Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Endings and How to Unlock Them

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse follows Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont, as she explores Dracula’s castle and attempts to stop a mysterious curse spreading across Paris. As the adventure progresses, Rose encounters increasingly dangerous enemies, uncovers secrets surrounding the Belmont family, and faces decisions about how to bring the supernatural threat to an end.

However, defeating Dracula does not necessarily mean Rose has completed her mission. The game features three major story endings: a scripted false ending, a normal ending, and a true ending. Each represents a different stage of the story, and the outcome depends on how far players progress through the game’s additional objectives.

The false ending occurs when Rose falls into Death’s trap, while the normal ending follows the defeat of Dracula in his two combat forms. To achieve the true ending, players must complete four virtue trials in Notre-Dame, defeat an enemy representing Rose’s shadow, and return to Dracula for another final confrontation.

This guide explains all three Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse endings, the requirements for unlocking each one, and the rewards associated with the major story milestones.

How Many Endings Does Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Have?

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse has three major story endings described in this guide. Although the false ending initially appears to bring the adventure to a close, it is a scripted event that allows the main story to continue. The normal ending concludes the immediate battle against Dracula, while the true ending provides the more complete resolution to Rose’s mission.

• False ending: Triggered during the main story when Rose falls into Death’s trap.
• Normal ending: Unlocked by defeating both phases of Dracula in the Throne Room.
• True ending: Unlocked by completing all four virtue trials, defeating Rose’s shadow, and defeating Dracula again.

The most important distinction is that the normal ending does not require players to complete every optional objective described in the true-ending route. If you want to see the conclusion in which Rose lifts the curse affecting Paris, you must continue beyond the initial defeat of Dracula.

1. False Ending: Death’s Trap

The false ending is the first major interruption to Rose Belmont’s journey. Unlike the other endings, it is not triggered by a deliberate decision or by completing a special set of challenges. Instead, it occurs automatically during the main story.

How to Get the False Ending

To reach this sequence, continue progressing through the main campaign until Rose falls into a trap arranged by Death. During the encounter, Death reveals that the trap has enabled Dracula to regain his strength using Trevor Belmont’s blood.

This revelation changes the context of Rose’s mission. Her attempt to stop the curse has led her into a situation that strengthens the very enemy she is trying to defeat. The sequence also establishes that Dracula’s return is connected to the Belmont family and its history.

After the scene, the game displays a message explaining that Rose has fallen victim to Death’s trap. The credits then begin, making the sequence appear to be the end of the adventure.

However, this is a scripted false ending rather than the conclusion of the entire story. You do not need to select a particular dialogue option, defeat a hidden boss, or complete an additional challenge to trigger it.

What to Do After the Credits

When the credits finish, return to the main menu and select Resume. Rose will awaken near a Mirror of Life, where the Ferryman explains that she has been given another chance.

This sequence allows the campaign to continue. Rather than starting the entire adventure again, you can resume your existing progression and work toward the remaining story objectives.

Completing this sequence also unlocks the Belmont’s Fall trophy and an additional character skin.

Why the False Ending Matters

The false ending serves as a turning point in the story. Death’s revelation explains how Dracula has recovered his strength and demonstrates that defeating the immediate threat will require more than simply reaching the castle’s final area.

For players, the practical lesson is straightforward: do not assume the game is finished when the credits appear for the first time. Resume your save and continue exploring the story. The false ending is part of the intended progression, not a sign that you have failed to complete the campaign.

2. Normal Ending: Defeating Dracula

The normal ending is the next major conclusion available to players. It follows the main campaign route and is unlocked by defeating Dracula in the Throne Room.

Unlike the false ending, this outcome follows a genuine final boss encounter. However, it does not resolve every aspect of the curse affecting Paris. Players who want the fullest conclusion must continue with the additional objectives required for the true ending.

How to Unlock the Normal Ending

Continue through the main story after returning from Death’s trap. Progress through the late-game areas, including the Clock Tower, until you reach the Throne Room for the confrontation with Dracula.

The battle has two phases, and both must be completed to trigger the normal ending.

• Phase one: Humanoid Dracula. The encounter begins with Dracula in his humanoid form inside the Throne Room. Defeat him to advance to the next phase.
• Phase two: Winged demonic Dracula. After the first form is defeated, the battle continues against Dracula’s winged demonic form. You must defeat this form as well to finish the encounter.

Because the encounter contains two phases, reaching the end of the first fight is not enough to complete the final battle. Continue through the second phase to trigger the ending sequence.

What Happens in the Normal Ending?

Once both forms of Dracula have been defeated, the normal ending plays. Although Rose succeeds in defeating Dracula, the curse affecting Paris remains, indicating that the threat has not been completely eliminated.

This unresolved outcome is the key difference between the normal and true endings. The normal ending provides a conclusion to the immediate confrontation, but the continuing curse suggests that Rose still has work to do.

Players who complete this route receive the The Hunt Goes On trophy.

Can You Continue After the Normal Ending?

Yes. After the credits, you can resume your save and continue working toward the true ending. There is no need to treat the normal ending as the final stopping point if your goal is to see the complete conclusion.

This makes the normal ending an important milestone rather than the ultimate resolution. It confirms that Dracula can be defeated, but the remaining curse provides a reason to investigate the additional challenges scattered throughout the game.

If you have reached this ending and want to unlock the true ending, your next objective is to complete the four virtue trials in Notre-Dame.

3. True Ending: How to Lift the Curse

The true ending provides the most complete conclusion to Rose Belmont’s story. Unlike the normal ending, it requires players to finish a series of additional objectives before returning to Dracula for a final confrontation.

The process involves three main stages: completing the four virtue trials, defeating Rose’s shadow, and defeating Dracula again. Each stage is necessary to progress toward the ending in which Rose succeeds in lifting the curse affecting Paris.

Step 1: Find the Gallery of the Four Virtues in Notre-Dame

Begin by travelling to the Gallery of the Four Virtues in Notre-Dame. This location contains four special trials associated with Courage, Prudence, Justice, and Temperance.

Each trial presents a different challenge, and completing it grants a blessing. You must collect all four blessings before moving on to the next stage of the true-ending route.

The trials combine encounters, platforming challenges, environmental hazards, and interactions with specific objects. Pay attention to the instructions provided in each area, particularly when a plaque or window identifies the trial you need to complete.

Step 2: Complete the Courage Trial

The first trial is associated with Courage. Interact with the Courage window to begin the encounter involving Joan.

Complete the encounter to receive Joan’s blessing. This reward counts toward the four blessings required to unlock the next stage of the true ending.

If you are working through the trials systematically, make sure you have completed the encounter before moving on. The objective is not simply to visit the location but to finish the trial and obtain its blessing.

Step 3: Complete the Prudence Trial

The Prudence trial focuses on platforming. After entering the trial, you must navigate a series of challenges involving moving hazards and falling obstacles.

Move carefully through the section, paying attention to the timing of environmental hazards. Rushing through unfamiliar platforming sequences can make it harder to avoid obstacles and reach the objective.

Your destination is a bell. Reach it and ring it to complete the trial and receive Eleanor’s blessing.

Once the blessing has been obtained, you can move on to Justice and continue working toward the complete set of four virtues.

Step 4: Complete the Justice Trial

The Justice trial involves reading the relevant plaque and climbing a bell tower while avoiding enemies and environmental hazards.

Start by reading the plaque associated with the trial. Then make your way upward through the tower, navigating the obstacles and enemies encountered along the route.

At the top, ring the bell to complete the challenge and receive Saint Louis’s blessing.

This trial rewards careful movement and attention to the surrounding environment. If you encounter difficulties during the climb, focus on reaching the next safe section rather than trying to move through every obstacle at once.

Step 5: Complete the Temperance Trial

The fourth and final virtue trial is Temperance, which is associated with the Ferryman.

Enter the trial and complete its water-based platforming section. Navigate the obstacles until you reach the final bell, then ring it to receive the blessing.

With the Temperance blessing collected, you should now have all four required rewards:

• Courage: Joan’s blessing.
• Prudence: Eleanor’s blessing.
• Justice: Saint Louis’s blessing.
• Temperance: The blessing associated with the Ferryman’s trial.

Completing all four trials is essential. Defeating Dracula in the normal ending does not replace these objectives, and the true-ending route cannot be completed by skipping one of the virtues.

Step 6: Activate the Altar Beneath the Rose Window

After collecting all four blessings, return to the altar beneath the illuminated rose window in Notre-Dame.

Interact with the altar to activate the next stage of the quest. This interaction transports Rose to a special encounter against an enemy identified as “???”, representing Rose’s shadow.

This encounter marks a shift from the virtue trials to a more personal challenge. The four blessings have prepared the way for this confrontation, which must be completed before Rose can return to Dracula for the final battle.

Step 7: Defeat Rose’s Shadow

The enemy representing Rose’s shadow is a required encounter on the true-ending route. Defeat this opponent to obtain several important rewards.

• The Self Arcana card.
• The Absolution spell.
• The Shadow Work trophy.

These rewards mark the completion of the shadow encounter and provide a clear indication that you have progressed beyond the four virtue trials.

If your objective is to unlock the true ending, make sure this encounter is completed before returning to Dracula. Collecting the four blessings alone is not sufficient.

Step 8: Speak to Sypha’s Spirit and Return to Dracula

After defeating Rose’s shadow, interact with the altar again and speak to Sypha’s spirit. This interaction is part of the progression needed to return to the final confrontation.

Next, make your way back to Dracula’s Throne Room through the Master’s Quarters and Grand Staircase.

Once you reach the Throne Room, prepare to face Dracula again. The final encounter follows the same two-phase structure as the battle associated with the normal ending.

Step 9: Defeat Dracula Again to Unlock the True Ending

The final requirement is to defeat both of Dracula’s forms once more. First, overcome his humanoid form, then defeat his winged demonic form.

Completing both phases after finishing the virtue trials and shadow encounter triggers the true ending.

In this conclusion, Rose succeeds in lifting the curse affecting Paris, providing a more complete resolution than the normal ending. Completing the true ending also unlocks the Curse Lifted trophy.

For players seeking the full story, this is the ending to prioritize. It resolves the lingering problem that remains after Dracula’s initial defeat and brings Rose’s mission to its intended conclusion.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Endings Compared

The following table summarizes the requirements, story outcomes, and rewards associated with each ending described in this guide.

Tips for Unlocking Every Ending Efficiently

If you want to see all three endings without getting confused about the progression requirements, focus on understanding how each conclusion connects to the next.

Do Not Stop After the First Credits

The false ending is part of the main story. Once the credits finish, select Resume from the main menu and continue from the Mirror of Life sequence. Restarting the game unnecessarily can interrupt your progress toward the remaining objectives.

Understand the Difference Between the Normal and True Endings

Defeating Dracula twice in the final encounter is not, by itself, the requirement that distinguishes the true ending. The additional objectives are what matter: all four virtue blessings, the shadow encounter, and the subsequent interaction with Sypha’s spirit.

If you reach the normal ending without completing these objectives, resume your save and return to the relevant areas rather than assuming you have already unlocked the full conclusion.

Track the Four Virtue Blessings

The four trials are a central part of the true-ending route. Keep track of Courage, Prudence, Justice, and Temperance as you complete them.

• Finish Joan’s encounter to obtain the Courage blessing.
• Navigate the Prudence platforming section and ring its bell.
• Climb the Justice bell tower, avoiding hazards, and ring the bell at the top.
• Complete the Temperance water-based section and ring the final bell.

This checklist helps prevent unnecessary backtracking and makes it easier to identify any missing objective before returning to the altar.

Complete the Shadow Encounter Before Returning to the Throne Room

After obtaining all four blessings, activate the altar beneath the illuminated rose window and defeat Rose’s shadow. Then interact with the altar again and speak to Sypha’s spirit.

Following this sequence ensures that you have completed the required steps before returning through the Master’s Quarters and Grand Staircase to Dracula’s Throne Room.

Why the True Ending Is Important

The three endings reveal different stages of Rose’s struggle against the curse. The false ending exposes Death’s trap and explains how Dracula has regained his strength. The normal ending demonstrates that Dracula can be defeated but leaves the curse affecting Paris unresolved.

The true ending goes further by requiring Rose to complete the four virtue trials and confront her own shadow before facing Dracula again. Its significance lies in the additional steps needed to resolve the central problem of the story rather than merely winning the final boss battle.

From a gameplay perspective, the structure also gives players a reason to revisit areas and explore objectives beyond the main route. The virtue trials, altar interaction, and shadow encounter are not simply extra challenges; they form the progression chain that leads to the most complete ending.

Players who are primarily interested in finishing the main campaign can stop after the normal ending. However, anyone looking to complete the story, earn the associated trophies, and see Rose lift the curse should follow the full true-ending route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many endings are there in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?

This guide covers three major endings: the false ending triggered by Death’s trap, the normal ending unlocked by defeating Dracula, and the true ending that requires additional objectives before the final battle.

Is the false ending a real ending?

The false ending is a scripted story sequence rather than the final conclusion of the campaign. After the credits, select Resume from the main menu to continue the adventure near the Mirror of Life.

How do you unlock the normal ending?

Progress through the main story, reach Dracula’s Throne Room, and defeat both his humanoid and winged demonic forms. The normal ending then plays, and you receive The Hunt Goes On trophy.

What do you need to do to unlock the true ending?

Complete the Courage, Prudence, Justice, and Temperance trials in Notre-Dame. Collect all four blessings, activate the altar beneath the illuminated rose window, defeat Rose’s shadow, interact with the altar again, and speak to Sypha’s spirit. Then return to the Throne Room and defeat both of Dracula’s forms.

Which trophy is awarded for the true ending?

Completing the true ending awards the Curse Lifted trophy. Defeating Rose’s shadow earlier in the process also awards the Shadow Work trophy.

Can you continue playing after the normal ending?

Yes. After the credits, resume your save and complete the additional objectives required for the true ending. The normal ending does not prevent you from continuing the story.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking every ending in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse requires more than defeating Dracula once. The false ending introduces Death’s trap, the normal ending concludes the immediate confrontation, and the true ending requires Rose to complete four virtue trials, defeat her shadow, and return to the Throne Room for one final battle.

If you want to see the most complete conclusion to Rose Belmont’s story, focus on collecting every virtue blessing and completing the shadow encounter before facing Dracula again. Once both of his forms have been defeated after those objectives, the true ending reveals Rose lifting the curse affecting Paris and awards the Curse Lifted trophy.