Where the Metacritic and OpenCritic scores stand
The headline figure is an 86 Metacritic score, reported by several outlets on October 13 after the review embargo lifted. The PlayStation 5 version carries most of the published reviews, so it drives the number most people see first. Wikipedia's reception summary lists separate platform scores, with the Xbox Series X|S page slightly higher and the PC page slightly lower.
| Aggregator | Platform | Score (Oct 13, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | PlayStation 5 | 86 |
| Metacritic | Xbox Series X|S | 88 |
| Metacritic | PC | 85 |
| OpenCritic | All platforms | 85–86 Top Critic Average, 97% recommend |
OpenCritic's own news post quotes an 86, while its game box showed 85 at the time TheGamer's roundup was written. That small gap is normal on launch week, when reviews keep arriving and averages move by a point or two. Treat every figure here as a snapshot from October 13 rather than a final score.
How it ranks against classic Castlevania games
OpenCritic calls Belmont's Curse the highest-rated Castlevania since Dawn of Sorrow in 2005. At 86 it sits fifth among the traditional 2D entries, behind four handheld and PlayStation classics. That is a strong result for a series that reviewed well for most of its history.
| Game | Year | Score cited by OpenCritic |
|---|---|---|
| Circle of the Moon | 2001 | 91 |
| Aria of Sorrow | 2003 | 91 |
| Symphony of the Night | 1997 | 89 |
| Dawn of Sorrow | 2005 | 89 |
| Belmont's Curse | 2026 | 86 |
The context matters because Belmont's Curse is the first new mainline Castlevania in about twelve years. Fans were also unsure about Evil Empire, the Dead Cells team, leading development instead of a Konami studio. ComicBook's review addresses that worry directly and concludes that the developers clearly treasure the franchise.
The perfect scores and what earned them
Shacknews, PlayStation Universe, Hey Poor Player and Saudi Gamer all awarded 100 on the Metacritic PS5 listing. Shacknews went as far as suggesting it could be the best Castlevania ever, and it singled out the music. Hey Poor Player praised responsive controls, demanding platforming and the way tarot cards and Relics change your build.
RPGFan scored it 97 and called it the best Metroidvania its reviewer had played. Game Informer gave it 9.25 out of 10 with a Must Play badge, praising combat it called magnificent and boss fights against Dracula's minions. Its reviewer named the tarot-card investigations as the best part, especially the late hunts for the final cards.
TheGamer and ComicBook both landed on 4.5 out of 5. TheGamer highlighted an engaging story, stellar exploration and a near-perfect blend of new and old ideas. Game Informer also credited the Works of Mercy challenges for pushing players to try spells they would otherwise ignore.
The more measured reviews
IGN and GamesRadar+ both scored it 8 out of 10, or 4 out of 5. IGN liked the map tracking tools, the combat, the new hero and movement tech that tests your reflexes. It also felt that some of the series' charm was lost along the way.
Game8 gave it 84 and argued that the design plays things fairly safe. RPG Site scored it 8 out of 10, praising the moody soundtrack, the visuals and late-game traversal through areas that were previously out of reach. Its reviewer disliked the parry-heavy design and felt the difficulty curve ran backwards, with a brutal start and an endgame that became far too easy.
The spread between a 100 and an 80 is mostly about taste rather than technical problems. Reviewers who loved demanding platforming and parry timing scored it highest, while those expecting a gentler, more exploratory Symphony of the Night rhythm marked it down. If you enjoyed the demo's first boss, the higher scores are the better guide to how you will feel about the full game.
The criticism that keeps coming up
Even positive reviews return to a handful of the same problems. None of them is a deal-breaker for most critics, but they are worth knowing before you buy. The list below collects the issues named by more than one outlet or described in detail.
- Save rooms and fast-travel mirrors are spaced too far apart, according to Nintendo World Report and TrueGaming.
- Respawns after trap hits can drop you on platform edges or among enemies.
- Enemies adjust their aim to your jumps and dodges, which RPG Site found frustrating early on.
- The difficulty curve is uneven, and GAMINGbible felt the game could have more bite overall.
- Heavy use of red in some scenes makes enemies and details harder to read.
- Gameliner wanted more guidance on where to go next.
Several of these complaints point at the same design choice: the game asks you to learn routes and enemy patterns instead of protecting you with frequent checkpoints. Game Informer actually describes checkpoints as forgiving, which shows how differently reviewers experienced the same systems. If you want help with the opening, our beginner guide covers the systems the early areas test.
What reviews say about the Switch version
Nintendo World Report reviewed the Switch release and gave it 7.5 out of 10. It praised the boss fights, the swinging and grappling, and the charm of Rose's conversations with the souls she captures. It also called exploration cumbersome because of the save-room spacing and respawn placement.
On performance, the reviewer wrote that Switch 2 owners will be happy to see the Switch 1 version running at a mostly stable 60fps. The resolution still leaves something to be desired, and the review is harder to recommend on an original Switch. Our Switch guide explains the official 30fps target for the older console.
No outlet in the retained roundups has reported a separate native Switch 2 Edition. The review instead describes the original Switch release running through backwards compatibility on the newer hardware. Read our Switch 2 page for what that compatibility covers and what it does not.
How long reviewers played
Review playtimes cluster around the mid-teens. Game Informer reached 92% completion in about 16 hours, and RPG Site reached 100% in roughly 16 hours, including three to four hours of backtracking and puzzles. Nintendo World Report described a dozen-plus hours of entertainment.
Those numbers come from experienced reviewers working to a deadline, so a relaxed first run may take longer. The trophy list also asks for three endings and a separate run under four hours, which adds replay time for completionists. The full breakdown is on our how long to beat page.
Is Belmont's Curse worth buying?
At a $29.99 list price for the Standard Edition, the critical consensus makes it an easy recommendation for Metroidvania fans. Players who want a gentle difficulty curve or frequent saves should read the complaints above first. The free demo covers the opening areas and the first boss, so it is a reliable test of whether the movement and combat click for you.
If you are deciding where to buy, compare the PS5 version, the Switch version and the current prices before ordering. The Xbox page holds the highest Metacritic number, but the gap between platforms is small. Choose the system you enjoy playing on, then check whether a discounted key or edition suits you.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Castlevania: Belmont's Curse's Metacritic score?
- It stood at 86 overall on October 13, 2026, with 86 on PS5, 88 on Xbox Series X|S and 85 on PC. Scores can move as launch-day reviews arrive.
- Is it the best-reviewed Castlevania?
- Not quite. It is the highest-rated entry since Dawn of Sorrow in 2005 and fifth among traditional 2D entries, behind Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, Symphony of the Night and Dawn of Sorrow.
- What do critics dislike about it?
- The most common complaints are widely spaced save rooms, awkward respawn points after traps, an uneven difficulty curve and some hard-to-read red-heavy scenes.
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.
- My Nintendo News: Metacritic score report ↗
- OpenCritic: highest rated in the series since 2005 ↗
- TheGamer review round-up ↗
- VICE review roundup ↗
- Game Informer review ↗
- RPG Site review ↗
- Nintendo World Report Switch review ↗
- Wikipedia: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse reception ↗
- ComicBook review coverage ↗
- PowerPyx trophy guide ↗
GuidesHow Long To Beat
PlatformsPS5 Version
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PlatformsNintendo Switch