Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Shows Off Bloody Tears Gameplay

Konami has released a new gameplay trailer for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, giving fans another look at the upcoming Metroidvania while putting a fresh spin on one of the franchise’s most recognizable musical themes. Titled Bloody Tears, the trailer showcases combat, exploration, abilities, enemies, and several of the systems players will use when Rose Belmont begins her hunt through Dracula’s castle.

The trailer is particularly notable for its new arrangement of Bloody Tears, the iconic Castlevania track that originally debuted in Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest. The familiar melody provides an appropriately gothic soundtrack to footage showing Rose battling monsters and navigating the dangerous environments surrounding the cursed castle.

Rose Belmont takes her Vampire Killer whip into battle

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse follows Rose Belmont, daughter and successor to legendary vampire hunter Trevor Belmont. The story takes place in 1499, with Paris engulfed in flames after monstrous creatures emerge from the shadows. Trevor and Rose enter the burning city armed with the legendary Vampire Killer whip and set out to discover the source of the supernatural threat.

The new footage puts Rose's mobility and combat abilities front and center. The Vampire Killer isn't simply a weapon for dispatching enemies; it can also be used to help Rose traverse the environment, giving exploration a more dynamic feel. That combination of combat and movement is fitting for a game that draws heavily from the exploration-focused side of the Castlevania formula. The adventure is structured as a Metroidvania, with players expected to explore interconnected areas, defeat enemies and bosses, and uncover new ways to progress.

Arcana, Weapons and Relics Add More Depth

The trailer also shows an interesting new gameplay system: Arcana. After defeating bosses, Rose can seal them into tarot cards. These cards can then provide new abilities, including magical attacks and other unique actions. The game also features seven weapon categories, giving players additional options beyond the iconic Vampire Killer. Equippable Relics further expand the combat system, offering offensive and defensive benefits as Rose prepares for increasingly dangerous encounters.

These mechanics suggest that Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse combines traditional series elements with modern progression systems while keeping the focus firmly on exploration and action.

The New Castlevania Adventure Arrives in October

 Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is being developed by Evil Empire, with Motion Twin involved alongside Konami. The project is part of the celebrations surrounding Castlevania's 40th anniversary and represents a major return for the franchise's traditional side-scrolling adventure format. The game launches on October 15, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. You can keep an eye on the best deals for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse with our comparator.