Phantom Blade Zero Review Roundup

Phantom Blade Zero (Image: S-Game, via IGN)

Phantom Blade Zero, the kungfupunk action game from S-Game, launches October 29 on PS5 and PC, and the reviews are in. It's one of the best-reviewed action games of 2026. It holds an 88 Metascore and a 91 on OpenCritic, and GamesRadar+ notes it's ahead of Nioh 3, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, 007 First Light and Saros on Metacritic.

Critics mostly agree on one big thing: the combat is outstanding. It's fast, flashy and full of parries, dodges and weapon swaps that look like a wuxia film. The usual complaint is the story. You play Soul, a framed warrior with only 66 days to live, and many reviewers found the plot confusing or bland, with too many names and flashbacks. A few say boss fights slow the pace.

Aggregate Scores

Metacritic: 88 Metascore – metacritic.com
OpenCritic: 91 Top Critic Average, per GamesRadar+ – opencritic.com

Phantom Blade Zero (Image: S-Game, via GamesRadar+)

What the Critics Are Saying

IGN (9/10): An "unbelievably smooth" action game with memorable bosses and some of the best-tuned combat Travis Northup has played in a long time. The story tries to do too much, and invisible walls get in the way. – IGN
Push Square (9/10): "One of the Generation's Greatest Action Experiences." Combat with no stamina limits on attacks, dodges and parries feels freeing, even if flashbacks and collectibles drag the story down. – Push Square
GamesRadar+ (4.5/5): "A GOTY contender with combat that looks as good as it feels." The reviewer, who also covered Nioh 3 and Onimusha this year, says it just about beats them all. – GamesRadar+
GameSpot (8/10): The headline says it all: the combat is so good you won't care that the story makes no sense. – GameSpot

Phantom Blade Zero (Image: S-Game, via Eurogamer)

VGC (4/5): "A damn good action game that shouldn't be ignored," with some of the fastest combat around. VGC calls it stronger than Black Myth: Wukong, but finds the story and characters bland. – VGC
Eurogamer (3/5): Fluid, cinematic street fights and gorgeous environments, but boss battles drain the momentum, and the lore dump is dizzying. – Eurogamer
Polygon (Unscored): The "perfect martial arts game, for better or worse." It nails the wuxia-movie spectacle, but sometimes favors spectacle over trusting the player. – Polygon

GamesRadar+ also notes perfect scores from TheGamer, But Why Tho and PCGamesN, and only two reviews in Metacritic's "Mixed" range.

Phantom Blade Zero on PS5 (Image: S-Game, via Push Square)

The consensus: If you're here for the fights, Phantom Blade Zero is a must-play and an early game of the year contender for some critics. Just don't expect the story to keep up. It's not really a Soulslike either: GamesRadar+ says to drop that idea, since it's closer to a playable kung fu movie with a hardcore 66-deaths mode for the brave. It's out October 29 on PS5 and PC.

Lanbrew

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