Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Reviews
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse brings Konami’s beloved series into the modern era with a fast-paced focus on action first.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
“Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse” represents a nice return to old-school form for the franchise with a surprisingly affordable price tag. From its hand-drawn style to its side-scrolling action and exploration, it just evokes classic Castlevania while adding its own new spin on the series. The action-platforming mechanics have some wonky moments and folks who prefer their Castlevania to be even more old-school with just straight up, linear action might not be as pleased. But if you loved the exploration in Symphony of the Night and the Castlevania games on portable Nintendo systems, then you’ll likely take to this game like vampire fangs to an exposed neck.
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Review in Italian | Read full review
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has excellent presentation and style, but some frustrations lead to a fairly uneven experience until it eventually finds its footing.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse unfurls like a tapestry of mysteries. There are so many secrets to discover, and it'll constantly tug at your curiosity, beckoning you to explore its darkest corners. Powerful spells and satisfying weapons anchor a robust combat system, and certain boss fights are a real treat. However, the difficulty is a little inconsistent, sometimes to a frustrating, punishing degree.
Every bloody aspect of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse triumphs and coagulates into an astounding adventure. This is an essential masterpiece.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a must play title and a return to form for one of video gaming's most prominent franchises.
I’m generally pleased with the end result of Castlevania: Curse of Belmont. It’s a metroidvania that manages to balance keeping the old-school Castlevania thematic alive and well while simultaneously refining platforming and combat mechanics that haven’t yet been possible. Knowing that Evil Empire, Motion Twin, and Konami are seeking to reimagine the now-40-year-old franchise for new players, it feels like they made a valiant effort to retain what longtime fans love most while giving new players just enough to enjoy a Castlevania title for the first time.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a worthy revival of the franchise and whose foundation could easily sustain the next big entry. However, it's own fundamentals need some serious work.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a welcome return for the series, combining responsive controls, satisfying combat, and flexible character builds with striking gothic visuals. Its demanding but largely fair challenges reward experimentation, although occasionally confusing progression and frustrating save-point placement hold it back. My main issue with Belmont’s Curse is that it remains ONLY a very good example of its genre:it is a polished, compelling metroidvania that successfully brings Castlevania into the modern era.
Review in Polish | Read full review