Konami has released a free playable demo for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, the latest entry in the legendary Castlevania series. The demo is available on PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch across their respective digital storefronts.
According to the source, Castlevania has been one of the longest-running and most popular video game franchises since Konami’s 1986 NES release. The series typically follows the vampire-killing Belmont family as they confront Count Dracula and his minions within a gothic-horror setting. Early games featured challenging 2D action-adventure gameplay with platforming and tough enemies, eventually helping define the metroidvania genre. While Castlevania has explored 3D iterations over the years, including 2010’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Belmont’s Curse returns to a more classic-style approach.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is being co-developed by Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells’ downloadable content and The Rogue Prince of Persia. The game is set in 1499 Paris, where the city is engulfed in flames and monstrous creatures emerge from the shadows. According to the game’s synopsis, Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip called the Vampire Killer, they hunt down beasts emerging from a looming castle. Rose becomes swept up in a dark conspiracy beneath the surface, and the story explores whether she can succeed in saving Paris from devastation.
Demo progress will carry over to the full game, though save data must remain on the same platform and can only be transferred to the full version on that platform. According to a hands-on preview from GAMINGbible’s Sam Cawley, while the modern art style initially seemed less appealing compared to the classic pixel art of earlier games, the game’s visuals impressed upon extended play, with the background vistas particularly standing out.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is scheduled to launch on October 15, 2026.
Key facts
- Free demo available now on PS5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch
- Game is co-developed by Evil Empire and Konami
- Demo progress carries over to the full game (same platform required)
- Set in 1499 Paris with protagonist Rose Belmont and her father Trevor
- Full release date: October 15, 2026