What the First Hands-On Previews Reveal About Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

The first wave of hands-on previews for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, published on July 17, 2026, paint a remarkably positive picture. Outlets including The Guardian, Kotaku, Nintendo Life, and MeriStation agree that the game — developed by Evil Empire in partnership with Konami and Dead Cells creator Motion Twin — feels like the long-awaited return to form for 2D Castlevania. Nintendo Life's round-up went so far as to quote one outlet saying, "The game f*ing rules"** . Here is what the previews, fact-checked across multiple sources, reveal.

Setting & Story: Rose Belmont Takes the Lead in 1499 Paris

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is set in 1499 Paris, 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse . Paris is in flames, overrun by demonic creatures on the brink of Dracula's resurrection .

Players control Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades . Trevor is present in the story, but Rose is the primary playable character, tasked with exploring the city while Trevor investigates the clergy . The narrative is a direct, canonical sequel to Castlevania III and Curse of Darkness, not a spin-off .

Gameplay: 'Dead Cells Meets Castlevania'

The developer pedigree is a major story. The game is developed by Evil Empire (known for Dead Cells post-launch content) in partnership with Konami, with involvement from Motion Twin (creators of Dead Cells) and Konami's Tsutomu Kouno .

Previews consistently praise the fluid, fast-paced combat that blends Castlevania's whip-based action with the snappy responsiveness of Dead Cells . The PlayStation Blog notes Rose can chain together dashes, slide kicks, and whip combos with "enhanced freedom and speed" compared to classic entries . It is a full 2D action-exploration (Metroidvania) title. Early demos — roughly 3 hours long — show interconnected zones through Paris streets, sewers, and a demonic castle .

One confirmed boss is Joan of Arc, presented as a corrupted figure . Previews also highlight a Tarot card system that modifies Rose's abilities .

Critical Reception: 'A Potential Payoff'

Multiple critics frame Belmont's Curse as the long-awaited return to form for 2D Castlevania after more than a decade without a mainline 2D entry (the last console 2D entry being Order of Ecclesia in 2008) . The Guardian calls it Konami's bid to "reclaim its side-scroller throne" . The game is priced at a reduced €29.99 / ~$30, which several previewers note as a factor that tempers expectations while still promising substantial content .

Nintendo Switch Day-and-Date Confirmed

Earlier uncertainty existed about whether the Switch version would launch simultaneously with other platforms. Konami confirmed during preview week that the Switch version — including both original Switch and Switch 2 — will arrive day-and-date on October 15, 2026 alongside PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC . The official Konami website and Konami EU press releases list October 15 for all platforms . Steam lists an October 14 release, likely a midnight unlock .

Release Details at a Glance

Detail	Info
Release date	October 15, 2026 (October 14 on Steam)
Platforms	PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch (original & Switch 2)
Developer	Evil Empire, in partnership with Konami & Motion Twin
Price	~$29.99 / €29.99
Physical edition	A "Midnight Edition" with extras is available for pre-order

Bottom line: The first hands-on previews are emphatically positive, praising the fluid "Dead Cells meets Castlevania" gameplay, the strong Parisian atmosphere, and Rose Belmont as a compelling new protagonist. Critics uniformly frame it as the potential payoff fans have waited over a decade for, and the day-and-date Switch launch is now officially confirmed.