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Castlevania turns 40 in 2026, and Konami has announced a new 2D exploration-action game, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. It is set in 1499 Paris, stars Rose Belmont—the daughter of Trevor Belmont—and is scheduled for October 15, 2026. Konami lists PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, and Nintendo Switch as platforms.
What is Castlevania?
Castlevania is Konami’s action-adventure series about vampire hunters, especially the Belmont clan, and their struggle against Dracula. Side-scrolling platform action, challenging difficulty, and gothic atmosphere are among the franchise’s recognizable traits, though individual games vary in mechanics and story. Konami dates the series’ debut to 1986 and marks its 40th anniversary in September 2026; that anniversary framing does not mean every regional version launched on the same day. Konami’s anniversary announcement provides the milestone and series overview.
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What is Belmont’s Curse about?
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse takes place in Paris in 1499, 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Its protagonist, Rose Belmont, is identified by Konami as Trevor Belmont’s daughter. She explores the city and Dracula’s castle, wielding the sacred Vampire Killer whip as well as other weapons and abilities. These are details from the announcement, not a complete account of the plot.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The whip is for movement as well as combat
Konami says players can use the whip to swing through areas, reach hidden rooms and access otherwise unreachable places, as well as attack from different positions. The announced feature set also includes exploration, secrets, puzzles, traps, a new cast, and expanded locations. Konami’s PlayStation Blog announcement describes colorful art direction with a gothic look and gives examples of weapons. These descriptions are previews, not hands-on assessments of the finished game.
#1 Best Overall
- LIMITED EDITION: Official Limited Run Games release #251 of the Castlevania Dominus Collection featuring Order of Ecclesia cover art for Nintendo Switch
- GAME FORMAT: Physical DVD-ROM release, not a digital download, packaged in standard Nintendo Switch game case
- CONTENT: Action-packed collection of classic Castlevania games, rated T for Teen by ESRB
- PACKAGING DIMENSIONS: Comes in standard Switch case measuring 6 inches high, 3 inches wide, and 2 inches deep
- REGION AND LANGUAGE: US release with English language support, compatible with Nintendo Switch systems
When does Belmont’s Curse come out, and what platforms is it on?
Konami lists October 15, 2026 as the release date and names PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, and Nintendo Switch. The date and platform list come from Konami’s anniversary announcement. Store availability and regional terms can change, so check the relevant local listing for current purchasing or pre-order details.
What is included in the Midnight Edition?
Konami’s June pre-order notice describes a digital Midnight Edition containing the main game, a digital sound and art gallery with 71 tracks, and three in-game items. The same notice names an Alucard Style Costume as an early-purchase or pre-order bonus. Availability and terms should be confirmed for the buyer’s region and store. Konami’s anniversary page has the newer release and platform information; the June pre-order notice contains the edition details.
Rank #2
- Castlevania Dominus Collection is on a region-free physical disc for the PlayStation 5.
- Genre: Arcade, Platformer, Role-playing
- # of Players: 1 Player
- Supported Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
- Three incredible action adventure games from the Castlevania series have finally returned, for the first time!
Do you need to play Castlevania III first?
The announced setting follows Castlevania III by 23 years, and Rose is Trevor’s daughter, so familiarity with that game may add context. Konami has not said that prior knowledge is required. If you are new to the series, treat the connection as background rather than a confirmed barrier to understanding the new story.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhere can you start with older Castlevania games?
If the anniversary has you curious about the back catalog, choose based on which era or platform you want to explore rather than expecting one definitive starting point. Konami’s official Castlevania portal lists collections including Anniversary, Advance, Dominus, and Requiem. It is a useful catalog overview, but it does not rank the collections or establish which one is best for every newcomer.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 17 Levels - Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
- 5 Bosses - Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
- 150 or so weapons and skills - Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
- Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
- Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
Rank #4
- Classics that defined the Castlevania series.
- Includes the "History of Castlevania - Book of the Crescent Moon" ebook.
- This includes eight classic Castlevania games preserved on one disc with a full-color manual.
- The Castlevania Anniversary Collection on physical disc for the PlayStation 4. Also works on PlayStation 5. Region-free.
Rank #3
- COLLECTION CONTENTS: Features multiple classic Castlevania titles in one comprehensive Nintendo Switch collection from Konami
- LIMITED EDITION: Special Limited Run physical release for Nintendo Switch collectors and series enthusiasts
- GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE: Action-packed side-scrolling adventure featuring vampire hunting, gothic environments, and classic Castlevania combat
- RATING DETAILS: Teen-rated game suitable for players 13 and older, containing fantasy violence and mild themes
- PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY: Exclusively designed and optimized for the Nintendo Switch gaming system
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