Phantom Blade Zero: Release Date, Reviews and Metacritic

The review embargo for Phantom Blade Zero lifted on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, and critics are calling it one of the year's best action games. The dark wuxia action RPG from Chinese developer S-Game launches on Oct. 29 for PlayStation 5 and PC, and searches for "Phantom Blade Zero," "Phantom Blade Zero release date" and "Phantom Blade Zero Metacritic" passed 20,000 in the U.S. on Google Trends. Here is what reviewers say, what it costs and what kind of game it is.

What we know

OpenCritic lists a Top Critic Average of 90, with 95% of critics recommending the game. TheGamer reported a Metacritic score of 88 on both PS5 and PC, ahead of this year's Onimusha: Way of the Sword (85) and Nioh 3 (86), by its count.

Sources: PlayStation; OpenCritic; TheGamer.

What kind of game is it?

On PlayStation's store page, S-Game describes the story: you play as Soul, "a swordsman with a wounded heart and only sixty-six days left to live," framed for murdering his master and hunted across the Wulin as he uncovers a conspiracy. The studio calls its style "Kungfupunk," fusing traditional martial arts and wuxia cinema with mechanical prosthetics and punk fantasy. It promises 30-plus primary weapons and 20-plus Phantom Edges, limited-use special weapons claimed from fallen foes.

GamesRadar+ stresses that it is not a Soulslike. Enemies almost never respawn, save points are placed generously and medicines refill when you come back to life. The 66-day countdown is not a real-time limit, but an optional hardcore difficulty wipes your progress after 66 deaths. Hong Kong film star Donnie Yen is credited as creative consultant and took part in motion capture, GamesRadar+ reported.

How the combat works

According to GamesRadar+, you equip two weapons at a time, and switching between them instantly refills Sha-Chi, a resource drained by blocking and strong attacks. Each of the 30 regular weapons has its own traits, from one that builds bleed on human enemies to another that comes with a jug of booze that makes Soul "Tipsy" or "Drunk." Many weapons are missable, so exploring pays off. Some Phantom Edges also open new routes, adding a light Metroidvania element, and accessories can add elemental resistance or extra damage against certain enemies. Parries, dodges and unblockable red-flash attacks are all part of the mix, but GamesRadar+ said button-mashing usually gets punished.

Who is S-Game?

Phantom Blade Zero is S-Game's debut console title, TheGamer noted, and Push Square said the studio has been building toward it "for almost a decade." GamesRadar+ traces its supernatural martial arts world back to the director's first game, Rainblood: Town of Death.

What critics are saying

The praise

• IGN (9/10): "One of the best action games I've played in a long time, with standout combat that never came even close to feeling old across 50 hours of playing," wrote Travis Northup, as quoted by TheGamer.
• GamesRadar+: "A GOTY contender with combat that looks as good as it feels." Reviewer Luke Kemp praised the weapon design and a "tightly designed world."
• TheGamer (5/5): called it "a genuine Game of the Year contender," with "all-time great boss battles" and a soundtrack that fuses Chinese sounds with contemporary genres.
• DualShockers (9.5/10): "hands down the best action RPG this year."
• Push Square (9/10): "one of the PS5's very best action games."
• VGC (4/5): said it is "undoubtedly stronger than genre stablemates like Black Myth: Wukong."

The criticism

• Eurogamer (3/5): Emma Kent praised the animations, environments and combat flow, but said "balance and quality issues ultimately dim its shine," criticizing early boss fights and a "pretty unremarkable narrative," per TheGamer.
• Polygon (unscored): praised its kung fu film style but said it lacks trust in the player to act out its abilities.
• Bugs and performance: GamesRadar+ ran into a few bugs, including getting stuck on scenery in two boss fights, and IGN's reviewer hit performance issues, TheGamer reported. GamesRadar+ also listed "inconsistent storytelling" as a drawback.

PlayStation Universe (10/10) went furthest, calling it "an absolute masterclass in action-RPG design," while noting "minor camera quirks and invisible walls," according to OpenCritic.

How long is it?

GamesRadar+ reached the final boss after 30 to 35 hours and got what it called the "Bad Ending," with an entire region left to explore. Secret bosses tied to the True Ending bring a steep difficulty spike, it said.

Editions and bonuses

On PS5, the PlayStation Store lists pre-order bonuses including a Treasure Basin accessory and a "Legacy" appearance, both of which can also be earned through play. The Deluxe Edition adds two exclusive appearances, a digital artbook and the soundtrack. The PS5 version is PS5 Pro Enhanced and supports the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

What's next

1. Launch day, Oct. 29. Expect day-one patches; GamesRadar+ said it hoped the bugs it saw would be patched on or shortly after launch.
2. Player reviews. OpenCritic's player rating appears after 20 ratings.
3. More tech. For hardware news, see the new OLED iPad mini, and check our report on Samsung TV privacy claims.

The bottom line

Phantom Blade Zero arrives Oct. 29 on PS5 and PC with some of the year's best action-game reviews, an OpenCritic 90 and a reported 88 on Metacritic. If you want fast, stylish combat over a polished story, critics say it delivers.