This 8-bit styled sequel polishes playable characters with very distinct styles. Switching between them on the fly refreshes the demanding platforming. A proud homage to old Castlevania, retro to the bone, but with modern precision.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer2 players7+
Co-op
Description
Zangetsu and three companions cross cursed castles in a tribute to eight-bit classics. Published by Inti Creates, released worldwide in 2020. Four heroes with distinct abilities swapped on the fly, branching paths, retro pixel art and two difficulty levels.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Faithful to NES-era 8-bit aesthetics, the score spits out nervy, heroic chiptune that conjures the glory days of retro action-platforming. Themes hammered out in time with leaps and sword strikes galvanize the adventure, and their genuine retro feel lands squarely with the nostalgic.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Switching on the fly between four heroes with sharply distinct abilities shapes branching paths that beg for replays. The precision of the jumps and attacks is decidedly modern beneath the eight-bit dressing. Deliberately retro, the experience accepts a few period stiffnesses, yet that owned stance still charms fans of classic Castlevania.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A vibrant tribute to Castlevania's golden age, with pixel-perfect leaps and a gothic atmosphere dripping in retro style. Switching between characters with complementary abilities enriches how you tackle each room. Two-player co-op adds a delightful tactical layer, and fair difficulty rewards mastery without ever frustrating.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,2 GB📅10/07/2020
Published by Inti Creates
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
The saga's biting retro spirit is reborn through fights that demand pixel-perfect timing and millimetric attack reading. Swapping characters mid-battle opens tasty tactical windows against demonic creatures with merciless patterns. Every fall urges another try, carried by a soundtrack and pixel art that snap.
Better with friends
Played in pairs, this retro platformer recaptures the old-school spirit of leaning on each other against punishing difficulty. You swap characters, cover each other's gaps and yell together at the nastiest stretches. The co-operation is genuine, not decorative: a well-placed teammate turns a wipe into a save. Deaths are quickly forgiven, every attempt pulls you closer, and you'll keep pushing levels until the credits roll.
Is Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Curse of the Moon 2 extends Inti Creates' tribute to the eight-bit Castlevania, and does so with undeniable craft. Swapping on the fly between four heroes with distinct abilities shapes branching paths that invite replays. The pixel art and music breathe the NES era with sincerity. Still, it is a deliberately retro experience, so stiff at times, owning its period limits. For fans of the genre and of Bloodstained, it is a polished detour. Others will mostly see a very targeted exercise in style.
