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| Key artwork for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, the next 2D entry in the long-running series. |
By Jon Scarr
Konami has announced Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, a new entry in the long-running Castlevania series launching in 2026. Developed in partnership with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, the game marks the franchise’s 40th anniversary and returns to a 2D action-exploration structure built around combat, movement, and exploration. Wishlisting is now live on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Set in 15th-century Paris, Belmont’s Curse follows a new successor to the legendary Belmont bloodline as the city falls under siege from monstrous creatures and a looming mystical castle. Armed with the Vampire Killer whip, the protagonist moves through corrupted streets and collapsing structures while tracing the source of the threat overtaking the city.
A New Belmont Steps Into a Familiar Role
Set more than two decades after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, this entry doesn’t circle back to earlier storylines. Instead, it drops you into a new chapter with a new Belmont and lets the world do the talking. Progress comes from learning how different weapons and spells fit together, and from poking around places that don’t immediately look important.
Movement and exploration drive how the game unfolds. Side paths, hidden rooms, and vertical routes aren’t extras. They’re part of how you get stronger and understand the space. The game rewards slowing down, looking around, and figuring out how each area connects rather than rushing straight to the next fight.
The Vampire Killer as a Tool for Movement and Combat
The Belmont whip isn’t just there to crack enemies anymore. The Vampire Killer is baked into how you move through the world, letting you swing across gaps, climb up to higher routes, and reach spots you wouldn’t hit by jumping alone.
That carries over into fights too. Where you’re standing and how you move matters, since the whip lets you attack from odd angles or control space instead of trading hits face to face. Combat and movement feed into each other, so fights feel tied to the layout of each area rather than playing out the same way every time.
Paris Reimagined Through Gothic Design
Paris is laid out in a way that asks you to slow down. Areas are broken into smaller sections, with paths that loop back on themselves and routes that aren’t obvious at first glance.
Progress comes from noticing where you can go next rather than moving straight ahead. Side paths, traps, and enemies tend to sit just outside the main route, so paying attention to the layout matters.
A Clear Direction for Castlevania’s Next Chapter
This isn’t another remake or a nostalgia pass. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse looks like it’s trying to build something new while sticking to the basics the series has always relied on. It’s 2D, built around movement and exploration, and it doesn’t appear to be chasing ideas from outside Castlevania’s usual lane.
A new Belmont and a new setting give Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse room to move forward without leaning on earlier stories. It’s still early, and there’s a lot we haven’t seen yet, but the direction lines up with what longtime fans expect from the series.
Are you ready for another 2D Castlevania, or were you expecting something different?
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