Phantom Blade Zero FAQ: Everything New Players Ask

How long is Phantom Blade Zero?

Director Soulframe Liang estimates 25–30 hours for the main story for an experienced player who doesn't get stuck. He also said it depends mostly on how long you spend on bosses. Side quests, Memory Flowers and gear upgrades add a lot on top. Going for 100% or playing on Hellwalker will take noticeably longer.

Is Phantom Blade Zero open world?

No, it's semi-open. The game is split into large regions that connect seamlessly, and you can pursue parts of the main story in a non-linear order. It isn't one continuous open map, though. Bells act as checkpoints and fast-travel points, and some routes only open once you have the right Phantom Edge.

Is there multiplayer or co-op?

No. Phantom Blade Zero is single-player only. Steam lists it as "Single-player," and there is no co-op or PvP mode.

Can you create your own character?

No. You play as Soul, a set protagonist with his own story. You can change his look with outfits and customize his loadout of weapons, Phantom Edges and accessories. See who Soul is.

Is it a Soulslike?

Partly. It has bell checkpoints, interconnected regions and tough bosses, but combat is faster and combo-based, and you choose from four difficulty modes. Full breakdown: Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?

Is Phantom Blade Zero on Xbox or Switch?

Not at the moment. It launched on PS5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and no Xbox or Nintendo version has been announced. More on platforms, prices and editions: release date and PC requirements.

Is there a physical copy?

Not yet. Launch was digital-only, and a physical PS5 edition is expected in 2027.

Is Phantom Blade Zero a remake of Rainblood?

No. The director calls it a "spiritual rebirth," not a remake: same world, a new and longer story. You don't need to play the older games. See how Phantom Blade Zero and Rainblood are connected.

Is there New Game Plus?

Yes. New Game Plus unlocks after the credits. You start it by speaking to a character at a specific location (details in our NG+ guide). Your equipment, progression items and ability training carry over. Quests, maps, key items and the day count reset. The director has said no story content is locked behind NG+.

How many endings are there?

Pre-release coverage reported eight endings. A post-launch walkthrough by PowerPyx documents two outcomes, a Normal ending and a True ending, decided by side quests you finish before certain story cutoffs. We explain both, with spoilers hidden, in the endings guide.

Can you get every achievement in one playthrough?

Yes, according to the director, on any difficulty, as long as you explore and finish the side content. PowerPyx's guide agrees, provided you go for the True ending. There are 66 achievements on Steam. Here's the full list.

Who made Phantom Blade Zero?

It was developed and published by S-GAME, a studio based in China, and directed by Soulframe Liang (梁其伟), who created the original Rainblood games. It runs on Unreal Engine 5. Martial-arts star Donnie Yen served as a creative consultant and did facial and motion capture for the character Mó Yuan.

What do Wulin, wuxia and kungfupunk mean?

Wulin is the martial world the game takes place in, wuxia is the genre of Chinese martial-hero stories, and kungfupunk is the studio's name for its art style. All the terms are explained in the glossary.

Is it worth buying?

Reviews were very strong: 88 on Metacritic (PC), 87 (PS5) and 96% recommended on OpenCritic. Choose it if you like fast, flashy melee combat and boss fights. Skip it if you want co-op or a fully open world.