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The best next game after Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse depends on which part you want to keep: choose Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the definitive interconnected castle, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for the closest modern equivalent, Hollow Knight or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for movement-led exploration, and Dead Cells with its Return to Castlevania expansion for Evil Empire’s faster, replayable combat. For old-school whip action, Super Castlevania IV is the most natural classic, while Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse supplies Trevor Belmont’s story context.
There is no single universal ranking here. Belmont’s Curse is a persistent-map Metroidvania, not a roguelite, so the right substitute depends on whether you value castle atmosphere, equipment builds, stage-based challenge, traversal, or short runs.
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What is Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and what should you play next?
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is Konami’s 2D revival released on 15 October 2026. Evil Empire developed it, with Motion Twin—the studio associated with Dead Cells—serving in an advisory or associated role. You play Rose Belmont, successor to Trevor Belmont, in a burning Paris in 1499 before entering Dracula’s castle.
Rose’s Vampire Killer is both a weapon and a traversal tool. You can swing across gaps, reach new rooms and pounce on enemies rather than treating the whip as a simple side-scrolling attack. The game adds seven weapon categories, Relics and Arcana; defeated bosses become tarot cards that grant spells or special actions. The map is persistent and interconnected. Konami communications executive Tommy Williams described “vast, elaborately crafted maps” and stressed: “It is not a roguelike or roguelite game.”
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That combination explains the recommendations below. Polygon placed Belmont’s Curse second in its eight-game Castlevania ranking, behind only Symphony of the Night. GameRant highlighted movement, combat and a tarot system that takes ideas from Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Hades and Disco Elysium. The game is also heavily inspired by the Netflix animated series, while drawing its family history from the older games.
Use the routes below rather than treating every Metroidvania as interchangeable.
| If you want… | Start with… | Why it fits | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| The closest modern castle RPG | Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | Interconnected castle, equipment, abilities and RPG progression | More gear and systems; no Rose or official Castlevania continuity |
| The defining classic castle | Symphony of the Night | Exploration, secrets, equipment and the inverted-castle structure | Older controls and availability can be awkward |
| Classic whip stages | Super Castlevania IV | Eight-direction whip, grappling and defensive uses | Stage-based rather than one persistent map |
| Trevor’s story and branching stages | Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse | Multiple heroes and routes; direct historical context | NES-era difficulty is deliberately severe |
| Exploration and movement | Hollow Knight or Silksong | Gated routes, map discovery and high-skill combat | Insect kingdoms and precision melee replace vampire fiction |
| Whip-like agility and puzzles | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Grappling, time powers, platforming and backtracking tools | Persian mythology and puzzle-solving dominate |
| Evil Empire’s action style | Dead Cells plus Return to Castlevania | Fast combat and an official Castlevania tribute | Roguelite runs, not a persistent castle |
Is Symphony of the Night still the best classic alternative?
Yes, if you want Belmont’s Curse’s castle exploration and RPG side in its purest form. Released on 2 October 1997, Symphony of the Night remains the reference point for the interconnected-castle style. Polygon’s ranking put it first and described it as the game that fused Metroid-style exploration with gothic Castlevania adventuring.
You control Alucard, who enters Dracula’s castle after losing his strongest equipment. Exploration gradually restores his abilities and reveals shortcuts, hidden rooms and equipment upgrades. The famous inverted-castle reveal turns the map into a second, transformed challenge rather than a simple victory lap. Weapons, armor, spells and familiars let you tailor the character more extensively than the relatively focused Belmont arsenal.
DualShockers, citing How Long To Beat, lists about nine hours for a standard run; that is a guide figure, not a guarantee, and completionist play takes longer. The practical obstacle is access: ports have appeared across PlayStation systems, PSP, Vita, Xbox 360 and other releases, but availability varies by storefront and region. If you cannot obtain it easily, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the more convenient modern stand-in.
Should I play Castlevania III or Super Castlevania IV first?
Pick Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse for story context and branching NES stages; pick Super Castlevania IV for the closest classic whip feel. Both are stage-based games, so neither reproduces the free-roaming map of Belmont’s Curse.
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Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Released on 22 December 1989, Castlevania III stars Trevor Belmont and offers multiple heroes with distinct play styles and branching routes. Trevor’s place in the family line makes it the useful narrative companion to Rose’s adventure. The game also supplies much of the lore that the animated series later expanded.
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Its warning label is difficulty. Enemy patterns, knockback and stage layouts can be punishing by modern standards; GameTyrant called the challenge “truly devious.” Choose it when you want historical context and a demanding NES design, not a relaxed tour of Dracula’s castle.
Super Castlevania IV
Released on 31 October 1991, Super Castlevania IV is the most direct mechanical bridge to Rose’s whip. Simon can aim in eight directions, swing from fixed points, use the whip as a shield and manipulate it with unusual freedom. Mode 7 effects create rotating rooms and other set pieces without abandoning straightforward stage progression.
GameTyrant considers it the classic entry that feels most modern and most similar to Belmont’s Curse. If your favorite Rose mechanic is swinging into a room and immediately attacking, start here.
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Where can I play the classic Castlevania games together?
The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is the simplest starting point for the NES and 16-bit era. It is available on Switch, PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One, and is designed for sampling several historical entries without tracking down original hardware. Availability of physical editions changes; one Limited Run PlayStation 4 release was advertised with eight games, a full-color manual and a Castlevania history ebook.
For the Game Boy Advance generation, the Castlevania Advance Collection includes Aria of Sorrow, Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance. The collection is available on Switch, PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One. For Nintendo DS-era exploration, the Castlevania Dominus Collection covers Order of Ecclesia, Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin; physical stock and prices vary by region.
Is Aria of Sorrow a good follow-up to Belmont’s Curse?
Yes, especially if you like turning defeated enemies into new abilities. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow launched on 6 May 2003 and ranks among the strongest later 2D entries. Soma Cruz absorbs monster essence through the Tactical Soul system, allowing enemies to provide attacks, movement tools and passive effects.
That makes it a natural companion to Belmont’s Curse’s boss-derived Arcana and tarot ideas. The map is more compact than Symphony of the Night’s, but experimentation is constant: changing souls can alter how you approach rooms and bosses. Use the Advance Collection if you want a straightforward, officially packaged route.
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What is the closest modern game to Belmont’s Curse?
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the closest overall modern alternative. ArtPlay, co-founded by longtime Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi, built it around the same castle-exploration and equipment-driven formula. You explore a demon-filled castle as Miriam, collect weapons and armor, uncover hidden rooms and gain powers from enemies through the shard system.
Game Informer described it as potentially “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 2,” while The Outerhaven wrote that it is “for all intents and purposes, Castlevania.” Those comparisons are about structure and design lineage, not official continuity. The game adds more build complexity than Belmont’s Curse: weapon types, shards, farming, cooking, town bounties and hidden content all support different play styles. A whip is among the available weapons, although movement does not revolve around Rose’s same grappling rhythm.
Bloodstained is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC; mobile versions have also been listed. Performance and control differences can depend on platform, so check the current store listing before buying. Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement has been revealed as a follow-up in the same universe, but it is still in development and is not a playable substitute.
Other modern castle and gothic choices
- Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth: A compact, brighter fantasy with movement cadence, spell swapping, bosses and map flow reminiscent of Symphony of the Night. It is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC.
- Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights: Spirit summons replace traditional weapon collecting, creating a melancholy gothic adventure. DualShockers cites about 13 hours through How Long To Beat. It is a strong choice when you want somber atmosphere and companion-based combat.
- Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2: These use grim religious imagery, methodical combat and heavier punishment. Blasphemous 2 released on 24 August 2023; DualShockers cites about 16 hours. Weapons also open navigation routes, but the Soulslike pressure is greater than in Belmont’s Curse.
- The Last Faith: A pixel-art gothic Soulslike released on 15 November 2023. DualShockers cites roughly 17 hours and emphasizes its brutality. Choose it for oppressive mood and demanding fights rather than a forgiving adventure.
- Well Dweller: A shorter dark-fairytale Metroidvania featuring the bird Glimmer and collectible Trinkets. GameTyrant estimates about 10 hours to finish and a few more for full completion, making it useful if enormous maps or long boss gauntlets are a concern.
Are Hollow Knight and Silksong good if I care more about exploration?
They are among the best choices when movement, map discovery and route-gating matter more than vampire imagery. Hollow Knight builds its world around an insect kingdom, purchased maps and abilities that gradually open previously unreachable areas. Its melee attacks and spells are focused rather than equipment-heavy, and the optional challenges can push far beyond the main route.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong, released on 4 September 2025, shifts the focus to Hornet’s mobility and tools. GAMINGBIBLE compared its emphasis on movement and combat with Rose’s grappling whip. It carries an Everyone 10+ rating for fantasy violence and mild blood, compared with the Teen rating for Belmont’s Curse. Choose Silksong when you want a newer traversal-first adventure and do not need a castle or Belmont lineage.
Is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown closer to Belmont’s Curse than Hollow Knight?
Choose The Lost Crown if you want acrobatics, puzzles and a clear set of movement upgrades. Sargon explores Mount Qaf using time-manipulation powers, a grappling tool and precision platforming. The game includes a useful screenshot-pin feature: you can attach an image to a map location to remember a blocked path or unexplained mechanism.
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Its areas are distinguished by music and visual identity, and the traversal systems often matter as much as combat. GAMINGBIBLE called it, depending on the reader, a definitive Metroidvania and said it could stand alongside Belmont’s Curse. The setting is Persian myth rather than vampire gothic, so it is a mechanical match more than an atmospheric one. It is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series, Switch and PC.
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Play Dead Cells with the Return to Castlevania DLC, but do not expect a persistent castle map. Evil Empire worked on Dead Cells expansions, developed the Castlevania tribute expansion and then made Belmont’s Curse. That shared studio lineage explains the speed, responsive attacks and willingness to combine familiar gothic ideas with modern systems.
Dead Cells is a roguelite: each run rebuilds the route, weapons and upgrades, and death sends you back to a new attempt. The Return to Castlevania content adds Dracula’s Castle pathways, Castlevania enemies and bosses, including Death, plus a large selection of themed weapons and skills. An edition listing described 17 levels, five bosses, about 150 weapons and skills, and four earlier DLC packs, though exact bundle contents depend on platform and edition.
Buy this route when Rose’s speed and combat feel were your favorite parts, or when you want short, replayable sessions. Do not buy it expecting the same map persistence, backtracking or long-form castle archaeology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which alternatives are best for a specific mood or difficulty?
| Your priority | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Gothic castle and equipment | Bloodstained | Large build system, secrets and RPG progression |
| Official classic history | Symphony, Aria | Different eras of interconnected exploration |
| NES punishment | Castlevania III, Infernax | Branching routes, hidden secrets and demanding stages |
| Retro stage action without Konami | Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 | Multiple characters and NES-style levels |
| Precision parries and duels | Nine Sols | Deflection timing, steep learning curve and a science-fantasy setting |
| Somber, brutal gothic fantasy | Blasphemous 2 or The Last Faith | Soulslike pressure and heavier boss punishment |
| Warm, acrobatic presentation | Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Fluid movement and emotional storytelling rather than horror |
| Classic Metroid-style exploration | Metroid Dread | Excellent route-gating and pursuit sequences, but a science-fiction mood |
For a broader Metroidvania survey, Animal Well, Guacamelee! 2, Axiom Verge, SteamWorld Dig 2, Cave Story and Yoku’s Island Express are worthwhile, but they are weaker matches for Castlevania’s gothic identity. Death’s Door offers varied combat and traversal in a different perspective, while Mina the Hollower aims for retro adventure and classic difficulty.
What is the best order for a new player?
- Start with Symphony of the Night if you can access it comfortably. It establishes the castle-exploration template behind Belmont’s Curse.
- Move to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for a current, equipment-heavy interpretation with modern conveniences.
- Play Super Castlevania IV through the Anniversary Collection to understand the classic whip and grapple vocabulary.
- Try Aria of Sorrow if the tarot and Arcana systems made you want more enemy-derived abilities.
- Choose Hollow Knight, Silksong or The Lost Crown when movement and discovering blocked routes are more important than Castlevania continuity.
- Finish with Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania for fast runs and Evil Empire’s earlier take on the franchise, remembering that its roguelite structure is intentionally different.
What should I know about buying physical editions?
Physical availability is regional and volatile, so treat listing prices as snapshots rather than current recommendations. A Nintendo Switch listing for Belmont’s Curse showed $39.99, while listings for the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition showed $28.40 on Switch and $24.75 on PS5. A Switch listing for the Dominus Collection showed $44.97. These figures can change with stock, seller and region.
Belmont’s Curse also received digital and physical Midnight Editions with alternate Rose costumes, a digital sound and art gallery and an in-game relic. Its announced platforms are PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S and Steam; Nintendo lists Switch 2 compatibility consistent with the Switch version. A pre-release demo allowed progress to carry over only on the same platform and account when the retained save and updated full game met the stated conditions.
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How does the animated series connect to these recommendations?
Belmont’s Curse is set after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse and is heavily inspired by the Netflix animated series, according to GameRant. That makes Castlevania III the useful game-history companion: it introduces Trevor, branching allies and the era of the Belmont family that the show reinterprets. The series is not required to understand Rose’s 1499 story, but it explains why Trevor and the wider Belmont legacy matter.
Bottom line: which game should you choose?
Choose Symphony of the Night for the essential castle, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for the closest modern replacement, and Super Castlevania IV for the most similar classic whip action. Pick Hollow Knight, Silksong or The Lost Crown when traversal is your priority; choose Blasphemous 2 for darker, harder fantasy; and choose Dead Cells with Return to Castlevania only when you are happy to trade a persistent map for replayable runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Belmont’s Curse have a New Game Plus mode?
The supplied release information confirms its map, weapons, Relics, Arcana and tarot systems, but does not establish a New Game Plus mode. Check the current in-game menus and patch notes for platform-specific additions rather than assuming one exists.
Can I play Belmont’s Curse without knowing Castlevania lore?
Yes. Rose’s 1499 Paris adventure is designed as a playable action game on its own. Knowing Trevor’s role in Castlevania III and the animated series adds context to the Belmont family, but it is not required to follow the campaign.
Is Belmont’s Curse suitable for children?
The game carries an ESRB Teen rating for Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes and Violence. That is a content classification, not a difficulty rating; parents should review the current regional rating details before purchase.
Which recommendation has the least backtracking?
A compact title such as Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth or Well Dweller generally asks for less map commitment than Symphony, Bloodstained or Hollow Knight. Dead Cells avoids conventional backtracking through its run-based structure, but replaces it with repeated randomized attempts.
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