Phantom Blade Zero reviews are in ahead of its October 29 launch on PS5 and PC ($59.99), and critics love it. The review embargo lifted at midnight UTC on October 26, and by 00:15 UTC Metacritic showed a Metascore of 88 for the PC version and 88 for PS5. Almost every outlet singles out the combat and the boss fights. The story is the most common complaint.
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Phantom Blade Zero Metacritic score
S-GAME’s action RPG scored “Generally Favorable” on both platforms. These counts were checked at 00:15 UTC on October 26. Early scores move as more reviews arrive, so expect small changes over the next few days.
| Platform | Metascore | Scored reviews | Positive / mixed / negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 88 | 24 | 23 / 1 / 0 |
| PS5 | 88 | 22 | 21 / 1 / 0 |
The only mixed score so far comes from Eurogamer. On OpenCritic, we couldn’t read a stable aggregate at the time of writing.
Phantom Blade Zero review scores by outlet
We opened each review ourselves. The platform column shows the version that outlet reviewed.
| Outlet | Score | Reviewed on |
|---|---|---|
| Wccftech | 10/10 | PC |
| PCGamesN | 10/10 | PC |
| DualShockers | 9.5/10 | PC |
| Push Square | 9/10 | PS5 Pro |
| Insider Gaming | 9/10 | PS5 Pro |
| Dexerto | 4/5 | PC |
| Eurogamer | 3/5 | PC |
Press Start also reviewed it on PS5 Pro and calls it “a confident, ambitious knockout”. Its page didn’t show a numeric score when we checked.
Boss fights are the part of Phantom Blade Zero critics praise most. Image: S-GAME
What critics praise: combat and bosses
The combat is the headline. Push Square says it “features one of the most rewarding combat systems I’ve ever engaged with”. Wccftech calls the game “one of the best action RPGs of the generation”. Eurogamer notes there’s no traditional stamina bar, so quick attacks, sprints and dodges cost nothing, which allows much speedier combat than in other Soulslikes.
Bosses come up again and again. PCGamesN says the boss fights are “regularly the absolute highlights of the game”. Press Start praises “some of the most satisfying boss encounters in recent memory”. Push Square notes that defeated bosses often drop their weapon. Eurogamer points out a friendlier rule: if you die in a boss’s second phase, you restart at that phase, not at the beginning of the fight.
Expect a long game. DualShockers says its campaign took “around 40 hours”, and Insider Gaming puts a completionist run at 45 to 50 hours.
What critics criticise: story and rough edges
The story is the weak spot. Push Square writes that “poor storytelling threatens the fast-paced nature of the title through incessant flashbacks and tedious collectibles”. Dexerto says the narrative “isn’t its strongest feature”. Wccftech says “the way the story is narrated leaves something to be desired”. Eurogamer adds that the way the lore is delivered, often through collectible scrolls, is “definitely not one of Phantom Blade Zero’s strengths”.
The lowest score so far is Eurogamer’s 3/5. It praises the swordplay but says “balance and quality issues ultimately dim its shine”. Other complaints are smaller:
- Recycled enemies: Insider Gaming says the game reuses enemy types more often from the Pangzhen region onward.
- Frame drops: Push Square saw drops during some boss battles in Performance Mode on PS5 Pro.
- Hitches: Press Start mentions occasional hitches when new areas load.
Critics praise the art direction, though the story and lore delivery draw the most criticism. Image: S-GAME
Phantom Blade Zero release time, platforms and price
Phantom Blade Zero launches digitally on October 29 at 02:00 UTC on PS5 and on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. In the Americas, that’s 7 pm PT / 10 pm ET on October 28. The Standard Edition costs $59.99 on Steam. Our Phantom Blade Zero release times, pre-load and physical edition guide has every time zone and the editions. A PS5 physical edition isn’t due until 2027.
For the series’ earlier mobile entry, see our Phantom Blade: Executioners guide. Another October 29 launch is The Wolf Among Us Remastered.
What’s next
More reviews will arrive over the next few days, so the Metascore may still move. Pre-load opens on October 27 at 02:00 UTC. Once the game unlocks on October 29, we’ll follow with launch guides.
Sources: Metacritic, Push Square, Wccftech, PCGamesN, DualShockers, Insider Gaming, Dexerto, Eurogamer, Press Start, Steam.
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Featured image: S-GAME
