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After what feels like an eternity, Castlevania fans are finally getting a new entry this month – but if you've got a thirst for the classic NES-style titles in the series, then you might want to also check out Retrobot's Accursed.
The developer is quite open about the fact that Accursed is a 'Classicvania' clone, and the visuals certainly feel close enough to the originals to get Konami's lawyers sharpening their pencils. However, with the likes of Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon and The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest doing the rounds, it's not like Accursed is alone when it comes to paying homage to the vampire-slaying series.
Set in 15th-century Moldavia, you assume the role of protagonist Elias, "a parish priest turned holy vanquisher of the night", who must take up his Holy whip when his wife Ileana is marked by the Order of the Black Chalice (a vampire cult, naturally) and mysteriously disappears.
The game features six stages, thirteen bosses (one of which is secret), five Holy relics (plus two golden ones) that determine which of the two endings you get, four stage ranks, a boss rush mode, and a special 'Nightmare' difficulty level.
This mode strips Elias of his clothing, making it insanely hard. "Only sickos can beat this mode," says the developer, before adding:
"This game really is a labor of love. As a huge fan of a certain gothic platformer series, I really just wanted an excuse to design some awesome levels, enemies, and most of all, bosses. If all goes well with this release, the goal is to continue this series into the SNES and 3D eras."
Accursed hits Steam on November 16th, 2026. A demo is available now.