TechRadar calls Phantom Blade Zero one of the year's best action games

The wuxia- and martial-arts-inspired RPG opens with bombastic battles and cinematic visuals as it introduces Soul, a wandering warrior crossing the corrupted land of Wulin. TechRadar said the 20-plus-hour adventure does not deliver everything narratively but excels in its world and combat. The review praised detailed weapon designs, satisfying sound effects and animations, and said new weapons and Phantom Arts kept combat exciting, with the better options standing out enough to force difficult choices about which two to upgrade and wield. It also described the world as gorgeous and varied and said the game is generous with resources, letting players try many weapons with ease.

TechRadar described most regular enemies as fairly easy to cut through, but said the game's tough and inventive bosses test players' skills and weapon choices. It highlighted a forgiving defensive system: holding block deflects most attacks at the cost of sha-chi, a stamina resource also used for skills, while a quick weapon switch can refill it. Perfectly timed parries do not drain sha-chi and instead leave opponents open; blue-flash attacks can be parried for a counterattack, and red-flash attacks must be dodged. The review said key moves are readable and the ability to block most other attacks gives players time to study opponents and survive small mistakes.

The game also does not require players to trudge back to collect resources after death if they want to move on, a change TechRadar called a blessing for players not in the mood for another Souls-like. Some bosses, including dramatic fights hidden off the main path or in side quests, repeatedly flattened the reviewer, making exploration rewarding for players seeking a challenge.

TechRadar said the story is told in bits and pieces, mainly through flashbacks, and can be tough to follow, while pacing slumps every so often. Even so, the review said every element of combat comes together, with outstanding weapon variety, strong sound design, exciting boss encounters and some of the best animations the reviewer has seen in an action game.

Editor's Summary

TechRadar's review positions Phantom Blade Zero as a strong action debut for S-Game, with combat, weapon variety and boss design as its main strengths. The game is set for release on Oct. 29, 2026, across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with story clarity and pacing identified as its main weaknesses.