Castlevania Belmont’s Curse Ends 12 Year Hiatus as Evil Empire Revives the Classic Formula

Castlevania is finally returning with a completely new premium game after more than a decade away from the spotlight. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches on October 15, 2026, bringing KONAMI’s legendary vampire hunting series back with a new 2D action exploration adventure developed primarily by Evil Empire, the studio known for its extensive work on Dead Cells. Motion Twin is also involved in an advisory role. The release comes 12 years after Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 arrived in 2014, while Belmont’s Curse will become the first completely new 2D Castlevania entry since Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia in 2008.

The return is particularly appropriate for the franchise’s 40th anniversary. According to KONAMI, Belmont’s Curse takes place in Paris during 1499, exactly 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Trevor Belmont has already defeated Dracula, but a new supernatural catastrophe begins consuming the French capital. Trevor enters the burning city alongside his daughter, Rose Belmont, who ultimately becomes the protagonist of the new adventure.

Rose inherits the legendary Vampire Killer, and Evil Empire has substantially expanded what the iconic whip can do. It remains her primary weapon, but it is now deeply integrated into traversal. Players can swing across gaps, reach hidden passages, reposition during combat and attack enemies from unconventional angles. The developers wanted Rose to feel more mobile without turning Castlevania into the relentless combat experience associated with Dead Cells.

That distinction appears to be one of the most important elements of Belmont’s Curse. Evil Empire has considerable experience creating extremely fast 2D combat, but the studio deliberately avoided simply inserting Dead Cells mechanics into Castlevania. KONAMI producer Tsutomu Taniguchi explained that the partnership was built around Evil Empire’s understanding of action games and its clear passion for the franchise. The resulting combat retains a more deliberate rhythm while introducing faster movement, more responsive attacks and considerably greater freedom when using the whip.

"The first is Evil Empire’s passion for Castlevania. The second is their expertise in action games."
— Quote by: Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI Producer.

Exploration remains equally important. KONAMI and Evil Empire established several fundamental requirements before development moved forward. Belmont’s Curse needed to remain a 2D action exploration game, fit within established Castlevania canon and keep the Vampire Killer at the center of the experience. Evil Empire was then given considerable freedom to expand those foundations through a new protagonist, new systems and its interpretation of medieval Paris.

The environments include recognizable locations such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Paris Catacombs, but players will eventually reach the enormous supernatural castle looming over the city. Evil Empire has suggested that the structure of the game changes considerably once players enter the castle, with hidden paths, traps, environmental hazards, puzzles and areas that encourage players to return after obtaining additional abilities.

Bosses also become part of Rose’s progression through a new Arcana system. Enemies including Death, Medusa and Carmilla return alongside new encounters such as Joan of Arc. Defeating major bosses allows Rose to seal them into tarot cards known as Arcana, unlocking spells and special abilities that can then become part of the player’s combat and exploration toolkit.

Character customization goes considerably further than the whip and Arcana. Rose can equip weapons across 7 categories alongside Relics that provide offensive and defensive effects, giving players the ability to create different combat configurations as they explore. The developers are combining this flexibility with the interconnected level philosophy that made exploration one of Castlevania’s defining characteristics.

The project itself emerged from an unexpected relationship between KONAMI and Evil Empire. The studio originally approached KONAMI about collaborating on content for Dead Cells, eventually creating the successful Return to Castlevania expansion. Rather than Evil Empire pitching a completely new Castlevania afterward, KONAMI approached the developer about making one together.

"They approached us with a DLC for Dead Cells, and then we said, well, you can do that, but can we create a new Castlevania game with you?"
— Quote by: Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI Producer.

Motion Twin’s involvement is considerably smaller than Evil Empire’s. The studio has clarified that it primarily provided feedback when Evil Empire requested another perspective during development, while Evil Empire spent years building the game with KONAMI. Motion Twin has described the project as Evil Empire’s work and praised the studio as the right team to continue the Belmont legacy.

Belmont’s Curse also brings back several recognizable characters through its English voice cast. Abby Trott voices Rose Belmont, JB Blanc portrays Trevor Belmont and Alejandra Reynoso plays Sypha Belnades. Graham McTavish reprises his role as Dracula, while Liam O’Brien returns as Isaac more than 20 years after the character appeared in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. Death, Carmilla and Medusa are also represented within the cast.

The game launches for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S and Nintendo Switch on October 15. Xbox lists support for 4K, 60 FPS plus and Xbox Play Anywhere, while the PC version is priced at $29.99 on Steam. A $39.99 Midnight Edition includes a Digital Sound and Art Gallery containing more than 100 pieces of artwork, Trevor and Sypha costumes and the Family’s Grace Relic. Preorders also include an Alucard style costume.

Belmont’s Curse was previously included among the major announcements in our Xbox Games Showcase 2026 roundup, but the latest hands on impressions provide a much clearer picture of what KONAMI and Evil Empire are trying to accomplish. Rather than rebuilding Castlevania as something completely different, the developers appear focused on modernizing the mechanics that already made the franchise influential.

Giving Castlevania to Evil Empire looks increasingly like one of KONAMI’s smartest decisions. Dead Cells proved the studio understands responsive 2D action, but Belmont’s Curse becomes much more interesting because the team appears willing to slow itself down when Castlevania demands it.

The whip being expanded into traversal, combat and exploration feels like exactly the type of modernization the franchise needs. The Arcana system also provides a meaningful progression layer without abandoning the traditional structure built around hidden areas, abilities and deliberate exploration.

More importantly, KONAMI is not treating the return as a nostalgia project. Belmont’s Curse exists inside established continuity, introduces another Belmont generation and gives Evil Empire enough freedom to expand the formula rather than simply reproducing Symphony of the Night.

After 12 years without another major premium Castlevania release and 18 years without a completely new 2D entry, expectations are understandably high. Based on everything shown so far, Evil Empire appears to understand exactly why.

After more than a decade without a new major Castlevania game, does Belmont’s Curse look like the revival the series deserves?