Phantom Blade Zero
Upcoming wuxia ARPG blending kungfu with steampunk and cyberpunk.
Phantom Blade Zero is an upcoming wuxia action role-playing game from Chinese developer and publisher S-Game. It is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Windows on 29 October 2026. The game has attracted attention for its "kungfupunk" style, which mixes traditional Chinese martial arts with steampunk and cyberpunk influences, and for offering eight different endings based on player choices.
In the game, players take on the role of Soul, an elite assassin who once worked for a shadowy group called The Order. The story follows his quest to uncover the truth behind the murder of The Order's patriarch. The action is rooted in Chinese martial arts, developed with input from traditional martial arts schools and inspired by classic martial arts films.
Gameplay is third-person action role-playing. Soul can carry two primary weapons (blades, each with an ultimate ability called a power surge) and two secondary weapons (phantom edges, which include cannons, lances, axes, hammers, and more). Sha-chi is a resource used for heavy attacks and blocks. Defensive options include blocking, parrying, and dodging, but some enemy attacks are color-coded: brutal moves drain sha-chi heavily when blocked, and killer moves cannot be blocked or parried at all. A ghostep—a repositioning move that puts Soul behind an enemy—triggers when a brutal move is parried or a killer move is dodged just before impact.
Character progression uses a skill tree. Weapons can be upgraded with materials, and reforging recovers those materials. The world is semi-open, with seamlessly connected regions. Some areas are initially inaccessible but can be reached later through non-linear paths, often requiring specific weapons. Main quests follow Soul's story, while side quests explore other characters and can influence the main narrative. Depending on side quest outcomes, the story ends in one of eight ways.
Difficulty options include Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker, and 66 Days. Hellwalker features more advanced and adaptive enemy AI. 66 Days is equivalent to Hellwalker but adds permadeath after a death counter drops from 66 to 0. A New Game Plus mode unlocks after finishing the game once.
The setting is the Phantom World, based roughly on Ming dynasty China, blending wuxia, steampunk, cyberpunk, dark fantasy, and horror.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Developer
- S-Game
- Director
- Soulframe LiangQiwei Liang is known by the pseudonym Soulframe. In English-language public communications, he uses either Soulframe Liang or Soulframe.
- Producer
- Soulframe Liang
- Artist
- Michael Chang
- Composer
- Caisheng Bo
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows
- Released
- 29 October 2026
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Phantom Blade Zero is set in the Phantom World, a realm based on China during roughly the Ming dynasty, incorporating elements of wuxia, steampunk, cyberpunk, dark fantasy, and horror. The player controls Soul, an elite assassin who once served a powerful organization known as The Order. After being framed for the murder of The Order's patriarch, Soul is gravely wounded and given only 66 days to live by a mysterious healer called the Flesh Sculptor. The story follows his quest to unravel the conspiracy behind his betrayal.
Reader's Guide
Phantom Blade Zero represents a significant evolution for S-Game, marking a return to the story foundations of the early Rainblood titles while introducing a fully 3D world built with Unreal Engine 5. The game's combat system emphasizes authentic Chinese martial arts, developed through collaboration with traditional martial arts schools and inspired by classic martial arts cinema. Players can carry two primary blades and two secondary phantom edges, with defensive maneuvers including blocking, parrying, and dodging, and color-cued enemy attacks that restrict counter options. The semi-open world features seamlessly connected regions with non-linear progression, and side quests can influence the main story, leading to one of eight endings. Difficulty options range from Wayfarer to the permadeath mode 66 Days. The game gained momentum after its showcase at the PlayStation Showcase in May 2023 and further interest following the 2024 success of Black Myth: Wukong, which brought additional funding. S-Game shifted its focus entirely to Phantom Blade Zero, suspending all other projects.
Did You Know?
- The game's protagonist Soul is described as a xiake, a Chinese heroic figure who is cold on the outside but warm inside.
- The game features a permadeath mode called 66 Days, where the player has 66 lives before the run ends.
- S-Game conducted a nationwide search to trace the roots of Chinese martial arts, visiting Shaolin Temple, Emei Mountain, and Guangdong's Southern Lion Troupes.
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