Phantom Blade Zero

Developer: S-Game
Platform: PC, PS5
Release Date: TBD

While Phantom Blaze Zero looks to be another Souls-like in the vein of Lies of P or Black Myth: Wukong, it’s actually much more rooted within the combat-heavy, reflex-focused Souls-style games like Sekiro or Nioh. The flow of action and the style of Phantom Blade Zero are inspired by Wuxia fantasy, but with a darker spin. You take on the role of a wandering warrior facing off against demons and invaders, and you’ll master the fundamentals of combat to parry strikes, lay into foes with combos, and unleash powerful weapon arts.

I previously played Phantom Blade Zero at Summer Game Fest, and I was admittedly a bit overwhelmed by just how fast the game was with its combat. But after playing the demo at TGS 2024, I felt a bit more in tune with the game. While it was still a bit overwhelming at times, I was drawn in by how Phantom Blade Zero features such a slick and graceful sense of style for its action. And the boss encounters are exciting to contend with, such as a battle against a foe who wields a flying guillotine that can instantly kill you if you haven’t mastered dodging (it sounds frustrating, but it was actually quite fun in practice to get a handle on). I really appreciate the pace of the game, and it’s certainly shot up my list of action games to keep an eye on in the future.