Gamescom 2026: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Pays Tribute to a Classic While Offering a New Challenge

At Gamescom, we usually get to play games that are still a year away, and some may be even further off. Sometimes, we even see games that we cannot talk about publicly for another year. But there are also cases where we play games that are literally just around the corner, with their release planned for just a few days later. This gives us the chance to try out almost-final versions and see what they will bring us very soon. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is one such case. It launches on 15 October, and Konami itself stressed that we were playing an almost finished build. What does that mean? Almost-final quality.

The game is the 26th entry in the legendary Castlevania series, and given its status, it is a shame that we do not get some enormous, megalomaniacal production every few years. It is a true cult classic, yet no one seems willing to take it on in an AAA format. Fortunately, there are ambitious smaller studios that want to bring their own vision of this legend to life. Konami is working on this game with Evil Empire, for example. The studio became famous for Dead Cells, but it is no stranger to major franchises either, having already brought us The Rogue Prince of Persia. This is its biggest and most ambitious game to date, however.

The story takes place in 1499 and follows on from Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse from 1989. But don't worry—you do not have to be familiar with the original to enjoy the game. The important details are recapped for you at the beginning, and we were able to try out the first hour of gameplay. Paris is burning, it is full of monsters, and even the bravest knights have fled the city. That is why Trevor Belmont, a legendary monster hunter, arrives to clean things up. From the beginning, however, it is clear that this will be a seriously tangled mystery, possibly once again connected to Dracula. Trevor is no longer the youngest, so he has secretly brought some help into the city—his daughter, Rose.

She inherited her father's Vampire Killer and her mother's beauty, along with her magical abilities. And her cards. They play an important role in the game on two levels. They help tell the story, while also unlocking new magical abilities for Rose to use in combat. While Trevor deals with the situation directly, she runs through the city's streets and sewers to find out whether it might all be a trap. Along the way, she encounters many different characters. There is the new mysterious monster The Fallen, who is hiding a major secret and plays an important part in the story. Joan of Arc also makes an appearance. As do familiar faces such as Carmilla, Isaac, and Hector. The voice acting is truly top-notch, too. You really have something to look forward to there.

The good news to start with is that Belmont's Curse plays similarly to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, one of the best Castlevania games ever made. There is an Evil Empire twist, however, so the game can be challenging. Checkpoints are far apart, you need to keep an eye on your health, and you have to dodge attacks instead of just dishing them out. It is a shame that dodging is not a little more intuitive, as it takes some time to get used to, so you will be returning to some of those checkpoints. This is a true metroidvania focused on exploring the environments of Paris, where you will learn new abilities and use them to reach places that were previously inaccessible in areas you have already visited. Unlockable shortcuts will help you move around more quickly.

You begin on the banks of the Seine, then make your way through sewers, streets, buildings, tunnels, and many other varied locations. The map is expansive, and you gradually uncover it as you progress. You can also help yourself by placing up to 50 markers on it. You might find chests that you cannot reach yet, so you can simply mark them. Some interiors feature an inverted color scheme, almost like a shadow play, which nicely refreshes an already high-quality visual presentation. The game offers beautiful stylization in its 2.5D world. It feels like Castlevania, while also looking completely different from all the other games in the series.

You will face numerous enemies as well as inventive bosses. As for the latter, there are 3 Guardians in total, each holding keys and gathering resources for their master, who is hidden in the catacombs. You can reach him only through them. The only real respite comes at mirrors, where you can save the game, heal yourself, and replenish your potions. Enemies you have already defeated also respawn at that point. Rose uses various weapons and magic. Her magic is powered by Arcana, which you gradually upgrade using blessings. Collecting Arcana is key to defeating the evil in Paris. You have 4 weapon slots, and there are 7 weapon types in total. Relics will also help you, with 3 slots available for them. And, of course, the character leveling system is also present. It all plays well, and it looks good in motion, too.

After the first hour, Belmont's Curse comes across as a very successful combination of classic Castlevania and Evil Empire's experience. The foundation is built on what we love about the series—exploration, gradually uncovering the map, new abilities, returning to previously visited locations, and plenty of combat. It also adds a higher level of difficulty and modern mechanics that make it more than just another nostalgic metroidvania.

What I have enjoyed most so far is exploring Paris and finding out where I can reach with my new abilities. The game also looks excellent, has a strong identity of its own, and handles the atmosphere of Castlevania very well. If it can maintain its quality in the later sections and gradually deliver on all the mechanics it offers, 15 October could bring us one of the most interesting new 2.5D Castlevania games in a long time.