What to look for in a game like Belmont's Curse
Belmont's Curse is a 2D exploration game with RPG elements, a large interconnected map and abilities that open new routes. Its whip doubles as a traversal tool, so movement and combat are closely linked. Reviewers also highlighted demanding platforming, parry timing and tough bosses.
The games below each match at least two of those traits. Some lean into fast combat, others into exploration or the gothic Castlevania atmosphere. Pick the one that matches the part of Belmont's Curse you enjoyed most.
| Game | Release | Closest shared trait |
|---|---|---|
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | 2024 | Acrobatic combat and parries |
| Metroid Dread | 2021 | Tense exploration and bosses |
| Dead Cells | 2018 | Same developer's combat feel |
| Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | 2019 | Classic gothic Igavania design |
| Castlevania Dominus Collection | 2024 | DS-era Castlevania |
| Castlevania Advance Collection | 2021 | Game Boy Advance Castlevania |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | 2025 | Difficult, precise exploration |
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ubisoft Montpellier's The Lost Crown, released in January 2024, is the closest match for Belmont's Curse's combat. Its hero Sargon chains fast attacks, parries and air dashes, and its map rewards backtracking with new time powers. Players who liked Rose's parry-and-swing rhythm will feel at home quickly.
The Lost Crown is also a useful comparison for difficulty. Like Belmont's Curse, it puts tough platforming challenges in optional areas and offers accessibility options for players who want help. It is a longer game, so treat it as a follow-up rather than a quick palate cleanser.
The two games are also linked behind the scenes. Evil Empire, the lead studio on Belmont's Curse, made The Rogue Prince of Persia, a separate run-based spin-off. That shared history with the Prince of Persia name is one reason the two games keep showing up together in searches.
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread, released on Nintendo Switch in 2021, comes from MercurySteam, the studio behind Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. It is the purest exploration match on this list, with a dense map, abilities that unlock shortcuts and memorable boss fights. Its tension comes from the EMMI robots that hunt Samus through certain zones.
Dread is a strong pick on Switch, where Belmont's Curse also launched. It guides you more tightly than a classic Castlevania, but its movement is precise and fast. If the boss fights were your favorite part of Belmont's Curse, Dread's are among the best in the genre.
The comparison also works in reverse. Metroid Dread's map markers and pinning tools set a standard that modern Metroidvanias are judged against, and IGN singled out Belmont's Curse's convenient map tracking tools in its review. Players who rely on map notes will appreciate both games.
Dead Cells and The Rogue Prince of Persia
Dead Cells is the game that made Belmont's Curse possible. Motion Twin created it and Evil Empire continued its development, including the 2023 Return to Castlevania expansion that brought Richter, Alucard and Dracula's castle into the game. That collaboration led directly to Konami choosing the two studios for Belmont's Curse.
Dead Cells is a roguelite, so each run resets the map, which is a big difference from Belmont's Curse. Konami confirmed that the new game does not use that progression model. Evil Empire's The Rogue Prince of Persia uses a similar run-based structure, so play either one for the combat feel rather than for exploration.
Dead Cells is still worth playing for anyone who enjoyed Belmont's Curse's weapon variety. Its huge arsenal and quick, readable enemy attacks show where the new game's combat instincts come from. The Return to Castlevania expansion is the obvious place to start if you want both worlds at once.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night, led by former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi. It released in 2019 and follows Miriam through a demon-filled castle with an enormous range of weapons, shards and crafting. Nintendo World Report's review of Belmont's Curse cites it as a modern genre standout.
Choose Bloodstained if you want more of the classic Castlevania structure and less demanding platforming. It is gentler than Belmont's Curse and encourages grinding for gear. Its long list of secrets and optional bosses makes it a good choice for completionists.
Bloodstained also shows how much Belmont's Curse changes the formula. Miriam's shards behave like the classic soul system from Aria of Sorrow, while Rose's tarot cards and Arcana come from defeated bosses. If you like collecting enemy abilities, Bloodstained offers far more of them to experiment with.
The Castlevania collections
If Belmont's Curse makes you curious about the series, two collections bring classic entries to modern consoles. The Castlevania Advance Collection, released in 2021, includes Circle of the Moon and Aria of Sorrow, the two highest-rated entries in OpenCritic's comparison. The Castlevania Dominus Collection, released in 2024, adds the Nintendo DS trilogy, including Dawn of Sorrow.
These games are shorter and simpler than Belmont's Curse, but they define the exploration style it builds on. Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow are the usual starting points for new players. Both collections also add modern conveniences such as save states and rewind.
Playing them after Belmont's Curse also highlights how much has changed. The handheld games use simpler combat and far fewer movement options, and they rarely ask for precise parries. Their maps, secrets and gothic boss designs, however, are clearly the template Evil Empire studied.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong, released by Team Cherry in September 2025, is the hardest game on this list. Its heroine Hornet is faster and more acrobatic than the original Knight, and its huge map hides dozens of optional bosses. Nintendo World Report names it alongside Bloodstained as a modern genre standout.
Silksong suits players who found Belmont's Curse's tough opening satisfying rather than frustrating. Its difficulty is steeper and more consistent, with no easier mode to fall back on. Expect a much longer playthrough than the roughly 16 hours reviewers reported for Belmont's Curse.
Which game should you play next?
For combat, start with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. For exploration and boss fights, play Metroid Dread, and for the classic gothic feel, choose Bloodstained or one of the Castlevania collections. Silksong is the right choice only if you want an even harder challenge.
Platform matters too. Metroid Dread is exclusive to Nintendo Switch, while The Lost Crown, Dead Cells, Bloodstained, Silksong and both Castlevania collections are available on several systems. Check the store on your own console or PC before deciding, since prices and editions vary.
If you have not finished Belmont's Curse yet, there is still plenty to do before moving on. The trophy list asks for three endings and a run under four hours, and full completion takes reviewers around 16 hours. Our 100% guide and how long to beat page help you plan what is left.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Belmont's Curse like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
- Yes, in combat. Both rely on fast attacks, parries and acrobatic movement inside an interconnected 2D map.
- Is Belmont's Curse a roguelike like Dead Cells?
- No. Konami confirmed it does not use Dead Cells' roguelike progression, although Evil Empire and Motion Twin worked on both games.
- What is the closest classic Castlevania?
- Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow, available in the Advance and Dominus collections, are the closest classic entries in structure.
Sources and research date
This article uses the material retained in the October 13, 2026 research. Official descriptions, developer statements, and hands-on observations are identified in the section references. Details are scoped to those sources and are not a claim of independently completed retail testing.
- Wikipedia: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse ↗
- Wikipedia: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown ↗
- Wikipedia: Metroid Dread ↗
- Wikipedia: Dead Cells ↗
- Wikipedia: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night ↗
- Wikipedia: Castlevania Advance Collection ↗
- Wikipedia: Castlevania Dominus Collection ↗
- Wikipedia: Hollow Knight: Silksong ↗
- Nintendo World Report Switch review ↗
- OpenCritic: highest rated in the series since 2005 ↗
- PowerPyx trophy guide ↗
- TheGamer review round-up ↗
ReleaseReviews & Metacritic
StoryStory & Belmont Family
Guides100 Percent Guide
GuidesHow Long To Beat