After more than a decade without a new mainline release, Castlevania is returning with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The new Metroidvania adventure arrives as the animated adaptations have introduced the series to a wider audience, giving newcomers a direct path into its game heritage.
Developer Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells, is not simply recreating an older formula. Belmont’s Curse combines traditional gothic action with modern systems intended to make the game feel familiar to longtime players while still standing on its own in today’s crowded Metroidvania field.
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The lead character is Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. Trevor and Sypha first appeared in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse in 1989, and both became central figures in the original animated series. Trevor will also make a brief appearance, helping connect the television continuity with this new game before Rose takes up the family whip.
Several performers from the animated series are returning for the game. Alejandra Reynoso reprises Sypha, Rose’s mother, while Graham McTavish returns as Dracula.
A new chapter shaped by Castlevania’s recent screen history
The game also appears to share some thematic ground with Castlevania: Nocturne. Its story unfolds against a burning Paris in 1499, while Nocturne similarly portrayed Paris as a city in turmoil, although its events took place several centuries later.
Previews have not confirmed an appearance by Alucard, Dracula’s half-vampire son and one of the animated series’ three principal characters. His involvement remains unannounced, but the return of the Belmont family leaves plenty of room for speculation.
Soulslike pressure meets classic vampire-hunting
Rather than deliver a straightforward revival, Evil Empire has given Belmont’s Curse a tougher modern edge. Combat carries a soulslike intensity, with formidable enemies and difficulty modifiers designed to let players adjust the challenge when the default experience proves too demanding.
Opponents can regenerate, and Rose has access to more than the familiar Vampire Killer whip. A selection of weapons supports different playstyles, while magical sub-weapons called Arcana add another layer to combat and exploration.
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From collaboration idea to full game
The project grew from an ambitious proposal by Evil Empire. At a hands-on event in July, Konami series producer Tsutomi Taniguchi explained that the studio originally approached Konami about creating Castlevania collaboration downloadable content for Dead Cells.
Taniguchi had already been considering what a new Castlevania game might look like, so the proposed collaboration became an opportunity to explore that idea. With Konami’s approval, the team moved beyond downloadable content and sought permission to develop a complete game.
The timing is notable. The animated series has concluded, with Nocturne finishing its second season the previous year, while modern Metroidvania releases such as Hollow Knight and Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon have kept interest in the genre strong during the franchise’s long absence.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches on 15 October for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PC. For advice on choosing hardware for retro-inspired games, see the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
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