After State of Play, Phantom Blade Zero looks better than ever

Phantom Blade Zero has spent years turning heads with some of the slickest combat footage we have seen from an upcoming action game. Fast sword clashes, dramatic parries and over-the-top kung fu choreography have always been the main attraction. But during its latest State of Play Gameplay Deep Dive, S-GAME finally showed that there is a proper RPG hiding underneath all that stylish action.

Previous trailers mostly focused on spectacle. Boss fights, cinematic duels and flashy weapon moves made the game look incredible, but they did not tell us much about what actually happens between those big encounters. This new presentation filled in many of those gaps.

One of the biggest reveals was the game's weapon system. Phantom Blade Zero will feature more than 55 weapons, including over 30 primary weapons and around 25 secondary weapons known as Phantom Edges. These are not simply different skins either. Each weapon comes with its own techniques and combat possibilities, allowing players to experiment with very different fighting styles.

S-GAME also showed how forgiving that experimentation can be. Weapons can be reforged, returning the materials previously invested into them. That means you should be able to switch builds without feeling like you have ruined your character by upgrading the wrong sword ten hours earlier.

There is much more than boss fights

The deep dive also gave us a better look at exploration. Phantom Blade Zero is not a traditional open-world game, but it features eight interconnected regions filled with alternate routes, secrets, optional encounters and side quests.

Those side quests could be especially important. Helping characters and exploring optional stories can apparently unlock new narrative paths and reveal more about the world of Wulin. That makes exploration feel like more than simply hunting for upgrade materials.

Difficulty options were another interesting surprise. Players will have several settings to choose from, including the brutal Sixty-Six Days mode. Soul has only 66 days left to live in the story, and this mode turns that countdown into an actual gameplay mechanic. Dying removes time from your remaining lifespan, potentially ending your run if the clock reaches zero.

S-GAME also highlighted more advanced enemy behaviour on higher difficulties, with enemies adapting rather than simply gaining enormous health bars.

Then there is the continued involvement of martial arts legend Donnie Yen, who has helped S-GAME shape its combat choreography and also portrays Soul's father, Mó Yuan, through likeness and motion capture.

For years, Phantom Blade Zero looked like a game built around spectacular fights. Now it is starting to look like something much bigger: an action RPG packed with builds, exploration, meaningful side content and plenty of reasons to experiment.

Phantom Blade Zero launches on PS5 and PC in October 2026. If all that kung fu chaos has put it on your wishlist, use our price comparison tool to find the best prices for Phantom Blade Zero and make sure you get the best deal before stepping into Wulin.