Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Reviews
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse marks a triumphant return for a franchise that has been absent from the Metroidvania genre and the gaming world for many years. The developers demonstrate a strong understanding of the series’ unique characteristics in most areas, delivering an experience that is deep, engaging, and at times downright addictive. The gameplay mechanics are remarkably rich, the interconnected level design encourages deep exploration, and the platforming sections seamlessly bring these elements together. While the Western-inspired art direction and distinctive soundtrack may stray somewhat from the franchise’s traditional identity, the gameplay retains the essence of what makes Castlevania so special.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a fantastic return for the franchise. Mixing old and new together, it feels at once like a fresh game and something distinctly and undeniably Castlevania. It does a great job of threading the needle between the many different versions of the franchise. There are some inconsistent difficulty spikes, occasional moments of meaningless friction, and the Switch port is a little lackluster. For fans of the franchise who are looking for a return to Dracula's castle, this is exactly what it should be, and it hopefully represents a new life for the immortal franchise.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a superb return to the legendary series, combining Rose Belmont’s surprisingly compelling, personal story with excellent exploration, demanding platforming challenges and satisfying combat. Evil Empire doesn’t set out to revolutionise the genre, but it makes brilliant use of its tried-and-tested foundations, offering stunning visuals, fantastic enemies and superbly balanced gameplay. This is exactly the kind of Castlevania that fans have been waiting for for years, and proof that Konami couldn’t have chosen a better team to bring the Belmont clan back.
Review in Polish | Read full review
I'd love to see what this team could do with a follow-up in the same vein, one that irons out some of the rough edges related to exploration and respawning. Rose is a compelling character in her own right, but the interactions between her and the souls she's captured add a nice degree of levity and charm to the story moments. It may not fly as high as some of its Castlevania predecessors, or even modern genre standouts like Silksong and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, but Belmont's Curse provides a dozen-plus hours of entertainment leading up to the height of spooky season.
After an 18-year hiatus for the vampire-hunting series' traditional style, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse both slakes the thirst of long-time fans and offers an entry point for a new audience. It is an adventure that plays it safe—taking a somewhat understated approach to the Metroidvania elements and facing some limitations—yet its strengths ultimately shine through, making it well worth playing. Here's hoping Rose Belmont's journey breathes new life into the franchise's future—and that the current low-resolution textures get adjusted for 4K screens.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Belmont’s Curse is a solid enough return for such a long-running series after such a lengthy absence, and it becomes an enjoyable experience if you give it some time. However, with no new ideas to bring to the genre, it never manages to be more than a good Metroidvania.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
With outstanding exploration packed with mind-blowing secrets and exceptional gameplay, Belmont’s Curse stands out in an oversaturated market, proving that Castlevania is still one of the kings of the genre.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Castlevania returns to 2D with a visually stunning experience packed with great ideas. With Rose Belmont wielding the whip, the legacy of the vampire-hunting family is in very good hands.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is the glorious comeback the franchise desperately needed. Evil Empire successfully blends their fast-paced combat philosophy with the traditional igavania structure, delivering a thrilling and fluid adventure. While the weapon variety feels a bit shallow and some platforming checkpoints are frustratingly placed, the surprisingly deep narrative, the clever Tarot mechanics, and a bold electronic/orchestral soundtrack make it a highly satisfying experience. A must-play injection of vitality for the iconic series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It feels more like a modern Metroidvania than what you'd expect from a game in the series but there's no denying that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a must-have action-packed adventure for anyone who enjoys either the genre or the series. 🎴
A unique action-platformer for both longtime Castlevania fans and those looking to dive into the series for the first time. This is a game that we highly recommend not just within the series, but within the platformer genre as a whole.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Belmont’s Curse delivers a traditional Castlevania-flavored metroidvania, with a versatile whip, varied boss encounters, and plenty of weapons and abilities to discover. But uneven difficulty, frustrating projectile-heavy fights, and softlocks can turn exploration into a chore. Long stretches of backtracking, sparse checkpoints, and inconsistent visuals further dull the adventure. Customizable settings offer some relief, but they can’t fully make up for the missing quality-of-life features. It’s enjoyable in moments, though best approached on sale.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a worthy return for the franchise, featuring fast-paced combat, creative bosses, and rewarding exploration. While some aspects, such as weapon variety, traversal, and music, could be improved, its fresh take on the gothic aesthetic and modernized gameplay make for an enjoyable adventure. Although it may disappoint fans expecting something closer to recent 2D entries, it successfully preserves Castlevania’s identity while offering a fun blend of action, exploration, and well-designed challenges.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Evil Empire understands what makes Castlevania tick. The combat strikes a satisfying balance between challenge and a versatile tactical moveset that turns every fight into a dance of blades. The level design guides me without holding my hand, always keeping the next milestone just out of reach. And just when I think I’ve got the hang of things, the next boss absolutely wrecks me and proves me wrong.
Review in German | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is Konami's trump card for bringing one of its most legendary franchises back to life. It is a modern Castlevania adapted to the latest mechanics of the Metroidvania genre, featuring classic touches and meticulous attention to detail.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Castlevania returns to the 'Metroidvania' genre it helped popularize. It doesn't takes the crown, but it proves it can still put up a serious fight. Belmont's Curse is a great 2D action game featuring excellent level design, a fantastic atmosphere, and some of the best platforming challenges we've seen in a long time. The combat pacing takes time to get a hold on, but once you learn to control Rose, you won't want to stop until you've defeated Dracula.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse proves that Evil Empire knows exactly how to honor a legacy without being stuck in the past. It has its flaws—namely, its subdued soundtrack, uneven boss design, and somewhat slow start—but its atmospheric world, deliberate combat, and rewarding exploration make it a standout experience for Metroidvania fans.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse doesn’t return to lecture the industry on how to make a Metroidvania. The market has had plenty of time to figure that out on its own. That is likely the biggest difference between this comeback and what would have happened had the series never faded away. In 1997, Symphony of the Night could write the rules. In 2026, Belmont’s Curse has to fight for attention against games that spent years polishing the very ideas Castlevania helped pioneer. Even so, it manages to carve out its own space.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is the return I’ve been waiting for from one of the most important franchises in video game history. Evil Empire managed to capture the essence of classic Metroidvanias while also introducing excellent new ideas. With stunning artistic direction and unforgettable boss battles, Rose Belmont’s journey is one that makes you want to explore every last corner of the map. For those who, like me, have always preferred Castlevania in its 2D roots, the feeling is wonderful: the Belmonts are back, and may many more games follow!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Evil Empire has brought the series back to life with an excellent Metroidvania that easily outshines much of the 2026 competition.