Castlevania: Belmont's Curse vs The First Berserker: Khazan

• Multiplayer: Single-Player (Online Boss Rush Leaderboards)
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Franchise: Castlevania
• Monetization Model: Premium Buy-to-Play (Standard & Midnight Editions, No MTX)
• Operative Classes: Vampire Hunter, Arcana Sorceress, Crimson Blade
• Release Date: October 14, 2026
• Steam Launch Price: $29.99 USD

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only (with AI summons)
• Setting: Dungeon & Fighter Universe (Arad)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: A unique cel-shaded anime art style combined with brutal, fast-paced Soulslike combat and a deep weapon stance and skill system.

• Spectral Raven: Scout and Harass: Circles above Rose to automatically attack airborne pests and reveal invisible floor switches.
  Avian Familiar
• Holy Fairy Sprite: Blessing of Life: Flutters beside Rose to cure poison status effects and sprinkle healing dust when health drops below 25%.
  Fae Familiar
• Clockwork Flame Golem: Holy Flame Burst: Marches along the ground, releasing periodic bursts of consecrated fire that incinerate ground crawling ghouls.
  Alchemical Automaton

• Spirit of Advocacy: An asynchronous online feature where players can summon an AI-controlled phantom of another player to assist them in combat, particularly during difficult boss fights. The spirit's effectiveness can be upgraded.
  AI Phantom

• Major Arcana Tarot Cards: Awarded upon defeating major labyrinth bosses; slotted into Rose's tarot deck to bestow powerful passive and active spells.
• Ancient French Bestiary Pages: Hidden inside secret breakable walls across Parisian ruins; unlocks comprehensive monster lore, stat weaknesses, and concept art.
• Belnades Elemental Crystals: Discovered within alchemical puzzle chambers; permanently expands Rose's maximum mana and heart capacity.

• Tomes of History: Hidden scrolls and books found throughout the levels that contain lore about the Dungeon & Fighter universe, the Pell Los Empire, and the events leading up to Khazan's betrayal.
• Fallen Knight's Insignia: Insignias taken from powerful, optional enemies. These can be traded at the hub area for special rewards, including rare upgrade materials or unique Tattoos.

• Gothic Horror
• Dark Fantasy
• Metroidvania
• Vampire Hunting
• Occult Lore
• Family Legacy

• Revenge
• Betrayal
• Dark Fantasy
• Demonic Possession
• Hardcore Combat
• Soulslike
• Anime
• Gore
• Story Rich
• Violent

• Belmont Morningstar Whip: Sacred Chain Whip
  The quintessential vampire hunting weapon, featuring multi-directional strikes, diagonal aerial swings, and grappling capabilities to swing across chandelier anchor points.
• Holy Silver Dagger: Thrown Sub-Weapon
  High-velocity consecrated silver daggers thrown in rapid succession to pierce armored foes and inflict radiant holy damage.
• Grand Cross: Sacred Relic Sub-Weapon
  A revered Belmont artifact that summons spinning columns of brilliant holy crucifixes, obliterating swarms of surrounding aerial and ground monsters.
• Crimson Blood Rapier: Occult Piercing Blade
  A swift thrusting sword empowered by Rose's arm curse, executing flurry thrusts and siphon strikes that convert enemy blood into magical energy.
• Holy Water Flask: Incendiary Sub-Weapon
  A glass vial filled with consecrated water that shatters on impact, producing a lingering wave of sacred blue fire that continuously damages ground enemies.

• Dual Wield: Axe and Shortsword Combo
  A balanced weapon stance offering a mix of speed and power. Allows for rapid combos and agile movement, making it a versatile choice for most encounters.
• Greatsword: Heavy Two-Handed Sword
  A slow but devastating weapon that deals massive damage and can easily break enemy guards. Its moveset is focused on powerful, charged attacks and defensive capabilities.
• Spear: Long-Range Melee
  A nimble, long-range weapon that allows Khazan to poke enemies from a safe distance. It is excellent for managing space and requires high stamina to use effectively.

• Belmont Leather Cuirass: +15% Physical Defense, +10% Whip Attack Speed, and reduces knockback distance when struck.
• Belnades Mystic Robes: +25% Elemental and Magic Resistance, +20% Mana Regeneration, and amplifies Tarot Arcana spell damage.
• Crimson Cursed Bracer: +30% Dark Damage Output, +15% Critical Strike Chance, but slightly increases health loss when entering cursed mode.

• Equipment Sets: Players can equip various pieces of armor, including helms, pauldrons, wristguards, and leggings. Equipping a complete set of matching gear (e.g., Hero's Armor Set from the Deluxe Edition) provides predetermined set bonuses that enhance specific stats or abilities.
• Randomized Gear: Armor and weapons are dropped by enemies with different rarity levels (Common, Rare, Epic, etc.). Each piece has randomized defense values and can roll with bonus attributes, such as increased health, stamina regeneration, or elemental resistance, encouraging players to hunt for better loot.

• Belmont Hunter Traveling Cloak: Weathered crimson hooded cloak trimmed with gold embroidery, leather cross-belts, and family crest buckle.
• Parisian Aristocrat Fencing Attire: Tailored midnight-black velvet doublet with ruffled silk collar, fitted breeches, and silver-buckled riding boots.
• Sypha's Legacy Sorcery Gown: Flowing celestial blue tunic and mantle adorned with Belnades elemental runes and protective charms.

• Hero's Armor Set: A cosmetic armor set included in the Deluxe Edition, allowing players to change the appearance of Khazan's gear to a more heroic, ornate style.
• Pre-Order Bonus Armor: Pre-ordering any edition of the game granted access to a unique armor set with cosmetic variations named 'Shackles,' 'Scar,' 'Mark,' and 'Resolve'.

Gameplay combines responsive whip platforming with deep Action RPG progression. Rose upgrades her abilities via the Arcana Tarot System, collecting major and minor arcana cards from fallen bosses to unlock active spells (such as flame pillars, ice shards, and dark teleportation dashes). In addition, Rose can awaken the Crimson Curse in her arm, transforming her whip into demonic blood tendrils that drain enemy health at the cost of curse buildup. Players invest Soul Shards at alchemical altars to permanently upgrade health, mana, stamina, and sub-weapon potency.

Progression is a core RPG element. Players earn Lacrima (experience points) to level up Khazan's base stats. A deep skill tree system allows for extensive customization of abilities for each weapon type. New moves and passive bonuses can be unlocked. Equipment (weapons and armor) is dropped by enemies with rarity levels and random stats, allowing for various character builds. Weapons can be upgraded and imbued with different properties by the blacksmith in the hub area.

The game features an expansive, interconnected 2D gothic open world set across medieval Paris and demonic alternate dimensions. Key explorable zones include: 1. The Burning Seine Docks (flaming wooden wharves, capsized barges, and undead harbor patrols); 2. The Labyrinthine Paris Catacombs (bone-lined subterranean corridors teeming with skeleton warriors and poisonous ghouls); 3. The Grand Cathedral of Notre-Dame (majestic vaulted arches, crumbling stained glass, and soaring bell towers); 4. The Alchemical Under-City (clandestine occult laboratories filled with bubbling reagents and clockwork contraptions); and 5. The Eclipse Fortress (a surreal nightmare castle manifesting across the Parisian skyline as Dracula's revival nears).

The game is not an open world but is structured around mission-based, linear levels with intricate designs, shortcuts, and hidden paths that encourage exploration. Players will travel to various locations across the Pell Los Empire, including ruined villages, crumbling castles, and poison swamps. Between missions, players return to a central hub area known as 'The Crevice'.

• Belmont River Skiff: Wooden Transport Boat
  A sturdy oar-powered wooden riverboat used by Trevor and Rose Belmont to navigate down the Seine and enter the burning city of Paris.
• Gothic Funeral Carriage: Horse-Drawn Armored Hearse
  An eerie black carriage used by Parisian occult cultists to transport cursed alchemical artifacts across the city.

• Parisian Plague Bats: Chiroptera vampiris
  Aerial Nuisance (Demonic red-eyed bats that roost in cathedral rafters and dive-bomb players attempting difficult platforming jumps)
• Spectral Hunting Hound: Canis infernalis
  Ground Assault Mob (Ghostly canine beasts that patrol the courtyards of Paris, leaping through barriers to ambush unsuspecting hunters)

• Rose Belmont: Playable Protagonist
  The 22-year-old daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades who wields her ancestral whip and dark curse to prevent Dracula's resurrection in 1499 Paris.
• Trevor Belmont: Legendary Vampire Hunter & Mentor
  The grizzled hero who defeated Dracula 23 years earlier, guiding his daughter through Paris while investigating the corruption within the French clergy.
• Count Dracula: Lord of Darkness
  The eternal vampire king whose immortal spirit seeks to rise once again in 1499, testing the Belmont bloodline across generations.

• Khazan: Playable Protagonist
  The legendary General of the Pell Los Empire and the first 'Berserker'. After being betrayed and exiled, he seeks revenge against those who destroyed his life.
• Ozma: Key Narrative Figure / Archmage
  Khazan's best friend and a master of magic. He was also betrayed by the Empire, and his fate is a central mystery that drives the plot.
• Tristan: Ally / Former Soldier
  A loyal soldier who once served under Khazan. He remains steadfastly by Khazan's side after his exile, offering support and guidance.
• Elamein: Ally / Shield Maiden
  A fierce warrior who joins Khazan on his quest, providing combat support and acting as a moral compass.

• Arrival on the River Seine: Prologue Chapter
  Disembark at the flaming Paris harbor, clear out the ghoul infestation, and reunite with Trevor at the city gatehouse.
• Cleansing the Catacombs: Exploration & Boss Hunt
  Navigate the labyrinthine ossuaries beneath Paris, locate the ancient seal of Dracula, and defeat the Bone Amalgam boss.
• The Spires of Notre-Dame: Climactic Finale
  Ascend the bell towers of the burning cathedral during the solar eclipse to interrupt the dark resurrection ritual.

• Main Story Missions
  Follow the linear narrative path to hunt down Khazan's betrayers, uncover the political conspiracy, and discover the truth behind the demonic forces influencing the empire. Each mission culminates in a major boss battle.
• Side Quests (Remixed Levels)
  Optional missions unlocked at the hub area that allow players to revisit completed levels. These levels are often reconfigured with new enemy placements, different environmental hazards, and unique boss encounters, offering additional challenges and narrative beats.
• Spirit Duels
  Optional duels against powerful spirits that randomly appear in levels. Defeating them rewards players with a special currency used to upgrade the 'Spirit of Advocacy' summon.

The First Berserker: Khazan does not feature any multiplayer or co-operative modes. It includes an asynchronous online feature where players can summon a 'Spirit of Advocacy,' an AI-controlled phantom of another player, to assist in boss battles.

Standard Edition ($29.99 USD on PC Steam / $39.99 USD on Consoles): Includes the complete base game with all explorable zones and bosses. Midnight Edition ($39.99 USD on PC / $49.99 USD on Consoles): Includes the base game, Digital Sound & Art Collection (featuring classic and rearranged franchise tracks), Retro Belmont Skin Pack, and the 'Bloody Tears' Early Access Weapon Charm.

The game was released with a Standard Edition ($59.99) and a Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99). The Deluxe Edition includes the main game, a 'Hero's Weapon Set' and 'Hero's Armor Set' for cosmetic customization, a digital artbook, and 72-hour early access to the game before its global launch.

Konami and Evil Empire have outlined a post-launch roadmap including a free Boss Rush Mode, the classic 'Trevor Belmont Playable Mode' (allowing players to experience the entire campaign with Trevor's traditional moveset and sub-weapons), and a planned expansion chapter exploring the origins of Sypha's Belnades clan.

• Q: What is Castlevania: Belmont's Curse?
  A: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is a new 2D action-exploration Metroidvania developed by Evil Empire and published by KONAMI, starring Rose Belmont in 1499 Paris.
• Q: When does Castlevania: Belmont's Curse release and on what platforms?
  A: The game releases on October 14, 2026 for PC (Steam) and October 15, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
• Q: How does Belmont's Curse fit into the Castlevania timeline?
  A: The game takes place in 1499, exactly 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, following Trevor Belmont's daughter Rose as she investigates Dracula's resurrection in Paris.
• Q: What are the core combat mechanics in Belmont's Curse?
  A: The game features fluid whip action, aerial grappling, classic sub-weapons (Holy Water, Cross, Daggers), tarot-based Arcana magic spells, and the high-risk Crimson Curse arm mode.
• Q: Who developed Castlevania: Belmont's Curse?
  A: The game is co-developed by Evil Empire (celebrated developers of Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania and The Rogue Prince of Persia) and KONAMI.

• Q: What kind of game is The First Berserker: Khazan?
  A: It is a hardcore single-player action RPG, often described as a 'Soulslike' for its challenging, stamina-based combat and intricate level design. It is set in the Dungeon & Fighter universe.
• Q: Is The First Berserker: Khazan open world?
  A: No, it is a mission-based game. Players select missions from a central hub, and each mission takes place in its own large, linear level with shortcuts and hidden paths.
• Q: Is there multiplayer?
  A: No, the game is single-player only. It does feature an asynchronous online component where you can summon an AI phantom of another player to help you.
• Q: How is combat different from other Soulslikes?
  A: While it shares core mechanics like stamina management and parrying, Khazan's combat is noted for its faster, more aggressive pace and anime-inspired visual flair. The ability to switch between three distinct weapon stances on the fly also adds a unique layer of tactical depth.

A visual showcase developed by Evil Empire combining lush, fluid 2D hand-drawn character and monster animations with atmospheric 3D backgrounds, volumetric candle smoke, dynamic stained-glass lighting reflections, and gothic architectural grandeur.

The game utilizes a distinct, high-quality 3D cel-shaded art style that gives its characters an 'anime' appearance, while the environments remain grounded in a dark, gritty medieval fantasy aesthetic. This creates a unique visual blend that stands out in the Soulslike genre.

A sweeping orchestral and dark rock soundtrack composed in the grand tradition of Castlevania, featuring dynamic rearrangements of franchise classics like 'Bloody Tears' and 'Vampire Killer' alongside haunting new choral, violin, and organ themes. Voice acting features Abby Trott as Rose Belmont, JB Blanc as Trevor Belmont, Alejandra Reynoso as Sypha, and Graham McTavish reprising his role as Count Dracula.

Elegant gothic UI inspired by Symphony of the Night and Aria of Sorrow. Displays active health and hearts / mana gauges, selected sub-weapon icons, active Tarot Arcana card slots, a mini-map overlay with percentage tracker, and quick-swap equipment wheels.

The UI is typical for the Soulslike genre, featuring health, stamina, and magic/spirit bars. A quick-select menu allows for easy access to consumable items. Weapon stances and equipped abilities are also clearly displayed. The overall design is clean to minimize obstruction during intense combat.

Extensive suite of accessibility options including customizable button mapping, auto-attack toggles, platforming ledge assist, scalable UI elements, high-contrast character outlines, screen-shake toggles, and adjustable damage scaling sliders for customized combat difficulty.

The game includes a range of difficulty options. While there is no dedicated 'story mode,' players can choose a difficulty that affects enemy scaling. The game also supports remappable controls, customizable subtitles, and upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR to aid performance.

• Requires a 64-bit operating system and processor. Operates via DirectX 11 / DirectX 12 graphics pipelines. Fully integrated with Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud synchronization, complete gamepad controller support, and optimized for seamless handheld play on Steam Deck.
• Laptop Performance Note: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse features hand-crafted 2D sprite animations combined with 3D dynamic lighting, high-resolution particle spells, and multi-layered parallax backgrounds. While hardware demands are modest compared to 3D AAA titles, maintaining a locked 60 FPS or 120 FPS on laptops during intense screen-filling boss encounters requires stable sustained GPU clock frequencies.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Requires a sustained 35W-50W TGP mobile GPU for 1080p60 and 60W-75W+ TGP for high-refresh 1440p displays.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Standard laptop cooling profiles are sufficient; keeping CPU temperatures below 75C ensures zero micro-stuttering during rapid room transitions.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A sustained PL1 power limit of 25W+ is recommended to ensure seamless background asset streaming between map sectors.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Standard hybrid Optimus or discrete MUX switch modes both achieve locked 60 FPS; discrete GPU mode is recommended for 144Hz panels.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Native resolution scaling options with anti-aliasing toggles, full vsync options, and customizable frame rate limiters (60 FPS, 120 FPS, Unlimited).
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Particle Density, Dynamic Lighting Quality, and Background Parallax Depth exert the greatest influence on sustained performance.
• Game Name: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for The First Berserker: Khazan. This information is based on official PC specifications found on the game's Steam page and other reliable sources, adapted to the requested JSON structure. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks. The game's official requirements note specific performance targets (1080p/30fps for Minimum, 1080p/60fps for Recommended).
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. The First Berserker: Khazan's official specs are relatively moderate, so a wide range of modern gaming laptops should deliver a great experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: To match the performance of the desktop GPUs listed, laptop GPUs will need a sufficient TGP. Higher TGP allows the GPU to boost higher and maintain performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: As a fast-paced action RPG, consistent performance is key. A laptop with a robust cooling system will prevent thermal throttling during intense combat sequences.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Adequate power delivery to the CPU is important for maintaining stable frame rates, especially in a game with complex physics and animations.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for the best performance and lowest latency, which is crucial for a hardcore action game where timing is everything.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Built on Unreal Engine, the game is expected to support NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. The PCGamingWiki confirms support for DLSS 3.7, FSR 2, and XeSS 1.3, including DLSS Frame Generation, which significantly boosts framerates on supported hardware.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: The most impactful settings on performance will likely be Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Post-Processing, and Texture Quality. The game's stylized, anime-inspired graphics may be less demanding on texture memory than photorealistic titles.
• Game Name: The First Berserker: Khazan

• Upscaling Tech: Native resolution scaling options with anti-aliasing toggles, full vsync options, and customizable frame rate limiters (60 FPS, 120 FPS, Unlimited).
• Key Settings Impact: Particle Density, Dynamic Lighting Quality, and Background Parallax Depth exert the greatest influence on sustained performance.

• Upscaling Tech: Built on Unreal Engine, the game is expected to support NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. The PCGamingWiki confirms support for DLSS 3.7, FSR 2, and XeSS 1.3, including DLSS Frame Generation, which significantly boosts framerates on supported hardware.
• Key Settings Impact: The most impactful settings on performance will likely be Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Post-Processing, and Texture Quality. The game's stylized, anime-inspired graphics may be less demanding on texture memory than photorealistic titles.

• G P U T G P: Requires a sustained 35W-50W TGP mobile GPU for 1080p60 and 60W-75W+ TGP for high-refresh 1440p displays.
• Cooling Thermals: Standard laptop cooling profiles are sufficient; keeping CPU temperatures below 75C ensures zero micro-stuttering during rapid room transitions.
• C P U Power Limits: A sustained PL1 power limit of 25W+ is recommended to ensure seamless background asset streaming between map sectors.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Standard hybrid Optimus or discrete MUX switch modes both achieve locked 60 FPS; discrete GPU mode is recommended for 144Hz panels.

• G P U T G P: To match the performance of the desktop GPUs listed, laptop GPUs will need a sufficient TGP. Higher TGP allows the GPU to boost higher and maintain performance.
• Cooling Thermals: As a fast-paced action RPG, consistent performance is key. A laptop with a robust cooling system will prevent thermal throttling during intense combat sequences.
• C P U Power Limits: Adequate power delivery to the CPU is important for maintaining stable frame rates, especially in a game with complex physics and animations.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended for the best performance and lowest latency, which is crucial for a hardcore action game where timing is everything.