will grumble at that. But the painterly Gothic backdrops, hand-drawn touches, plays, and 3D elements blend into something striking, breathing life into the franchise in a new way that I am very much here for.
Flames lick the sky over a ruined Notre-Dame, and you get a true sense of what is at stake for our hero. The music matches it, twisting classic series themes into pulsing electronic tracks. Konami set the game’s latest trailer to a fresh take on “Bloody Tears,” and it does not disappoint. Yes, I had to look up the song’s name, but should Konami release it on Spotify, you know I will be playing it on repeat.
Once I actually got my hands on the game, I was amazed at how well Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse controls. On the sticks, the game moves fast. Rose can slide and wall-jump from the start, and chaining attacks feels smooth and natural. Do not mistake speed for mercy, though. Enemies are aggressive and will chase you across the screen.
One archer kept kicking me away every time I closed in, and I had to learn the timing of the dodge before I could finish him off. Small fights like that ask you to read animations and react, not just mash buttons. This is a game that may seem easy at first, but it quickly pushes you to learn the mechanics, understand the controls, and master the skill set at your disposal.
While you do not start with it, do not worry. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse quickly gets you set up with that legendary weapon after the first major boss battle. Once you have it in your arsenal, the game opens up in a whole new way. You can grapple across gaps, swing through the burning city and latch onto enemies to zip in for a hit. Chaining swings from foe to foe to stay airborne feels incredible, and the platforming sections push that skill hard.
The structure leans into the series’ roots, and despite embracing modern concepts, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is very much a product of what came before. Mirror rooms act like bonfires, restoring health while resetting the world’s enemies. There are no waypoints or guide arrows. Instead, ghosts share grim stories that hint at where to head next.
The bosses hit hard, from a cursed beast called The Fallen to a twisted take on Joan of Arc, but built-in difficulty modifiers let you tweak damage or respawn at boss doors if you need them. This is a game designed to teach you how it plays, and, as I said, it becomes incredibly rewarding once you master its many systems.
If I have one concern, it is familiarity. The genre has gone through several waves since Order of Ecclesia, and parts of Belmont’s Curse feel like a greatest-hits set rather than a bold step forward. Whether the later Arcanas and weapons stay fresh for the full run is still an open question. A short demo can only show so much. Having said that, this is truly some of the best Castlevania has been in a long time, and anyone who may have been worried should rest a little easier knowing the game is in good hands.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches Oct. 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
