Phantom Blade Zero reviews: An action game to watch

The Phantom Blade Zero review embargo has lifted, and early verdicts are glowing. Critics single out S-GAME's fast combat and its boss fights. It hits Steam on October 28, and the PS5 version has been reviewed too.

Key facts

• Release date: October 28, 2026
• Platforms: PC (Steam) and PS5
• Steam price: $49.99
• Developer: S-GAME Studio; publisher: S-GAME Publishing
• Engine: Unreal Engine 5
• Difficulty: Easy, normal and hard options

What kind of game is Phantom Blade Zero?

It blends classic wuxia storytelling with high-speed action, in a setting S-GAME calls kungfupunk. You play Soul, a former member of The Order who is framed for the murder of his clan leader. A tainted heart keeps him alive, but only for 66 days. In that time he has to clear his name and find a cure.

The basics will feel familiar: attack, block, dodge and parry. Enemies have a balance meter called Sha-Chi. Break it and they are open to your best combos. Attacks that flash blue can be parried, while red ones need a perfect dodge.

What do the Phantom Blade Zero reviews say?

Push Square calls it one of the most gratifying action games on PS5. The site loves that normal attacks, dodges and parries do not drain stamina, which gives you room to experiment. It also says every boss fight has its own unique twist.

PCGamesN goes further and calls it a new gold standard for action RPGs. Its review argues the game is a Metroidvania at heart, built around exploration, backtracking, keys and secret bosses. The world is split into five main open areas. If you die in a multi-phase boss fight, you restart from the phase you reached.

VGC describes it as one of the fastest and flashiest action games its reviewer has played. Each boss attacks in a different way, and learning those patterns is the key to winning. The game is also forgiving, since you never have to replay a boss phase you have already cleared.

Where do the reviews push back?

Not everything lands. VGC finds the stages very linear and says some enemy strings are so fast that it ended up mashing parry rather than timing each hit. Push Square criticises frequent flashbacks and tedious collectibles, which it sees as part of weaker storytelling.

Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?

Push Square says no, despite the look. You can switch between easy, normal and hard in the pause menu. Nothing is lost on death, and enemies do not respawn. If you want to change weapons, you can refund your currencies and materials and put them into a new one. That makes it easy to try different builds.

Phantom Blade Zero PC requirements and price

The minimum specs on Steam target 1080p at 30 FPS with upscaling enabled, and an SSD is required. The game is listed at $49.99 on Steam. If you like this style of action, see our Black Myth: Wukong review and our Elden Ring beginner guide.

• OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB
• DirectX: Version 12

FAQ

When does Phantom Blade Zero come out?

According to its Steam page, Phantom Blade Zero launches on October 28, 2026. A PS5 version was also reviewed.

How much does Phantom Blade Zero cost?

The game is listed at $49.99 on Steam.

Is Phantom Blade Zero hard?

It can be demanding, but Push Square notes easy, normal and hard settings, no penalty on death and enemies that do not respawn.

Sources

• Steam: Phantom Blade Zero
• Push Square: Phantom Blade Zero (PS5) review
• PCGamesN: Phantom Blade Zero review
• VGC: Phantom Blade Zero review