Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Reviews Roundup: What Critics Are Saying

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is well reviewed: it holds an 84 Metascore on Metacritic’s PS5 listing, with 55 positive reviews, 4 mixed and none negative, and an 84 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic from 96 reviews, with 95% of critics recommending it. OpenCritic files it under its “Mighty” tier. The Konami game, developed by Evil Empire (best known for Dead Cells), launched October 15 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

The numbers have drifted since the embargo lifted. Early coverage put Metacritic at 86 and OpenCritic at 85, and both have settled a couple of points lower as more outlets filed.

The verdict so far

Metacritic lists no negative reviews, and the lowest scores in the sample below are 3 out of 5. Here is a sample of published scores from the outlets that matter most to readers.

Scores come from OpenCritic and a VICE roundup of Metacritic’s PS5 listings. Several outlets gave perfect scores, and Shacknews argues this could be the best Castlevania ever made.

What critics loved

Combat and exploration lead the praise. Game Informer’s Charles Harte calls the action “magnificent” and says Rose Belmont gets lighter on her feet as she gains abilities. He picks the Tarot card system as his favorite mechanic: you absorb the souls of targets into cards, and each one grants a spell that you can upgrade through challenges. His playthrough ran 16 hours at 92 percent completion.

Rose herself gets good notices. VICE’s summary notes that IGN counts the new protagonist among the game’s strengths, and Console Creatures calls her a strong heroine. RPG Fan goes furthest, calling it the best Metroidvania its reviewer has played.

The story is a direct follow-up to Castlevania III. Game Informer notes that the art style and character designs lean on the Netflix anime, and some voice actors from the show return.

The complaints

The split is about identity, not quality. IGN praises the action, map tools and movement but argues some of the series’ distinctive charm has been lost. Game8 says the game plays things fairly safe. One OpenCritic blurb says it “may not be wildly original” while still praising its execution, and a lower-scoring review says the core gameplay “hasn’t evolved alongside” the visuals in a genre now full of alternatives.

Smaller gripes vary by outlet. TrueGaming flags save points and scenes where heavy use of red makes enemies hard to read, and Gameliner mentions a lack of guidance. MonsterVine calls the music the weakest part, while Shacknews and Gameliner like it. Difficulty is a coin flip: some critics find the platforming punishing, and GAMINGbible wanted more bite.

Performance and platforms

Most of the Metacritic scores above come from PS5 listings, so check the version you plan to buy. Eurogamer’s Dom Peppiatt, who scored it 3/5, says the highs are strong but technical issues and awkward controls can lead to frustration. That is the main performance warning in the review set we read. Switch players should also read our Switch performance guide before buying, and PC players can check specs and Steam Deck status.

Should you play it?

If you have played a Castlevania since the Metroidvania era, the reviews suggest you’ll be happy: even the cooler critics call it fun, and 95% of OpenCritic’s critics recommend it. If you want the classic Castlevania feel with subweapons and holy water, read IGN’s and Eurogamer’s reservations first, because the complaint that it feels like a modern Metroidvania with a Castlevania skin runs through the middling scores.

If you loved Hollow Knight-style games and never touched Castlevania, the critics who call it a good entry point make it an easy pick. If you rely on a Switch, wait for the performance details above. Our earlier story on the first wave of reviews covers the embargo day, and the release time page has launch details.

Edited by Kerwin Stewart, Editor-in-Chief · How we report