Phantom Blade Zero Reviews Land: Critics Call It a GOTY Contender

Phantom Blade Zero has received almost universal acclaim from the eight reviews we tracked. Many outlets describe S-Game’s first AAA title as “one of the generation’s greatest action experiences” and a strong “GOTY contender.” Push Square’s PS5 review even highlights this sentiment in its headline. Most praise centers on the combat, though there are some concerns about other aspects.

GamesRadar’s headline calls it a “GOTY contender with combat that looks as good as it feels.” Its review suggests “kungfupunk” might become a new favorite genre. TheGamer takes it a step further, declaring it “The Best Action Game In Years.” Dexerto simply states, “Best action game of the year.”

PCGamesN refers to it as “a new action RPG gold standard,” claiming it competes with “the best of all time.” DualShockers describes it as a “top tier character action game that deserves your attention.” Push Square opens with the assertion that the game is “utterly hell-bent” on making players feel like the coolest person alive.

The critiques aren’t as widespread. Video Games Chronicle mentions that S-Game has created “some of the fastest, most engaging combat of any action game, even if it’s light elsewhere.” Polygon’s headline calls it “the perfect martial arts game, for better or worse,” pointing out that the game emphasizes the visual spectacle of Wuxia films, with the “worse” hinting at a potential trade-off.

PC performance raises a different issue. Steam Deck HQ published a piece titled “Phantom Blade Zero is Too Demanding for the Steam Machine,” indicating that the game has hefty hardware requirements. We haven’t seen detailed benchmarks yet, so consider this a caution rather than a conclusion.

Dexerto places the game within a broader trend of successful Chinese-developed titles. It mentions Where Winds Meet, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and Black Myth: Wukong as recent additions to the growing industry. Phantom Blade Zero marks S-Game’s first venture into AAA releases.

By The Numbers

Developer	S-Game (first AAA title)
Reviews tracked	8 outlets
Outlets using “best” or “GOTY” framing in headlines	5 of 8 (GamesRadar, TheGamer, DualShockers, Dexerto, Push Square)
Platform reviewed by Push Square	PS5
PC performance flag	1 report (Steam Deck HQ, Steam Machine)

Community Pulse

We didn’t have player sentiment data at publication, so there are no Steam reviews or forum quotes to share just yet. However, the critic consensus is clear. Polygon notes the game delivers “visual spectacle” inspired by Wuxia cinema, while VGC mentions it is “light elsewhere.” We’ll see if player reviews highlight any concerns about that gap during a full playthrough.

What To Watch

• Steam user reviews: Early player scores will reveal if the critic praise aligns with the broader audience, especially for PC players.
• PC performance: Keep an eye out for benchmarks and patch notes that clarify the hardware demands, including for handheld and living-room setups.
• Review aggregates: Metacritic and OpenCritic totals will indicate how the “light elsewhere” critique impacts the overall average.