Castlevania is officially making its return with a surprising new look, as Konami has revealed a brand-new title in the series is slated for release in 2026. The first mainline Castlevania title in more than a decade, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse was revealed during Sony’s extensive State of Play, alongside a slew of other announcements from the developer.
One of Konami’s most revered franchises, Castlevania is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, with the very first title in the series having launched in September 1986. With nearly 20 mainline entries, along with a host of spin-offs and remakes, Castlevania is one of gaming’s most tenured franchises, with essential entries like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night helping to define one of the medium’s most beloved subgenres. While there have been fewer modern Castlevania titles in recent history, the series has remained relevant with the help of Netflix’s popular Castlevania anime, along with its sequel series, Castlevania: Nocturne.
Castlevania Makes Its Return With A New, Controversial Look
Gaming’s most popular vampire-hunting bloodline is back, with Konami announcing Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, a brand-new entry in the series slated to release in 2026. The game is set 23 years after Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, with it’s debut trailer teasing the return of fan-favorite protagonist Trevor Belmont. While its side-scrolling, Metroidvania-style gameplay will look familiar to longtime fans, many have noted the game’s new, unique look, seemingly drawing inspiration from popular indie roguelike Dead Cells. That’s no coincidence, as Motion Twin, the developer behind Dead Cells, has teamed up with Konami and Rogue Prince of Persia developer Evil Empire to help create this new title. Fans of the series will recall Dead Cells’ critically acclaimed “Return to Castlevania” DLC, tying the two franchises together and setting the stage for this collaboration.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
The Castlevania series has been noticeably absent from the gaming space for years, with its last original entry, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, releasing in 2014. A diversion from its typical formula, the two mainline Lords of Shadow titles brought the Castlevania series into 3D, with its action-oriented gameplay stepping away from the typical exploration that fans have become familiar with. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 received a fairly mixed critical reception, with its surprising narrative direction causing controversy among longtime players.
Some fans may not necessarily love the new art style implemented in Belmont’s Curse, but it can’t be denied that it fits the Castlevania motif. Despite the aesthetic change, the debut trailer depicts gameplay that seemingly returns to the series’ beloved Metroidvania style. The franchise may have its origins in a more traditional style of platforming, but many of Castlevania‘s most beloved entries are firmly rooted in Metroidvania-style exploration and combat. The vibrant, explosive look of this latest entry adds an action-packed element to the title’s gameplay that distinguishes it from other entries in the series. Its similarities to the look and feel of Dead Cells cannot be denied, but considering that we’re comparing it to one of the most adored indie titles in gaming history, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The look and feel of classic Castlevania titles is timeless. Games like Symphony of the Night and Aria of Sorrow are still beautiful to this day, despite the massive graphical leaps gaming has made in recent times. Though a modern Castlevania that draws more heavily on these roots would be nice to see, the franchise seems to be finding a brand-new style that may help propel it back into the spotlight. With the Metroidvania genre more popular now than it’s ever been, Belmont’s Curse is arriving at the perfect time to help Castlevania remain at the forefront of the genre it helped to define.
