Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Reviews Are In: Critics Hail Konami’s 2D Revival Ahead Of Oct. 15 Launch

Konami’s long-dormant vampire-hunting franchise is back, and critics are largely biting the bullet with approval. Reviews for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse went live on Tuesday, Oct. 13, two days before the game’s Oct. 15 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and PC.

The new Metroidvania, developed by Evil Empire, the French studio behind the Castlevania-themed Dead Cells expansion Return to Castlevania, holds an 86 Metascore on Metacritic and an 85 average on OpenCritic, where 97% of critics recommend it. Japanese magazine Famitsu was first out of the gate last week, with its four reviewers each awarding the game an 8 out of 10.

A New Belmont in 1499 Paris

Belmont’s Curse is set in 1499, 23 years after the events of 1989’s Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the game that inspired the first two seasons of Netflix’s animated Castlevania series. Monsters have overrun Paris in a bid to revive Dracula, and vampire hunter Trevor Belmont answers the call for help alongside his daughter, Rose, the game’s playable protagonist.

Rose carries Dracula’s curse in her right arm, the same affliction that killed her mother, Sypha Belnades. Over the course of the adventure, she explores the city’s streets, catacombs and eventually Dracula’s castle itself, collecting tarot cards that capture defeated bosses and recruiting allies, including Joan of Arc. Players can switch between seven weapon types, from the franchise’s signature whip to greatswords, spears and bare fists.

It is the first new mainline Castlevania game since 2014’s Lords of Shadow 2 and the series’ first new 2D entry in nearly two decades.

What Critics Are Saying

Praise has centered on the game’s visuals and interconnected world design. RPGFan’s Matt Wardell gave the game a 97 and called it an essential masterpiece, while COGconnected described it as an ideal resurrection for the franchise, singling out what it considered the best platforming in series history. GamesRadar+ called the game a triumphant return, praising its gothic atmosphere and cryptic puzzles, though it noted that wayfinding can be confusing and that fast travel is limited for such a large map.

Not everyone was fully won over. Push Square’s Stephen Tailby scored it 7/10, arguing that the game does little to stand out in a crowded genre and that Rose can feel unresponsive at times. RPG Site’s Junior Miyai said the game is genuinely good but criticized its balance, describing a punishingly difficult opening and a back half that gets too easy.

Others suggested the game plays it safe. Final Weapon wrote that while Belmont’s Curse is a great introduction to what makes the franchise special, longtime fans may want a more daring structure.

A Busy Year for Konami

The release continues a revival of Konami’s classic properties. Last month, the publisher’s Silent Hill: Townfall drew praise for its atmosphere and story, though critics criticized its stealth and combat. Belmont’s Curse entered production in 2022 and was officially announced in February 2026.

It also arrives during a busy stretch for vampire fans: Overwatch recently added a vampire-themed Support hero, and the upcoming RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker has earned strong hands-on previews.

A free demo is currently available, including on Nintendo Switch 2, ahead of launch.