Phantom Blade Zero Showcases New Gameplay at S-Party 2025

At this year’s S-Party 2025 event in Beijing, Chinese developer S-Game unveiled fresh gameplay for its highly anticipated action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero. The two-day event gave attendees and fans a deeper look into the game, including never-before-seen boss fights, secret item discoveries, and new weapon showcases.

A 22-minute gameplay demo was published by IGN India, offering a sneak peek into the evolving world of this upcoming title.

Not Just Another Soulslike

Though Phantom Blade Zero is often grouped with the action RPG/Soulslike genre, the developers at S-Game emphasize that their creation is something different. Last month, S-GAME CEO Soulframe clarified the studio's vision, stressing that while the game draws inspiration from genre-defining titles, it doesn't strictly follow their formula.

According to Soulframe, Phantom Blade Zero isn't a traditional Soulslike or a classic hack-and-slash title. Instead, the team’s original intention was to build a layered hack-and-slash experience, but as the development progressed, the visuals, animations, and cultural aesthetics came together to shape a more distinct identity.

Broadly speaking, the game still falls under the action RPG umbrella, but Soulframe suggests that a new genre label might be more fitting, something akin to a Wuxia-style action game, known for its high-flying martial arts and dramatic storytelling.

Players can expect moments like:

• Leaping across rooftops under a hail of arrows

• Battling foes atop fast-moving carriages

• Unraveling dark truths behind world-shaking events

• Experiencing cinematic sequences inspired by iconic martial arts films

A Fresh Approach to Difficulty

Phantom Blade Zero will feature three difficulty modes: Wayfarer, Gamechanger, and Hellwalker. However, unlike traditional Soulslike games, these options aren’t available from the start. Instead, they unlock only in New Game+, offering players a reason to revisit the world once they've completed their initial playthrough.

What’s Next for Phantom Blade Zero?

While the game still doesn’t have a confirmed release window, fans can expect a major update at Gamescom 2025. S-Game is planning a significant presence at the event, with over 60 demo stations set up inside a 500m² booth (Hall B-050G).

This new demo promises to be the most in-depth look at Phantom Blade Zero yet, offering a full hour of hands-on gameplay. Players will experience newly revealed boss encounters, visually striking level design, immersive storytelling, and the game’s signature blade-to-blade combat system.

Following last year’s initial hands-on impressions, the upcoming demo is expected to deliver a clearer picture of what sets Phantom Blade Zero apart, and how it’s positioning itself as a bold new voice in the action RPG space.

Closing thoughts

As a final thought, this title is shaping up to be one of the most impressive action games! The combat animations, for both the player and enemies are incredibly stylish yet grounded with a sense of weight and impact. The parry mechanics look smooth and responsive, and the variety of weapons shown so far adds even more depth.

One standout moment was the Puppet Boss battle revealed a few months back, it felt more like a cinematic trailer than regular gameplay, showcasing the game’s high production value and intense pacing. The boss itself appears to be a puppet master, with visual effects that suggest a marionette-style control, even if purely for dramatic flair. Interestingly, the attack patterns seem thoughtfully designed and make perfect sense within the fight's context, adding to the immersion and depth of the encounter. Overall, it’s a strong indication of the level of polish and creativity going into Phantom Blade Zero.

While I don’t typically place high expectations on unreleased games, this one genuinely looks exceptional. Rather than leaning into the slower, methodical style of Soulslikes, it channels the fast-paced energy of classics like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden, offering fluid and dynamic action.

With games like Wukong, Lost Soul Aside, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Tides of Annihilation, Faith of Danschant, Blood Message, and Where the Winds Meet on the horizon, it’s exciting to see Chinese studios emerging as powerhouses in the action genre this console generation.