Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Launch & Review Scores
The Belmonts are back. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches today, October 15, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC — the first brand-new mainline Castlevania in over a decade, arriving in the franchise's 40th anniversary year.
Developed by Evil Empire (the studio behind Dead Cells) and published by Konami, with advisory help from Motion Twin, Belmont's Curse returns the series to its exploration-based roots. Early reviews are glowing. Here's everything you need to know.
Release Date, Platforms, and Price
- Release date: October 15, 2026 (out now)
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Price: $29.99 Standard Edition / $39.99 Midnight Edition
- ESRB: T (Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence)
A free demo is also live on storefronts if you want to try before you buy — a smart move for a series making its big comeback.
Rose Belmont Takes Up the Vampire Killer
Set in Paris, 1499 — 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse — Belmont's Curse follows Rose Belmont, daughter of legendary vampire hunter Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. When Dracula's castle manifests directly in the heart of Paris and monstrous creatures pour through the burning streets, Rose takes up the family's Vampire Killer whip to purge the city.
Her first major opponent is The Fallen, a mysterious monster terrorizing Paris, but the conspiracy beneath the city's catacombs runs far deeper. It's a classic Castlevania setup with a fresh face at its center — and the English voice cast is stacked, with Abby Trott as Rose, JB Blanc as Trevor, and Graham McTavish as Dracula.
Symphony-Style Exploration Meets the Tarot Arcana System
Gameplay returns to the non-linear, exploration-based design of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. You'll traverse an interconnected map spanning both the castle and the Parisian city around it — from undead-filled catacombs to a roaring clock tower — defeating bosses, gaining experience, and hunting upgrades that unlock new areas.
Rose's Vampire Killer whip doubles as a traversal tool, grappling onto anchor points to swing across chasms. But the real twist is the tarot Arcana system: defeated bosses are sealed into tarot cards that Rose uses to cast spells and perform special actions. Each Arcana has optional challenges called Works of Mercy, and completing them unlocks upgrades known as Blessings. It's a clever replacement for the old sub-weapon system that ties exploration directly into combat power.
Belmont's Curse Review Scores: A Triumphant Return?
Reviews dropped just ahead of launch, and the consensus is enthusiastic:
- GameSpot — 10/10
- Shacknews — 10/10
- CGM — 9.5/10
- Game Informer — 9.25/10
- Famitsu — 32/40
- IGN — 8/10
- Push Square — 7/10
- VGC — 6/10
Game Informer's reviewer praised the movement, boss battles, and rewards for backtracking, finishing at 92% completion in 16 hours. The harshest takes call out occasional whip-targeting wonkiness and argue the game plays it safe — but even the skeptics admit it's incredibly fun to play. For a franchise revival, that's about as good as it gets.
Why This Launch Matters
Belmont's Curse entered production in 2022 after Konami greenlit a return to console and PC development, and it's the first new Castlevania since Lords of Shadow 2 in 2014. Pairing Konami's gothic legacy with Evil Empire's roguelike-honed combat design looks like the right call — and at $29.99, it's priced to tempt the curious. Pity the demon who squares up to a Belmont.
What platforms is Castlevania: Belmont's Curse on?
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It launched October 15, 2026, on all platforms simultaneously.
How much does Belmont's Curse cost?
$29.99 for the Standard Edition and $39.99 for the Midnight Edition. A free demo is available.
Is Belmont's Curse a remake or a new game?
A brand-new game — the 26th main entry in the series. It's set 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and stars a new protagonist, Rose Belmont.
How long is Castlevania: Belmont's Curse?
Game Informer's reviewer finished at 92% completion in about 16 hours. Your mileage will vary depending on how much you explore and chase Arcana upgrades.
Related reading
Sources: Wikipedia, Notebookcheck, Eastern Herald, EGW News
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