The one everybody gets wrong
It is not a soulslike, and S-GAME has said so directly. Their own description rests on three pillars: Devil May Cry's combat, Souls-style level design, and Resident Evil's atmosphere and narrative pacing. Hands-on previews describe a fast character-action game with combos, closer to Ninja Gaiden than to Lordran. If you are coming for a stamina bar and a bonfire loop, adjust the expectation now rather than in the first hour.
Buying it
📅 When and where
29 October 2026, on PlayStation 5 and PC. No Xbox or Switch 2 version has been announced — which is different from one having been delayed.
💵 The editions
Standard at $59.99 and Digital Deluxe at $69.99. The Deluxe adds the Wulin Legend and Blood-Steel Form outfits, a digital art book and the soundtrack.
🎁 Pre-order bonuses
Both editions unlock the Legacy Outfit and the Treasure Basin accessory early. Cosmetics and a convenience item — nothing that changes the game.
⏱️ How long
S-GAME's own estimate is 20 to 30 hours for the main story with roughly another 20 of side content, so 40 to 50 to see everything.
Playing it
👥 Is there co-op?
The story is single-player only. The endgame is not: S-GAME has described multiplayer dungeons, boss rushes and roguelike abysses to be tackled with others. So the answer is no for the campaign and yes for what comes after it.
🔺 How hard is it?
Four settings — Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker and 66 Days, the last being a permadeath variant named after the borrowed heart the story runs on. Difficulty is a choice here, not a badge.
⚔️ How many weapons?
30 primary and 25 secondary phantom edges, carried two and two. Upgrades unlock new forms and can be reset for a refund, so committing early is not a trap.
🗺️ Is it open world?
No, and not linear either. Eight hand-painted maps connect into one seamless world — S-GAME's phrasing is that it is neither an open world nor a linear adventure from beginning to end.
The series
🔗 Do I need to have played anything?
No. Phantom Blade Zero is a spin-off of Phantom Blade: Executioners, S-GAME's 2D side-scrolling action RPG, and both sit in the same Phantom World universe — but Zero is built as an entry point, not a sequel.
🏮 What is Kungfupunk?
S-GAME's own label for the mix: Ming-dynasty China crossed with steampunk machinery, body modification, cyberpunk and horror. It is a genre name they made up, and it describes the game better than any existing one.
Still to verify
Cross-checked on 10 September 2026 against Wikipedia's Phantom Blade Zero entry, GamingBolt's State of Play deep dive, Game Rant's hands-on impressions and the pre-order coverage at Gfinity, Beebom and Dot Esports, which agree on the figures and quotes used here. What is still unverified is the only thing reading cannot settle — nobody here has played it.