Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Reviews

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 29, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse delivers an enjoyable Metroidvania experience with satisfying combat, varied boss fights, and a progression system that ties exploration and combat together. Rose Belmont’s story also offers plenty of connections to the franchise’s history, giving longtime fans something extra to appreciate. Some areas can be confusing to navigate, while the art style and soundtrack feel quite different from the series’ classic gothic atmosphere.

Review in Persian | Read full review

3 / 5
Oct 15, 2026

Ambitious, aggressive, and accomplished, Belmont's Curse whips out some of the best Castlevania highs you can experience - but technical issues and some awkward controls means it can all end in bloody tears if you're not careful.

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IGN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse brings Konami’s beloved series into the modern era with a fast-paced focus on action first.

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Oct 13, 2026

Beautiful and challenging, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse offers a rich, gothic world of puzzles to solve and enemies to whip. With a stunning blend of fast-paced traversal action and compelling storytelling, this game proudly honours the Belmont legacy in exciting new ways.

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GameSpot
Top Critic
10 / 10
Oct 13, 2026

Every element in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse works so well both independently and as part of the whole: flexible combat, beautifully acrobatic traversal, fine-tuned environmental puzzles, wide cast of interesting characters, and eye-catching visual panache–all wrapped within a smart tarot system that lets these ideas complement each other.

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Unscored
Oct 13, 2026

It stands out with striking 2.5D visuals, Dead Cells-inspired movement, and Arcana Cards, while staying true to its core identity: moonlit ambiance and a pulsing score.

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4 / 5.0
Oct 13, 2026

The platforming with the whip mechanics are insanely good here, but Castlevania: Belmont's Curse doesn't completely play the part for series.

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8 / 10
Oct 20, 2026

Belmont's Curse may not be wildly original, but its planning and execution are superb, its combat and whip-integration thrilling, and its sense of exploration and reward on-point. It wholly delivers that all-important progression-reward feedback loop, tripping every time you come back stronger.It's an unapologetically hardcore affair, and that's welcome. It's one of the best Castlevania games in a long time thanks to its combat variety and smart whip integrations. While nicely balanced, extremely addictive, and with tons to do, those less familiar with the format may find its difficulty frustrating. But, if you play games to feel an elating sense of accomplishment, on that front it will do you right.

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TJ Denzer
Top Critic
10 / 10
Oct 13, 2026

Stellar gameplay, music, scenery, characters (new and old), and a great set of options for altering the intensity make this the easily one of the highest-quality action-platformers I have ever played.

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8 / 10
Oct 13, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is an incredibly entertaining game and a wonderful return to form for a series I've loved since forever. While it isn't an echo of the entries I love the most, it's still a fantastic game. The game is pure Castlevania in the best way, and the story and voice acting are sublime as well. If you like any Castlevania games at all, you'll adore this.

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Guardian
Harper Jay MacIntyre
Top Critic
Oct 13, 2026

There are buzzsaws and blood pits, bats burst into blood and demons burn to cinders. The series' new emphasis on twitch-based action may annoy purists but you can't call it dull

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VGC
Top Critic
Oct 13, 2026

It's great to see a new side-scrolling Castlevania game after all these years, but the genre has evolved and thrived in the series' absence, and Belmont's Curse finds itself in a world where there are a wealth of solid alternatives. While it looks and sounds excellent, the core gameplay hasn't evolved alongside it, making it feel rather outdated. That's not a terrible thing, it's still fun enough, but stand-out moments are few and far between as a result.

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Oct 13, 2026

Whether you’re a long-time series fan wondering what’s next or a Metroidvania diehard looking to scratch that particular itch, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a grand return to form that packs in plenty of twists and surprises.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2026

It's good to see that whip crack again.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a convincing return to Konami's storied series, striking a happy balance between exploration, challenging combat, and a movement system that provides some of the most satisfying gameplay of the entire adventure.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10
Oct 13, 2026

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse gets a lot of stuff right, but in a world where Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen, it doesn't do quite enough to really stand apart.Decent combat gets the job done, while level design and some lovely art and animation are areas where the game really shines. The game can feel a little unresponsive, leading to some frustrating deaths.It's ultimately a good Metroidvania and a valiant effort to resuscitate Castlevania, but there's little new to see for anyone who's been keeping up with the genre over the last decade.

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90 / 100
Oct 13, 2026

Not only does the game capture the spirit of the series, but it expands on elements to create one of the finest examples in the genre. With its tight combat and wonderful world design, this is a killer comeback for the legendary series.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2026

The sheer amount of exploration here is incredible, and I loved the tarot card system and optional bosses. This is a triumphant return for the franchise, and easily on my list for best games of the year.

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10 / 10.0
Oct 13, 2026

Exceptional in every way, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a one of 2026's must-play titles. In a year of great games, it's hard to stand out, but Evil Empire has crafted a bonified masterpiece in one of the game's most historic franchises.

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8 / 10
Oct 13, 2026

There's no doubt about it: with this highly accomplished new entry, Konami marks the grand return of its franchise after twelve long years away. Castlevania Belmont's Curse may not be the most intricate or the most original metroidvania we've seen in recent years, but it arrives with real personality and a charm that will have no trouble winning over fans of the genre. The game developed by Evil Empire also makes for an excellent entry point for newcomers to the series, which could well make it the ideal springboard for a genuine Castlevania revival in the years ahead.

Review in French | Read full review