Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is slated to release on October 15, and fans of the franchise are beyond excited. While we wait for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse to cook up, Konami has shared a playable demo, keeping fans nice and occupied before the full game is available. This free-to-play demo, which spans about 30–45 minutes, is available now on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and on Steam.
While playing through this new demo, I was reminded of another fan-favorite Metroidvania-style title, Hollow Knight: Silksong. While Castlevania and Hollow Knight have very distinct identities and quirks that make them special, gameplay, narrative tropes, and combat in both games are pretty similar. This demo offered me a taste of both titles that I love so much, and reminded me why the world of demos can be a tricky place if not handled with care.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse and Hollow Knight: Silksong are Almost One and the Same
Check Out the Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Demo on Steam
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Image via Konami -
Image via Konami -
Image via Konami
Castlevania is a heavy-hitter, holding it down as one of the most famous side-scrollers out there. Fans of the franchise will note the latest entry, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, is yet another 2D side-scroller, a format that Konami has seemingly mastered. The free-to-play demo allows players a look at the opening sequence of the game, where they can test out mechanics and get to know the main protagonist, Rose Belmont. Set in monster-ridden Paris in 1499, Rose and her father, Trevor, are called on to dispatch these demonic creatures from the city’s streets. In such little time, players are already immersed in this new world, caught up in what Rose and her father must do to survive.
While her father investigates, Rose heads out on her lonesome, armed with enchanted tarot cards and her Arcane Whip to snuff out the source of the evil. While I haven’t gotten to know her for that long just yet, piloting Rose has already gotten me hooked on the character. She’s strong and duty-bound, determined to flush out evil at any cost. Rose already comes off as a lethal warrior, a real badass in her own right. Expert voice acting from Abby Trott only aids in Rose’s characterization, making her seem untouchable.
Upon traversing the first level, players will be treated to illustrated cutscenes that offer a reprieve from the combat, which beautifully highlight characters and their layouts.
Music swells as players forge on, orchestral and gothic, a moody setting for a moody game. Movement is fast-paced and fluid, while combat relies on snappy and satisfying combos a la your whip, aka the Vampire Killer. It seems like Rose’ whip also acts as a traversal tool, utilized to grapple both enemies and swing from anchor points. This detail should open up exploration even further, allowing players to traverse areas as they please, whether on foot or by swinging from anchor to anchor.
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Image via Konami -
Image via Konami -
Image via Konami
The action-packed demo ends in a boss fight in a grotesque sewer-like setting where players must take on The Fallen. Players must use claws, holy cross attacks, and wide-reaching maneuvers to down this baddie. After taking The Fallen out, players will unlock the “Blood Tells” achievement. It is worth noting that any progress and save data made via the demo does carry over directly to the full version of the game once it launches, so people won’t have to go through the hassle of starting all over again.
I implore people to try their hand at the demo. It is a full-fleshed-out work that gets people invested in the new title ahead of the release. Upon picking up the demo, folks will notice a couple of things, especially those who might be fans of a little title called Hollow Knight: Silksong. Both have that instantly recognizable Metroidvania DNA, which focuses on maze-like 2D settings where progress is made by acquiring new abilities or items found throughout. Both titles feature fast-paced combat with demanding fights that push players to the limit each time.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Fluid combat is a crux of both titles, a style that almost feels like dancing. Mobility for characters is acrobatic, focusing on diagonal aerial strikes and snappy dashes. Key weapons, like Rose’s whip or Hornet’s blade, called The Needle, are utilized in 2D constraints, featuring fixed arcs, save for a few vertical moves Rose can pull off. These directional attacks are powerful and clean, letting players take out enemies quickly before readjusting with a back step or dash. While it is too early to say, it seems like Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse will also have a backtracking element in order to reach previously closed-off areas. Backtracking is also key to the story of Hollow Knight: Silksong and is featured heavily when players take on side-quests or if they want to check out settlements discovered early on.
This is yet another aspect that makes both titles Metroidvania-esque. As mentioned, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse will seemingly feature a grapple mechanic, allowing Rose to get around stages or enemies. Hornet’s needle and thread essentially do the same thing. From combat fluidity to narrative structure with backtracking as a central theme, both games share immense similarities. If fans of Hollow Knight: Silksong are looking to scratch that Metroidvania itch but don’t know where to look, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a great jumping-off point. Once released, the Castlevania playthrough should stave off any hankering for a third Hollow Knight title, at least for a while.
A Proper Demo Is Sometimes Almost Better Than the Full Game
Demos are meant to hook audiences in, sharing a look at gameplay, narrative, and characters before a full release. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse’s demo does just that, successfully hooking players in and setting them up for the full game to come in mid-October. There have been times when demos end up being the more memorable portion of the release process, sharing a snippet of the game that becomes its best parts. This is largely due to demos containing misleading gameplay or settings that end up being somewhat scrapped in the final game. There is no worse feeling than booting up a game you’ve been waiting for, only for it not to live up to the hype conjured up via the demo.
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Image via Capcom -
Image via Capcom -
Image via Capcom
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a classic example of a demo with ever-so-slightly misleading content. The standalone teaser demo titled “Beginning Hour” serves as a sort of separate story from the main game with interwoven similarities here and there. Players are captives in the Baker house deep down in the bayou, seemingly all alone in the dark. They must piece together clues while traversing this dilapidated house, solving puzzles and defending themselves against grotesque monsters. The teaser is beyond spooky, with an eerie, claustrophobic feel. While I think the full game encapsulates this feeling, it really only does so within the first house section, rather than carrying that same vibe throughout its entirety. I still think that the full game is impeccable, but the demo’s tone is slightly misleading in my opinion. I wasn’t disappointed in any way, just a little confused.
I implore people to try their hand at the demo. It is a full-fleshed-out work that gets people invested in the new title ahead of the release.
Rather than being misleading, some game demos can also turn out better than the full release, which is very disappointing for some. Metal Gear Solid 2‘s demo is iconic. Titled “The Tanker,” this demo was bundled with Zone of the Enders, which was meant to generate hype, and boy, were people hyped. The demo offered a sneak peek at one of the most anticipated video game sequels, and it didn’t disappoint. Action-packed and stealthy, the gameplay featured first-person aiming, peeking, and shooting from cover, all new additions to the franchise at the time.
Legendary spy and top-notch soldier Solid Snake is tasked with infiltrating a military ship on the Hudson River. The best part of that demo, as silly as it sounds, is the rain effect. This detail, at the time, was pretty jaw-dropping, affecting the way the player sees while in first-person. In short, good demos can be the key to a full game’s success, but they can also be their downfall. Companies need to strike a balance, sharing gameplay with audiences that keeps them interested while ensuring that gameplay is consistent with what is presented in the full game.
- Released
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October 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Evil Empire, Motion Twin
