A new PlayStation State of Play is upon us, blessing us with plenty of trailers and big announcements – one of which is none other than Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the first big 2D title in the beloved 40-year-old series in a long time.
Just in case you missed it, there is indeed a new Castlevania game underway – and it looks stunning. Set in medieval Paris, it follows Trevor Belmont's successor Richter (yes, fans of the animated Netflix series are eating especially good) in the city under attack by monstrous creatures emerging from the shadows. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, Richter will take the bloodthirsty beasts on.
Not only is the nostalgia-inducing 2D art grabbing my attention, though, but the fact that the game is being developed by Konami, Evil Empire, and Motion Twin is. For anyone unaware, Motion Twin is the talented studio behind indie gem Dead Cells, while Evil Empire helped design the 2018 roguelike's Return to Castlevania DLC, as well as The Rogue Prince of Persia.
As per Sony's new blog post on Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the upcoming game isn't just similar to its beloved predecessors thanks to its aesthetic – it'll also play like them, and remain "true to the roots of the series" with colorful characters to meet, formidable foes to face, secrets to uncover, and a plethora of mysteries to unearth. It's perfect for longtime fans, basically... but also newcomers.
Considering the connection to Castlevania: Nocturne, I'm certain that there will be plenty of fresh faces exploring the games come the release of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. I, for one, am thrilled at the potential resurrection of the decades-old series – especially seeing as it's not 3D this time (*ahem* I'm looking at you, Lords of Shadow). I'm sure it could work one day, but...
For now, I'll just wait for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, as it's set to release this year – although there's no solid launch date aside from 2026 just yet.
Looking for something else to wishlist? Be sure to browse our roundup of the best new games coming this year and beyond for even more to anticipate.
