Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Lands at 86 on Metacritic

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse currently holds an 86 on Metacritic, as reported by My Nintendo News. This marks the first new 2D Castlevania in 13 years, making it a strong comeback for the series. GamesRadar notes that only five entries in the franchise have higher scores, including the beloved GBA trilogy, Dawn of Sorrow, and Symphony of the Night.

The game is developed by Evil Empire, known for Dead Cells, and published by Konami. It will launch on Switch, PS5, Xbox, and PC. Players step into the shoes of Rose Belmont, who, according to Rock Paper Shotgun, is a hunter trying to break free from Trevor’s shadow.

Critics generally agree on the game’s presentation and combat. A review roundup from Polygon highlights that many reviews “hail a triumphant return,” and their own review describes the game as a “near-perfect Metroidvania.” Slant Magazine adds that it’s a “bracingly physical, artfully drawn revival.”

However, not all feedback is positive. VGC states the game “looks incredible but lacks teeth,” suggesting it may fall short on difficulty or depth despite its stunning visuals. Rock Paper Shotgun shares a similar sentiment, calling it “a fantastic action game, a less than stellar Metroidvania.”

This divide mirrors what Game Rant’s demo coverage mentioned. The game combines classic Castlevania combat with the smooth traversal typical of modern Metroidvanias, but it hasn’t satisfied every critic.

The score also trails behind Evil Empire’s previous work. GamesRadar points out that it ranks slightly lower than the studio’s Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC. Pure Xbox describes the early scores as “brilliant” ahead of the October launch.

By The Numbers

Metacritic score	86
Years since last new 2D Castlevania	13
Series entries scoring higher on Metacritic	5
Platforms at launch	4 (Switch, PS5, Xbox, PC)
Developer	Evil Empire (Dead Cells)

Community Pulse

At the time of writing, there wasn’t any player review data available, so early discussions are mainly from critics. Polygon’s “near-perfect Metroidvania” stands in contrast to Rock Paper Shotgun’s “less than stellar Metroidvania.” Players will soon find out if the combat can support the exploration, as user scores during launch week will reveal which perspective holds up.

What To Watch

• Metacritic movement: Additional reviews could shift the 86 and affect its ranking among the series’ best.
• User scores and player counts: Steam and console reviews will indicate whether players echo critics’ concerns about depth and difficulty.
• Post-launch support: Any patches or updates addressing the “lacks teeth” issue will show how Konami and Evil Empire respond to feedback.