The whip is back. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launched October 15 on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and PC, ending a wait of more than a decade for a new mainline Castlevania game, and the first reviews call it a triumphant return, per Polygon’s review roundup and Konami’s launch announcement.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse: the quick answers
Release date: out now, launched October 15, 2026.
Platforms: PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Steam.
Review scores: 86 on Metacritic and 85 on OpenCritic, with a rare 10/10 from GameSpot.
The hero: Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont, wielding the legendary Vampire Killer whip.
The setting: Paris in 1499, 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse.
Who made it: Konami with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the studios behind Dead Cells.
What the reviews say
The consensus is strong. GameSpot’s Steve Watts gave the game a 10/10, calling it “one of the best Castlevania games, and one of the best metroidvania games, of all time,” praising its sprawling map, joyous traversal and “hands-down the best combat of any Castlevania game.” Game Informer scored it 9.25 out of 10, with reviewer Charles Harte noting it plays like a sequel to Netflix’s Castlevania anime as much as to the games: several voice actors, including Trevor Belmont’s, reprise their roles. Polygon’s own review called it “a near-perfect metroidvania” that lives up to the series’ legendary status.
The dissent is about identity, not quality. IGN’s review liked Rose Belmont and the sharp combat but felt the game smooths over what sets the series apart, describing “a really solid metroidvania wearing a superficial Castlevania skin.” The Guardian’s three-star review flagged a shift toward twitch-based action and uneven pacing that “may annoy purists, but you can’t call it dull.”
What this means for readers and fans
Should you play it? If you liked Dead Cells or the Netflix anime, the reviews say yes. If you are a Symphony of the Night purist who wants deep RPG systems, know going in that several critics say that layer has been thinned.
Anime fans get a bonus: the story follows on from the first two seasons of Netflix’s Castlevania, with returning voice actors, per Game Informer, so it doubles as a continuation of the show’s world.
Which edition: a Midnight Edition, digital or physical, adds alternate costumes for Rose, a Digital Sound and Art Gallery, and an in-game relic item, per Konami.
Watch for the music: the soundtrack is by Daniel ASADI, which Konami calls a match for the series’ musical heritage, a big promise for a franchise famous for its scores.
Trophy hunters and completionists: Google Trends shows “castlevania belmonts curse platinum trophy” and “trophy guide” as breakout searches this week. The tarot-card treasure hunts flagged by Game Informer are where a proper castlevania belmonts curse guide will earn its keep, alongside the sprawling map.
What happens next: Konami has already teased that Belmont’s Curse will not be the end of the revived series, so expect more Castlevania if this lands, and the review scores say it is landing.
How Castlevania got here: the timeline
1986: the original Castlevania debuts, launching one of gaming’s longest-running vampire sagas.
2017: Netflix’s Castlevania anime brings the series to a new audience.
2023: Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania lays the groundwork for the Evil Empire collaboration, per Polygon.
October 13, 2026: the first reviews arrive, led by GameSpot’s 10/10.
October 15, 2026: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches worldwide.
Why this release matters beyond one game
Belmont’s Curse is the clearest proof yet of Konami’s comeback strategy: take a dormant, beloved property and hand it to a hungry young studio. It worked for Silent Hill, and per Polygon it has now worked for Castlevania. The game also quietly tests something bigger, whether a Netflix adaptation can feed players back into a game series. With anime voice actors reprising roles and the story positioned as a follow-up to the show’s early seasons, Konami is treating the anime audience as a core constituency, not a bonus. A 10/10 from GameSpot and a top-10 trending spot on launch week suggest the bet is paying off.
