Phantom Blade Zero is a single-player action RPG developed by Chinese studio S-GAME, which calls it “kungfupunk”: wuxia martial arts with dark fantasy. You play as Soul, an assassin with 66 days left to live. It came out on October 29, 2026 on PS5 and PC.
What is Phantom Blade Zero?
It is S-GAME’s action RPG set in the Phantom World, a universe inspired by martial-arts China with touches of dark fantasy and machinery.
Soul, a member of The Order, is accused of killing his master. Mortally wounded, he receives an artificial heart that gives him 66 days to find the real culprit. The game mixes highly choreographed fights, exploration of interconnected regions and demanding bosses. If you want to get straight to it, start with the beginner tips.
What kind of game is Phantom Blade Zero?
A third-person action RPG focused on melee combat, with parries, dodges and executions, and a linear story split into chapters with optional areas.
| Feature | Phantom Blade Zero |
|---|---|
| Perspective | Third person |
| Combat | Two attack buttons, parry, perfect dodge and Phantom Edges |
| Progression | Gear, upgrades and collectibles; no character attributes |
| Structure | 9 chapters in interconnected regions, with optional areas |
| Length | 25-30 h for the story; more than 40 h for the true ending |
| Modes | Single player; New Game Plus and 66 Days difficulty |
Is Phantom Blade Zero a soulslike?
It has soulslike traits, such as rest points (the bells), a currency you spend on upgrades and bosses that require learning patterns, but it is not a pure soulslike.
What sets it apart: you can choose the difficulty (Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker and 66 Days), you don’t level up character attributes and the pace is faster, closer to hack and slash. The full comparison is in the difficulties and in how combat works.
Is Phantom Blade Zero an open-world game?
No. Its regions are interconnected with shortcuts, optional paths and backtracking with new tools, metroidvania style, but it is not an open world.
There are 9 regions, from Weeping Creek Valley to Mount Soulrend, and some only open with specific Phantom Edges, such as the Illusory Pipa. You can see them all on the interactive map and in the recommended area order.
How is Phantom Blade Zero related to the wuxia genre?
It is a wuxia game: it draws on Chinese martial-arts stories, with sects, masters, revenge and the world of wandering warriors (the Wulin).
S-GAME adds its own twist: mechanical technology, puppets and folk horror, hence the “kungfupunk” label. The choreography was recorded with more than twenty martial artists and actor Donnie Yen collaborated on it, according to Vandal’s review (Spanish site).
Is Phantom Blade Zero inspired by Sekiro or other games?
The press often compares it to Sekiro for its parry and posture combat, but S-GAME does not present it as a copy: its Sha-Chi system, the two weapons and the Phantom Edges make it different.
| Phantom Blade Zero | Sekiro | |
|---|---|---|
| Core resource | Sha-Chi (yours and the enemy’s) | Posture |
| Weapons | 2 main weapons + 2 Phantom Edges | One katana + prosthetic |
| Difficulty | Selectable (4 levels) | Single |
| Attributes | None | Health and attack upgrades |
| Setting | “Kungfupunk” wuxia | Sengoku Japan |
Keep reading
- Platforms, release date and where to buy it
- PC requirements and storage
- Does it have multiplayer?
- What the critics say
Frequently asked questions
Is Phantom Blade Zero a Chinese game?
Yes: it is developed and published by S-GAME, a Chinese studio.
Is Phantom Blade Zero hard?
It is demanding, but it has four difficulties and the easiest one works for every trophy.
Is Phantom Blade Zero a hack and slash?
It has a lot of hack and slash in its pace and combos, combined with the structure of an action RPG.
How long is Phantom Blade Zero?
Between 25 and 30 hours for the story and more than 40 for the true ending.
