Famitsu Awards Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse 32/40 Ahead of October Launch
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse received its first major review from Famitsu, scoring 32 out of 40. The game, developed by Evil Empire and published by Konami, launches on October 15, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and other platforms. Reviewers praised the atmospheric visuals and whip-based movement but noted high difficulty and a lack of traditional loot mechanics.
Key points
- Famitsu’s four reviewers awarded Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse a total score of 32/40, with each individual reviewer giving an 8/10.
- The game launches on October 15, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Steam.
- Developed by Evil Empire (creators of Dead Cells) in collaboration with Konami, the title is the first new Castlevania entry since 2014.
- The soundtrack is composed by ASADI, known for The Rogue Prince of Persia, marking a new musical direction for the franchise.
- The game features a Metroidvania-style exploration system with an 'Arcana' mechanic where defeated bosses are sealed into tarot cards to unlock abilities.
Background
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse serves as the 40th-anniversary title for the franchise, aiming to reverse a decline in active players. Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi confirmed in early October that this is not the final entry and that the company intends to maintain a shorter release cycle. The game continues the story from Castlevania III, set in 15th-century Paris, and stars Rose Belmont. A free demo was released in early October, allowing players to transfer progress to the full game.
How outlets are covering it
Famitsu reviewers generally praised the game’s immersive atmosphere, detailed backgrounds, and satisfying whip mechanics, though some noted the action could feel sluggish. Critics highlighted the high difficulty, particularly in boss battles, which some described as having a 'death-game' feel, though adjustable damage and potion settings mitigate this. GamesRadar+ expressed confusion over Konami’s decision not to release a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version, despite the game running at 60 FPS on the newer hardware via backward compatibility. GoNintendo emphasized the fresh musical direction, highlighting ASADI’s composition as a revitalizing element for the series' heritage. While Famitsu focused on gameplay mechanics and difficulty, other outlets focused on platform availability and audio design, reflecting different aspects of the game's reception.
Why it matters
The positive initial review from Famitsu signals strong critical reception for Konami’s return to the Castlevania franchise after a decade-long hiatus. The game’s success is crucial for revitalizing the brand and establishing a sustainable release cycle. The decision to skip a dedicated Switch 2 port, despite performance improvements, has sparked debate about platform strategy, while the new musical direction and modernized mechanics aim to attract both legacy fans and new audiences.
What to watch
Full reviews from major Western outlets are expected to arrive in the first week of October, ahead of the October 15 launch. Players can currently access a free demo to experience the game’s mechanics and transfer their progress to the full release. Konami has indicated that future Castlevania titles are in development, though no specific announcements have been made.
- Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse gets first review Nintendo Everything
- Metroid Meets Dead Cells In October's Coolest New Action Game Polygon.com
- Castlevania Belmont's Curse skipping Switch 2 also baffles former Nintendo marketing lead: "The way Konami has handled this game has been a little weird" GamesRadar+
- The Rogue Prince of Persia composer handling soundtrack duties on Castlevania: Belmont's Curse GoNintendo
- Castlevania: Belmont's Curse lead says if we have to wait 10 years for another game "the whole thing is meaningless" Yahoo Tech
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