Phantom Blade Zero is an action RPG for people tired of Soulslikes: Dev says “have fun, unwind”
By (Image credit: S-Game)
When I initially experimented with Phantom Blade Zero earlier this year during Gamescom Latam, I exited the hands-on demonstration feeling invigorated. I had just engaged with a Dark Souls-inspired action RPG (though certainly not a Soulslike), and I effectively took down numerous foes. The gameplay was rapid, the combos fluid, and most crucially, boss encounters didn’t leave me doubting every choice in life that led to that moment. I appreciated it, and I composed an entire article regarding how I desired more high-budget action RPGs to resemble.
Now that the wuxia-style Phantom Blade Zero is freely available, it is evident that it serves as the beginner-friendly dark fantasy action RPG for myself and anyone else exhausted by encountering a new game, feeling intrigued, and then being thoroughly overwhelmed by its absurd difficulty curve. As I mentioned in May, I yearn to adore Elden Ring. I long to cherish Sekiro. I truly desire to appreciate Bloodborne. They just need to ease up a bit, or at least offer me the ability to reduce the difficulty.
Phantom Blade Zero, in contrast, possesses several of the delightful elements of a well-crafted Soulslike—the extensive, cinematic boss battles, the bizarre enemy designs, the intricate lore—but without the obligatory harshness. Reviews from critics and players alike indicate that the game is considerably more forgiving than your standard Soulslike, providing difficulty settings should you wish for more or less of a challenge. In a tweet from game director and S-Games CEO “Soulframe” Liang, it is expressly stated that Phantom Blade Zero was crafted with players of all skill levels in mind.
The anticipation is nearly over!
Before the adventure commences, our Game Director, Soulframe, shares a heartfelt message with you all.
We sincerely invite you into the Phantom World on October 28 at 7:00 PM PDT! https://t.co/ZqTTv3tyDBOctober 28, 2026
“In the past several years, we have closely examined numerous conventions that action RPGs and action games have traditionally treated as implicit rules.
