This fall, Konami is showing off a new demo for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and Polygon got an early look at it ahead of the game’s release, which blends Metroid-style searching with the quick, punishing combat of Dead Cells. Rose Belmont takes the lead instead of her father Trevor. The game launches Oct. 15, 2026, across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.
Rose Takes the Lead
The adventure starts with Trevor Belmont riding a rowboat to Paris. The city’s streets are overrun by dark monsters that no one can seem to vanquish. Trevor and his companion suspect a trap, but they both live by the mantra that “It’s not a trap if I suspect a trap. It’s just a mystery to uncover.”
The two heroes part ways upon arrival. The bishop who invited them receives Trevor, while Rose Belmont takes her own course after accepting a gift of tarot cards left behind by her mother. Throughout the demo, players control Rose alone, even as the demo ends suddenly with Rose entering a restoration chamber.
The heroine’s motions are smooth and graceful, matching Alucard’s style in Symphony of the Night rather than the awkward manner of her famous father. Her blade cuts down skeletons with ease, while her magic attacks strike from afar with great force. She also keeps potions that restore part of her life meter whenever her red meter runs low.
Objectives and Level Up
From the very beginning, the game hands Rose a steady stream of objectives. One particular task requires her to strike 20 foes with her magic bursts, and finishing these tasks bolsters the power of her magic. She also gains experience points by defeating enemies, which she then spends to level up and strengthen her attributes.
Wandering through the passageways, players will find tomes tucked away here and there. Each tome bolsters stats on its own, granting several distinct routes for boosting Rose’s abilities. Once enough upgrades accumulate, she can hold her ground against foes far beyond her match.
The Fallen and Boss Patterns
As the demo progresses, players come up against the Fallen, a towering figure who resembles an agile Minotaur. He hurls a projectile across the screen, yet he does not merely wait for it to drift. Instead, he launches himself upward, grabs hold of a hook, and swings forward with additional weapons drawn, before dropping down from above and unleashing deadly shockwaves.
Surviving the fight depends on recognizing enemy attack patterns, since players cannot simply mash buttons and expect to win. The Fallen can take a great deal of punishment, which makes evasion and timing essential rather than brute force.
Secrets and Exploration
The demo reveals that the game holds delightful secrets within it. Players had to return along the same path several times just to reach higher ledges that were beyond their reach during the first passage through a chamber. Walls that could be destroyed hid restorative meat, while gates remained sealed until approached from another angle.
This growing map proves its worth. Players may fix as many as 50 markers at once, which lets them remember items seen from the wrong side of a barrier, a pit, or a bed of deadly spikes. The person controlling the game has truly made Paris their own.
Art Style and Atmosphere
The visual design holds up well throughout the demo. The dark, layered settings give a sense of depth, and the gloomy mood carries over without trouble. The score stayed ominous from start to finish, matching the scene’s unsettling tone at every turn.
The preview session Polygon held earlier this year confirmed what many had already suspected: the game brings together classic Metroid traits, such as corridors that only reluctantly reveal their secrets, with the 2018 action platformer Dead Cells.
Demo Length
The demo wraps up after roughly a half-hour for those with prior experience, ending at the exact moment Rose steps into a restoration chamber. Players are left alive with possibilities for their next few minutes of exploration.
What We Make of It
Belmont’s Curse as one of October”s finest action games make a strong case in the demo, pairing Metroid-style exploration with Dead Cells combat to deliver a rewarding loop of discovery and challenge.
Rose Belmont’s control stands out, with her fluid movements and versatile attacks making her a real pleasure to wield. The game gives players several paths for growth, through objectives, experience points, and tomes, while the secrets reward returning to finish everything.
The boss patterns demand attention. Learning the Fallen’s attack telegraphs is essential to surviving the fight, and that kind of design respects the player’s time.
A rare quality defines this demo’s abrupt ending is regrettable, but it leaves players wanting more. That’.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Belmont’s Curse | Dead Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Control Scheme | Rose Belmont | Player character |
| Combat Focus | Magic bursts and swords | Fast, punishing melee and guns |
| Exploration | Corridors with secrets | Open levels with checkpoints |
| Boss Design | Telegraphed attack patterns | Chaotic arena fights |
Release Schedule
| Event | Date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Demo shown | Thursday morning | Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC |
| Preview session | Earlier this year | Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC |
| Full game release | Oct. 15, 2026 | Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC |
The Verdict
Belmont’s Curse looks like a stunning Metroidvania, and the demo proves it. The demo makes clear that the game understands both the Metroidvania genre and the action platformer.
Those with a fondness for Symphony of the Night and Dead Cells will discover much to their liking in this game. The demo’s abrupt conclusion is a source of irritation, though it leaves players desiring more.
Belmont’s Curse is shaping up to be the month’s finest action game. It deserves a spot on your wish list.
Source material: “Metroid Meets Dead Cells In October's Coolest New Action Game,” Polygon.
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