Phantom Blade Zero: Release Date, Reviews, PC Specs and Price

A Chinese studio's kung fu action game is about to land with near-perfect reviews. Phantom Blade Zero launches on 29 October 2026 for PS5 and PC, and early reviews are glowing. The Shortcut's review roundup headline sums it up: "one of the best action-adventures of the year."

It holds an 88 on Metacritic and a 91 top critic average on OpenCritic, where 100% of critics recommend it. Not bad for a game that topped Steam's sales chart in a single day of pre-orders back in August.

Here's when Phantom Blade Zero unlocks, what reviewers loved and didn't, the PC specs, and where to find other players.

At a glance - Release date: 29 October 2026 (evening of 28 October in the Americas) - Platforms: PS5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) - Price: $59.99 Standard, $69.99 Digital Deluxe - Reviews: 88 on Metacritic, 91 on OpenCritic - PC download: about 145 GB, SSD required - Developer and publisher: S-GAME

⚔️ What Is Phantom Blade Zero?

Phantom Blade Zero is a single-player wuxia action RPG from Chinese studio S-GAME. You play as Soul, an assassin in a martial-arts world the studio calls "Kungfupunk," a mix of classic kung fu and steampunk machinery.

A boss fight in Phantom Blade Zero. Image: S-GAME via Steam.

Combat is the star. Soul carries two main Blades and two Phantom Edges, and a shared meter called Sha-Chi works as stamina, posture and skill gauge for both you and your enemies. MP1st reports the game has at least 50 bosses and 30 main weapons.

Don't expect a classic Soulslike, either. MP1st describes it as "not a Soulslike," and reviewers focus on its fast, cinematic parry-and-counter fights.

⭐ Phantom Blade Zero Reviews: What Critics Say

Output Lag read 19 reviews in full and found a clear pattern:

• Combat: praised in all 19. Reviewers describe parry-and-counter fights "shot like a martial arts film."
• Bosses: praised in 18, with multi-phase fights called the high point.
• Story: split almost down the middle. Some loved the revenge plot. Others, like Push Square, found the flashbacks confusing.
• Regular enemies: criticised in 9 reviews for feeling repetitive.
• English voice acting: several reviews suggest switching to the Chinese audio with subtitles.

Phantom Blade Zero. Image: S-GAME via Steam.

🖥️ Phantom Blade Zero PC Specs

According to MP1st, these are the official PC requirements. Both tiers assume upscaling, with ray tracing and path tracing turned off.

Two things to plan for:

• Free up 300 GB. The install needs about 300 GB of free space while it unpacks, then drops to around 145 GB.
• Skip the Steam Deck for now. Output Lag's testing found it under 30 FPS at the lowest settings, with dips near 10 FPS.

On PS5, Output Lag says Performance mode mostly holds 60 FPS, with some drops in rainy areas and boss fights.

If you play while chatting with friends, our guide to Discord Game Mode and fixing lag shows how to stop Discord slowing your games.

💰 Price and Editions

Pre-order bonus: the Treasure Basin accessory and the Legacy outfit. You can also earn both by playing, and neither edition includes early access.

💬 The Phantom Blade Zero Discord Server

S-GAME runs an official Phantom Blade Zero Discord server, with about 7,400 members right now. It's small compared with the game's Steam hype, so expect it to grow fast after launch.

The official Phantom Blade Zero server banner on Discord. Image: S-GAME.

It's the place for patch news and boss strategies. Want more gaming communities? A Discord server finder helps you compare servers by size and activity, and our guide to setting up a gaming Discord server covers building your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Phantom Blade Zero come out?

29 October 2026 on PS5 and PC. In the Americas, it unlocks on the evening of 28 October.

Is Phantom Blade Zero good?

Critics think so. It has an 88 on Metacritic and a 91 top critic average on OpenCritic, with combat and bosses getting the most praise.

How big is Phantom Blade Zero on PC?

About 145 GB, but you need around 300 GB free during installation. An SSD is required.

Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?

Not really. MP1st describes it as "not a Soulslike," and its combat is built around fast parries and counters.

Can you play Phantom Blade Zero on Steam Deck?

Not well right now. Testing found it below 30 FPS at the lowest settings.

🎮 The Bottom Line

Phantom Blade Zero looks like the real deal. The combat and boss fights are winning over almost every critic, even if the story and regular enemies divide opinion.

If your PC meets the specs, or you're on PS5, this is one of the safest action buys of the year. Just clear 300 GB first.

Are you picking up Phantom Blade Zero on launch day, or waiting for a sale?

Sources

1. MP1st: Phantom Blade Zero preload, 145 GB size and PC requirements, 25 October 2026
2. Yahoo Tech: Phantom Blade Zero lands Oct. 29, here's how to pre-order and what it costs
3. Metacritic: Phantom Blade Zero
4. OpenCritic: Phantom Blade Zero
5. Output Lag: Phantom Blade Zero review roundup, 26 October 2026
6. The Shortcut: Phantom Blade Zero review roundup
7. Inven Global: Phantom Blade Zero hits No. 1 on Steam sales chart via pre-orders, 12 August 2026
8. Steam: Phantom Blade Zero
9. PlayStation: Phantom Blade Zero
10. Discord: Phantom Blade Zero official server