Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Reviews
The Belmont clan seeks to finally break their curse and rid themselves of their arch-nemesis once and for all. But it won't be easy'far from it. The default difficulty recommended by the developers is very high; while you can adjust it, the game remains a tough challenge. Certain sections are exceptionally demanding, and the advanced controls feel clunky.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
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. 🎴
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is an enjoyable and polished revival with excellent combat, rewarding exploration, and flexible customization. However, repetitive enemies, overly talkative storytelling, safe traversal abilities, and an underwhelming soundtrack keep it from fully capturing the identity and atmosphere of the series at its best.
The game they've put out for the price they're asking is quite good. This game could be a great opportunity to revive the series, and Evil Empire will use the feedback from this game to create something even better in a new Castlevania game.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse does the job of bringing back the series well enough, but it struggles to reach its full potential due to a combination of some odd design decisions and technical issues.
Belmont’s Curse has a curse of its own: it will always be compared with its grandfather, Symphony of the Night, which, much like Dracula himself, seems immune to the passage of time. That is quite a legacy to live up to. The fact that there is a debate to be had about which game is better is a testament to just how strong a return Belmont’s Curse is. On its own merits, Belmont’s Curse has shaken up the genre primarily through its refined combat and a different approach to structure, starting as a straightforward platformer before gradually introducing familiar Metroidvania elements and eventually embracing the genre in full. It is a masterclass in balancing a Metroidvania, and its numerous difficulty options also make it one of the most accessible. For now, we declare Belmont’s Curse the rightful heir to the Castlevania legacy and a worthy claimant to the modern day Metroidvania throne.
Despite some performance hiccups, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is the most fun I've had in a metroidvania game since Metroid Dread. It's exceptional value for money and an easy recommendation for lovers of the genre.
Belmont’s Curse brings Castlevania back to its Metroidvania roots, with satisfying exploration, a versatile whip and abilities that make revisiting old areas worthwhile. Clumsy controls, uneven difficulty and an underdeveloped lead character hold it back, but the fundamentals are strong enough to make this a welcome return.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a much-needed return, updated yet retaining that classic charm that will delight both fans of the genre and those venturing through the gates of Count Dracula’s Castle for the first time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a strong comeback and a genuinely fresh 2D Castlevania, with the whip as weapon and grappling hook, fast and punchy combat and a fun relic system, despite a delayed jump and sparse save points.
Review in German | Read full review
Although the boss battles in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse may be lacking and the story, predictable, other aspects like its game design, soundtrack, combat, and characterisation outshine its flaws and make them insignificant. The game is a delight to play and doesn’t shy away from letting players take their time unravelling the mysteries of 1944 Paris. It’s safe to say that Konami can boldly bring on the next chapter of House Belmont in future titles.