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Dark wuxia action epic “Phantom Blade Zero” scores 88 on Metacritic! Its parry-driven combat is highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools”

It was also praised in a Game*Spark review as a “masterpiece that will go down in the history of action games” and received a score of 9.

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The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”
  • The dark wuxia action epic *Phantom Blade Zero* scores an 88 on Metascore! Its combat system—which makes full use of parries and other mechanics—has been highly praised as “game design that should be taught in schools.”

Reviews are now available for *Phantom Blade Zero*, set to be released by S-GAME on October 29, 2026. The game has already garnered high praise, including a Metascore of 88 on Metacritic for the PC version.

A swordsman with 66 days to live races through a “Kung Fu Punk” martial arts world

Set in a “Kung Fu Punk” world that blends wuxia and punk fantasy, this is a dark wuxia action-adventure game.

The protagonist is “Soul,” a swordsman who has been falsely accused of murdering his lord and, having suffered a severe wound to the heart, has only 66 days left to live.While investigating the conspiracies plaguing the martial arts world, he fights enemies by skillfully switching between over 30 main weapons and 25 sub-weapons called “Phantom Edges,” and making full use of dodging and parrying.


About 6 Hours of Early Hands-On with the Highly Anticipated New Sword-Fighting Action Game ‘Phantom Blade Zero’! High-Speed Swordplay That “Feels Great the More You Attack” and a Wuxia World That Makes You Want to Wander | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site
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I attended a media demo event held in Beijing, China, and got an early hands-on with *Phantom Blade Zero* for about 6 hours.We’ll share the game’s play feel—as seen only through hands-on experience—including the exhilaration of high-speed swordplay, the unique “rhythm” born from the back-and-forth with enemies, the beautiful yet ominous wuxia world, and the charm of side quests and reunions with NPCs that make you want to explore further.
https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/09/173402.htmlRead more »


“Anyone Can Become a Kung Fu Master”: An Interview with the Developers of *Phantom Blade Zero*. We Ask About the Action DNA Learned from Donnie Yen and the Game’s Unique RPG Design | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Gaming News Site
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With the release of *Phantom Blade Zero* scheduled for October 29, Game*Spark visited S-GAME’s headquarters in Beijing, China, ahead of the launch to interview Game Director Soulframe and Sound Producer Bo Caisheng.They discussed the design philosophy behind the action RPG, the high-difficulty AI that adapts to player behavior, and the action production techniques they learned from Donnie Yen.
https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/09/173401.htmlRead more »

S-GAME is handling both development and publishing in-house. Action actor Donnie Yen is serving as a creative consultant and martial arts supervisor.

Metascore of 88!

As of this writing, the PC version has earned a Metascore of 88 (based on 27 reviews) on Metacritic. The PS5 version also scored 88 (based on 26 reviews).

Critics have praised the game highly for its fast-paced and fluid combat—reminiscent of kung fu movies—as well as its diverse array of unique weapons, challenging yet memorable boss battles, art direction and music that enhance the dark world, and exploration that makes you want to take detours. Some are even naming it a contender for Game of the Year in 2026.

In particular, screenactu (98 points) went so far as to praise it, stating, “This game’s combat system should be taught in every game design school.”


Game*Spark Review: “Phantom Blade Zero”—This Is the Kung Fu Game I’ve Been Waiting For! The Story Has a “Kanji Barrier,” but the Combat Has Unfathomable Charm. A Masterpiece That Will Go Down in Action Game History | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site
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Full of “moves that look familiar” from kung fu movies and the like
https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/26/174068.htmlRead more »

Game*Spark has also published a review, calling it “a masterpiece I’d recommend to all lovers of kung fu movies.”The review highlighted the game’s strengths—stunning and overwhelming kung fu action, a sense of exploration that keeps you engaged until the very end, and diverse, never-boring boss battles—and noted that the game’s appeal lies in the fact that “players can become the cool protagonist of a kung fu movie.”

Although the review noted some difficult-to-read kanji and occasional instability in performance, the game received a review score of 9 out of 10.

*Phantom Blade Zero* is scheduled for release on October 29, 2026, for PC (Steam/Epic Games Store) and PS5. The Standard Edition is priced at 8,580 yen, and the Digital Deluxe Edition at 9,980 yen. A physical edition is also scheduled for release in 2027.


PlayStation 5 デジタル・エディション 日本語専用 Console Language: Japanese only (CFI-2200B01)
￥55,000
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)
Amazon
楽天市場
PlayStation 5 デジタル・エディション ミッドナイト ブラック 日本語専用 Console Language: Japanese only(CFI-2200B02S)
￥55,000
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)
Amazon
楽天市場
By Game*Spark

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