Phantom Blade Zero Could Be 2026’s Black Myth: Wukong

On July 24, 2025, developer S-GAME releasedPhantom Blade Zero’s Year of the Snake gameplay trailer to celebrate the start of the Chinese zodiac calendar year. The unedited boss fight was as creative as it was fluid, and it immediately drove two points home: dark, grisly combat is here to stay, andBlack Myth: Wukongwas just the tip of the iceberg in Chinese tradition and culture. That’s saying something since there’s a lot of content thatPhantom Blade Zero’s developer is still holding close to its chest.

The title was first revealed during the Sony PlayStation Showcase in 2023, and it has steadily built anticipation among fans. The top reasons include its fluid combat, dark lore and world, and fusion of Chinese folklore and cyberpunk influences. Further, it’s being made in Unreal Engine 5, just like the ode to the Monkey King last year. WhileBlack Myth: Wukong’s record-breaking run in 2024may seem undefeatable,Phantom Blade Zero’s open world and combat system may just take the throne upon launch.

phantom blade zero summer game fest hands-on

Phantom Blade Zero Digs Deep Into Chinese Culture and Cyberpunk

The Summer Game Fest 2024 gave fans another look atPhantom Blade Zero’s cinematic and gameplay prowess, shining a light on the design concept that S-GAME Founder and CEOSoulframe Liang termed Kung Fu Punk. This, as may seem clear right away, is a fusion of martial arts with cyberpunk and steampunk genres.

Phantom Blade Zero’s world, combat, and traversal mechanics are based not only on this amalgamation of Kung Fu, cyberpunk, steampunk, and the occult, but also on Chinese Wuxia - a fantasy world that one can enter, but leave only upon death. The blend of traditional temples, traditionalistic architecture, colors, and environmental scenery with features like robotic limbs and machinery makes the experience singular. Soulframe has even talked about how the game’s specific approach makes it more accessible to everyone. Whether it’s a fan who frequently plays foreign games or someone who’s diving into unchartered waters for the first time, the design will remain appealing regardless.

phantom blade zero summer game fest hands-on

It should be mentioned that while it draws from Chinese traditions, heavy mythological influences aren’t present—at least, from what’s known so far. While bothPhantom Blade ZeroandBlack Myth: Wukongare based on the culture, stark differences are present.

Phantom Blade Zero’s Combat Is As Gory As It Is Flashy

Due toPhantom Blade Zero’s combat and world system, it has frequently been called a soulslike. Surprisingly, the similarities to the genre end at level design and select elements. The fighting mechanics, as violent as they may be, fall under a different category: they have martial arts and fancy footwork at the core. Thus, they are more in line withgames likeNinja GaidenandDevil May Crythan proper soulslikes such asElden RingandDark Souls 3.

The game has 30 weapons, and Soul can switch between two at any time in combat. He also gets about 20 Phantom Edges, which are essentially ranged gear like bows and arrows and hand cannons. Fans have already seen a few of these across the various trailers, such as a single red sword, two short and straight blades, a soft and flexible blade, and two serpent-like swords.

Phantom Blade Zero Tag Page Cover Art

Aside from these, thegame strongly emphasizes dodging and parrying, with getting the timing down being an incredibly important skill. Getting in the flow means opening up various counterattack opportunities and dealing extra damage, or even bypassing the enemy’s blocks. As such, learning weapons and an enemy’s moveset and building up combos is what the system is focused on.

Soulframe’s dedicated PlayStation blog published in May 2023 shed more light on howPhantom Blade Zero’s combat works when it’s this stylish and fantastical. He explained that Mr. Kenji Tanigaki, a renowned action and film director fromclassic Chinese Kung Fu movies, is the game’s action director. Soulframe also explained that each of the game’s fights is handcrafted animation, as “motion capturing can’t do it justice.” This not only allows the developers to make the combat more realistic and gory but also allows them to weave in fancy footwork and movement mechanics that are usually limited by motion-capture technology. The result is an exemplary showcase of flashy but gruesome martial arts and swordplay.

Phantom Blade Zero Shows Black Myth: Wukong Was Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

It was expected thatBlack Myth: Wukongwould fly high, but not just how high. Its visual fidelity and Chinese lore-woven story were spectacular, but it was the combat system and the enemy variety and mechanics, not to mention the sheer design creativity, that hit it out of the ballpark. As a result, many fans felt it was snubbed at The Game Awards 2024 whenAstro Botwon Game of the Year.

Black Myth: Wukongcame from a relatively unknown developer at the time, Game Science, and was an ambitious project. A game diving heavily into Chinese culture may have been seen as risky by many, but its success was unprecedented. Now,Phantom Blade Zerohas shown fans there’s more where that came from.

Developer S-GAME’s title isn’t a true-blue experience as it blends in cyberpunk and other influences. However, the fact that it draws heavily from Chinese culture for world and character design, lore, and fighting and traversal mechanics, lends the belief that there’s a long time before the well runs dry. The combat is also rich, even more feature- and rhythm-heavy. Given the game design and story elements at play, it may not be a far cry to say thatPhantom Blade Zeromay be the nextBlack Myth: Wukong.

Phantom Blade Zero’s tentative release date is sometime in Fall 2026, although this may change. Fortunately, the Year of the Snake gameplay trailer stated that the release date will be announced in 2025. Between that and more potential content reveals, fans may have more news coming their way in due time.