Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Reviews
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is the comeback fans have been waiting for for over a decade: a metroidvania that is classic in structure but modern in sensibility, crafted by a studio that knows the genre inside out and proves it with incredibly rich traversal, memorable bosses and outstanding art direction.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a compelling return to its roots for Konami’s legendary series, drawing on Evil Empire’s expertise to deliver a 2D Metroidvania that masterfully combines exploration, challenging combat, and an art style brimming with care and charm. Rose Belmont’s adventure won us over thanks to a deep combat system and the Arcana, which enrich both progression and the narrative. The gothic recreation of Paris and Dracula’s castle is stunning, accompanied by a compelling soundtrack, though perhaps not quite on par with the splendor of Michiru Yamane’s work. Some limitations in enemy variety and inconsistent difficulty prevent Belmont’s Curse from reaching perfection, but they in no way detract from the overall quality of an adventure that proves just how much the Belmont family still has to tell.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
All in all, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse marks a particularly welcome return for a franchise that richly deserved to be back in the spotlight.
Review in French | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is an alluringly gorgeous, polished and expressive comeback of the series. It plays things mostly safe across the board, which is a design philosophy that’s bound to alienate more expectant Castlevania veterans. For most other players, Belmont’s Curse is a gorgeous, rewarding and deeply engaging adventure that introduces the Belmont Bloodline and the series’ legacy wonderfully. It resulted in a return to form that hopefully serves as the foundation for braver titles, but until then, Belmont’s Curse is a powerful resurrection worthy of Dracula himself and a great Metroidvania all the same.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a triumphant return for the legendary series, with outstanding level design, satisfying combat and a magnificent soundtrack. Its visuals feel somewhat dated and a few difficulty spikes frustrate, but this is a wonderfully crafted metroidvania.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It’s almost mind-blowing to me to be sitting here, typing up my thoughts on a new Castlevania 2D game in 2026. I never would have called this series coming back. Or if it did, I would have expected Konami to try another big-scale 3D reboot. But seeing Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse on my hard drive and being able to play it makes it feel like one part of the gaming world is working as intended. This game feels incredibly good to play, and I’d recommend checking it out as soon as possible.
How do you bring back one of the most legendary video game franchises after a nearly two decade hiatus since its last 2D Entry? With a twenty-five hour symphony of the classics retaining everything that made the series iconic, but reworked to make the experience feel modern with gameplay inspired by one of the most successful indie games of all time. Dracula, Belmont's, demanding platforming and enemies, gothic aesthetic, whips, sub-weapons, layered map, secrets, it's all here. Belmont’s Curse is a sublime fusion of Castlevania and Dead Cells that blends classic and modern elements effortlessly to make it feel like a natural progression for the series without losing sight of the origins that made Castevania legendary. Purists might disagree with the new feeling being too much of a departure, but for those who appreciated the series revolution that Symphony of The Night was in 1997, they will appreciate the revolution that Belmont’s Curse is in 2026.
Ultimately, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse doesn’t just mark the end of a twelve year mainline game drought, it answers the question posed at the very beginning of this review with a resounding yes. It is an emphatic, confident return to form. While a few weapon categories fall into redundancy once you have the iconic whip in hand, that minor imbalance is easily eclipsed by how thoughtfully Evil Empire has built the rest of the game.
With a storied past, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse sets up the franchise for a bright (but also dark) future. Rose is a fantastic heroine with a deep, compelling story, and she wields some of the genre's most enjoyable combat mechanics. Add a few key accessibility options to make the game less punishing, and I think you have a standout title heading into the final months of 2026. Belmont's Curse is one of the best ways Konami and Evil Empire could have pushed the franchise and the genre forward.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a strong return to the franchise’s roots. The combat is excellent, the traversal feels fantastic, and player-driven exploration is a big part of why it works. The music is easily the weakest part, but it does not drastically diminish what is otherwise a near-perfect revival.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a treat for fans of the franchise or Metroidvanias in general, and also a great entry point for those who have never wielded the Belmont's whip or for those looking for something fun to play and pass the time. Whatever your case, you can go for it without fear!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The music, gameplay, levels, bosses, & looks are all incredible. It's classic old-school Castlevania in many ways, for good and bad. A handful of modern conveniences, some devilishly tricky level design, and a decent story combine for something well worth your time.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse retains the soul of the Castlevania series perfectly intact, thanks not only to a well-written story but also to its art style and fun gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont´s Curse combines metroidvania exploration, demanding combat and a story where Rose Belmont proves she has a personality of her own. The Arcana system adds both abilities and narrative depth, while a well-balanced difficulty makes every defeated boss feel genuinely rewarding.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a classic metroidvania in the best sense, featuring excellent combat, superb level design, and outstanding acrobatic platforming. A lack of artistic ambition and a sense of disorientation in the second half keep it from reaching the genre’s recent heights, but it remains an essential experience for metroidvania fans, made all the more significant by being the first new Castlevania in many years.
Review in Italian | Read full review
That’s the magic of this game, because even though it can be frustrating at times, you still find yourself wanting to return to the adventure Rose is experiencing in the heart of Paris. Achieving 100 percent completion during a packed review season is, therefore, the greatest compliment I can give Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Despite its minor shortcomings, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a successful title that brings the series’ magnificent gothic atmosphere together with outstanding gameplay.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Not a new pinnacle of the genre, but a worthy comeback for Castlevania with fast combat, creative plattforming and a great world that motivates me to master each challenge and open every chest.
Review in German | Read full review
Castlevania Belmont’s Curse is a game that feels thoughtfully designed from beginning to end, constantly finding ways to reinvent itself. With a better balance between boss fights and regular enemies, along with a more streamlined approach to revisiting previously explored areas, it could have been close to perfection. Even so, I think it’s a more than solid comeback for a franchise returning to the spotlight after so many years. As long as Konami maintains this level of quality, I’ll continue to look forward to all its upcoming releases. Hopefully, this game marks the definitive return of Castlevania.
Review in Turkish | Read full review