Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Seems Obvious in Hindsight

During this month’s Sony State of Play, a new Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse game was revealed alongside updates on previously announced titles and other surprises, including a John Wick game with Keanu Reeves from Saber Interactive. While showcases often bring unexpected announcements, a new Castlevania game was a particularly exciting reveal for many gamers. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse appears to be a fantastic revival of the series, blending its classic gameplay with a modern look and stunning new visuals.

February’s State of Play unexpectedly showcased 2D side-scrollers with games like God of War Sons of Sparta and Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. Looking back, the announcement of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse doesn’t seem so surprising. Now that some time has passed, it’s clear there were hints all along that a new Castlevania game was coming.

The Seeds For Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Were Planted a Long Time Ago

Konami, Motion Twin, and Evil Empire are collaborating on Castlevania: Belmont’s Revenge. Motion Twin is known for Dead Cells, a highly-regarded Metroidvania game released in 2018. Evil Empire later contributed to additional content and development for Dead Cells. In 2023, Dead Cells received a major update called Return to Castlevania, which served as a tribute to the game that inspired its creation.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Put Castlevania Back in the Spotlight

The Castlevania series hadn’t seen a new release since 2015 until Belmont’s Revenge was announced. Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania proved the franchise still had plenty of life left by combining the modern gameplay of Dead Cells with the classic Castlevania setting. Even without the Castlevania name, the DLC would have been excellent, but the familiar setting of Dracula’s Castle and nostalgic elements made it particularly appealing to both longtime fans and new players. Features like hidden food, atmospheric corridors, and a gothic style reminded everyone what made the Castlevania series so beloved. While not all Castlevania games have been Metroidvanias, this DLC demonstrated that the style is central to the franchise and the best way to experience its world.

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Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is Promising a Return to Form With a Slight Twist

This new game feels like a classic Castlevania title in terms of gameplay, but it features a visual style similar to Dead Cells. While longtime Castlevania fans might be surprised by this change, the Dead Cellsinspired art gives the game a fresh and appealing look. The developers, Motion Twin and Evil Empire, have shown they can capture the Castlevania feel even with this different art style, so it shouldn’t feel too far off. Many games have taken inspiration from Castlevania over the years, and Dead Cells is openly one of them. Although it might not be a traditional Metroidvania, it clearly draws on those Castlevania* elements.

Since Dead Cells is much faster-paced than the original Castlevania games, it will be interesting to see how the developers handle the speed of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. Based on the trailers, it appears Belmont’s Curse might be a bit slower than Dead Cells, which is a good sign – it suggests the gameplay could capture the more deliberate, strategic feel of classic Castlevania titles.

Everything Known About Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse So Far

Releasing in 2026
Will be available on Steam, Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
Takes place in Paris in the year 1499
The main character is Trevor Belmont’s successor.
Whip-focused gameplay and traversal
Strategic combat with a large weapons roster
Trap-heavy settings and biomes

Okay, so Konami hasn’t given us a firm release date for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse yet, but it’s definitely coming in 2026, which is already looking like an insane year for games! We’ve got huge titles like Resident Evil: Requiem and GTA 6 confirmed, and I’m really hyped to see a new Metroidvania joining the mix. Honestly, what’s getting me most excited about 2026 is just how many different types of games are planned – it’s not just all AAA blockbusters, you know?

Konami hasn’t announced the official price yet, but fans have spotted a $40 listing for the game on Best Buy’s website.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Hopefully Marks a New Era For the Franchise

It’s too soon to say for sure, but this new game could really bring Castlevania back to popularity. While Castlevania: Lords of Shadow reimagined the series in 2010, Belmont’s Curse feels like a return to the classic 2D style while still being enjoyable for modern players. This game might be how many younger gamers first experience Castlevania, and that alone gives it the potential to become a long-term project for Motion Twin, Evil Empire, and Konami. Konami has already stated that this is just the first of many new Castlevania products. There are similar games available, but capturing the special feel of the original Castlevania is difficult. Luckily, Motion Twin and Evil Empire have proven they know how to recapture that magic.

Fans of Castlevania will need to be patient while Konami shares more details about the new game. We don’t know when that will be, but hopefully, it will be a thorough look at how Motion Twin and Evil Empire are reimagining the series. Along with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse and the first glimpse at the new Silent Hill game, Silent Hill: Townfall, Konami is clearly investing in bringing back some of its classic franchises. The Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team was a great success for the horror series, and Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse aims to do the same for Castlevania. While many details are still unknown, this new installment promises a lot for dedicated fans.

2026-02-16 22:05