Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse - Konami classic rises again from Paris sewers and Joan of Arc is a boss

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Evil Empire creatives explain how it is playing to today’s ‘metroidvanias’ and honouring the original’s legacy with much fresh slaying to be done</p><p></p><p>Since the last Castlevania game hit the shelves (2014’s<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/02/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dracula-sequel"> Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2</a>), Konami’s dormant series has unexpectedly spawned a hit genre. With an entire generation raised on “metroidvanias” – a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania – millions of players have only ever seen the games <em>inspired by </em>Konami’s seminal games. Now with Belmont’s Curse, launching in October, Castlevania is finally dashing back to console, where Konami hopes to reclaim its side-scroller throne.</p><p>Set 23 years after the events of 1989’s Castlevania 3 – the same setting as the hit Netflix show – Belmont’s Curse shakes off the series’ 3D ambitions and takes the Belmonts back to basics. Dispatching players to the demon-infested streets of 1499 Paris, you’re placed in the tattered boots of Trevor Belmont’s daughter, Rose. As a bishop pleads with the Belmonts to rid Paris of the ancient evil besetting the city, Rose heads into the sewers, longsword in hand, and her demon-slaying adventure begins.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/jul/17/castlevania-belmonts-curse-komani-classic-paris-joan-of-arc-is-a-boss">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.