Castlevania is back, and it’s about time someone got it right. I spent some quality time with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse at gamescom 2026, and I’m happy to report that Konami has finally found a team that understands what makes this series tick. Evil Empire, the developers behind Dead Cells and its excellent Return to Castlevania expansion, have taken the reins, and it shows. The game is a love letter to the franchise, with all the dark Gothic atmosphere and challenging gameplay you’ve come to expect from a Castlevania title.
A New Era for Castlevania
It’s been 12 long years since the last mainline entry, Lords of Shadow 2, and even longer since we’ve had a proper 2D action-exploration game in the series. Order of Ecclesia, released back in 2008, was the last time we saw the franchise in its true form. But with the 40th anniversary of Castlevania this year and the popularity of the Netflix anime series, it’s clear that Konami is looking to breathe new life into the franchise. And breathe new life they have, with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse being one of the best games in the series in a long time.
A Fresh Face for the Franchise
The game takes place in Paris, 1499, 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. The city is in ruins, monsters are roaming the streets, and Trevor Belmont rides into town with his daughter, Rose. But don’t expect a rehashing of old characters; Rose is a fresh face, young, quick, and a little snarky. She’s a welcome change from the brooding hunters the series is known for, and it’s great to see a new character take center stage.
Visuals and Soundtrack
The game’s visuals are stunning, with painterly Gothic backdrops, hand-drawn touches, and 3D elements blending together seamlessly. The music is equally impressive, with classic series themes reimagined as pulsing electronic tracks. The latest trailer, set to a fresh take on “Bloody Tears,” is a great example of this. It’s clear that the team at Evil Empire has put a lot of love and care into crafting a game that looks and sounds like a true Castlevania title.
Gameplay and Controls
But how does it play? In a word, wonderfully. The game moves fast, with Rose able to slide and wall-jump from the start. Chaining attacks feels smooth and natural, and the game requires you to read animations and react, rather than just mashing buttons. The addition of the legendary whip, acquired after the first major boss battle, opens up the game in a whole new way, allowing you to grapple across gaps and swing through the burning city. It’s a game that teaches you how to play, and it’s incredibly rewarding once you master its many systems.
The game launches on October 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Let’s just hope that Konami doesn’t try to “enhance” our experience with a plethora of DLCs, battle passes, or other live-service nonsense. We’ve got our fingers crossed that they’ll let Evil Empire’s masterpiece stand on its own, without trying to squeeze every last penny out of it. After all, a good game is its own reward, and Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is definitely a good game. So, let’s just enjoy it, shall we?
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
