Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Is Out Today — A New Belmont Takes Paris in a Series Return Worth Waiting For

After years of dormancy, Konami has brought Castlevania back — and reviewers say it was worth the wait.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with a Nintendo Switch version planned for later in 2026. The standard edition is priced at $29.99; a Midnight Edition with additional content runs $39.99.

A new heir to the whip

The game introduces Rose Belmont, a new protagonist in the legendary vampire-hunting lineage, set in Paris in 1499. Dracula's forces are attacking the city, corrupted creatures roam the cobblestoned streets, and Rose must stop the dark lord's castle from rising while Trevor Belmont fights by her side. Classic enemies return — Death, Medusa, Carmilla — alongside a new historical figure reimagined as a boss: Joan of Arc.

True to Metroidvania form, the game rewards patient exploration and careful backtracking. And yes, Wall Meat is back — the beloved absurdity from the 8-bit originals where health restoratives hide inside perfectly ordinary brickwork.

What reviewers are saying

The critical reception has been broadly positive. On OpenCritic, the game is rated 'Mighty' with an 86 average across 83 critics. GameSpot and Shacknews both gave it 10/10, praising the whip-based combat, art direction, and music. GamesRadar called it "gothic brilliance", describing it as a triumphant return for the iconic series.

Not every critic was fully won over. Push Square gave it 7/10, arguing that despite its quality it doesn't quite stand apart in a crowded Metroidvania genre. RPGSite flagged inconsistent difficulty — a punishing opening that gives way to a surprisingly easy second half. Nintendo Life raised concerns about the Switch port specifically, citing performance dips and uneven difficulty spikes, while still praising the game's fusion of classic and modern design.

The bigger picture

Belmont's Curse arrives in an October already packed with notable releases, and it carves its own niche with a European gothic setting the series has rarely explored at this depth. Paris 1499 — suspended between the medieval and early modern — gives the game a distinct visual palette: cathedral spires, fog-draped streets, and plague imagery that suits Castlevania's grim atmosphere perfectly.

For fans who've waited since Symphony of the Night for a mainline follow-up that feels both new and distinctly Castlevania, Belmont's Curse appears to deliver.