Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement announced, coming to PS5 in 2026
A new chapter in the Bloodstained saga, “Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement,” has been announced.
This 2.5D side-scrolling action RPG is set to bring the series’ signature gameplay and storytelling to PlayStation 5 in 2026.
The project is spearheaded by the creative duo Shutaro (Creative Director) and Koji Igarashi (Producer), known for their work on 2D exploration-focused side-scrolling action games.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, a spiritual successor to the Castlevania series, was a successful crowdfunding effort led by Koji Igarashi, establishing a gothic world filled with demons and challenging exploration. This new installment aims to build upon that foundation.
“The Scarlet Engagement” begins in the 16th century, where the ominous Ethereal Castle and its demonic inhabitants are terrorizing the land.
After numerous failed attempts by noble warriors to destroy the castle, humanity’s last hope rests with an unlikely pair: Leonard, a young Black Wolves apprentice, and Alexander, a knight and the sole survivor of White Stags. They must infiltrate the castle, battle for survival, acquire powerful artifacts, and ultimately defeat the Demon Lord Elias.
Their mission is complicated by Elias’s six Sanguinaries, deadly vampires each possessing unique and powerful abilities.
To succeed, Leo and Alex must unravel the castle’s mysteries and overcome its formidable defenders.
The Ethereal Castle serves as the game’s primary setting and is described as the largest and most dangerous Bloodstained map to date. It features intricate gothic halls, dark caverns, and perilous traps, offering both beauty and danger.
Exploration is a core tenet of the Bloodstained series, and in “The Scarlet Engagement,” it will be rewarded with powerful relics, resources, and opportunities to collect ingredients, craft upgrades, and discover new magical abilities, weapons, armor, and enchantments.
A new gameplay mechanic central to “The Scarlet Engagement” is the control of two main characters simultaneously.
Players will directly control one hero while the other provides assistance in combat.
The ability to switch between Leo and Alex with the press of a button will be crucial for mastering the game’s challenges, especially when utilizing special abilities tied to this dual-hero system.
Players will be able to equip both Leo and Alex with acquired armor, weapons, and equipment, each featuring unique stats and appearances.
The game also promises a cast of intriguing characters from Bloodstained lore, including allies and enemies, all with fully scripted interactions and voiceovers in both English and Japanese.
More details about “Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement” are expected in future updates.
The announcement came as part of today’s State of Play event which also included Nioh 3, Capcom’s Pragmata, a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster and a Marvel based 4v4 tag team fighting game.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
