Phantom Blade Zero Unveils New Gameplay Highlights at S - Party 2025

In this piece, we’ll explore Phantom Blade Zero—from its newest gameplay footage revealed at S-Party 2025, to what makes it stand out from standard action RPGs, and the details fans can look forward to in the upcoming Gamescom demo.

At this year’s S-Party 2025, held in Beijing, Chinese developer S-Game showcased brand-new gameplay for its much-awaited action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero. The two-day event let attendees and fans dive deeper into the game, with highlights including first-seen boss fights, the finding of secret items, and displays of new weapons.

IGN India put out a 22-minute gameplay demo, giving a quick look into the ever-evolving world of this upcoming title.

Not Just Another Soulslike

Even though Phantom Blade Zero is often lumped in with action RPGs and Soulslikes, the team at S-Game is keen to point out that their creation is in a league of its own. Last month, S-GAME CEO Soulframe spelled out the studio’s vision, making it clear that while the game takes cues from genre-defining titles, it doesn’t stick strictly to their templates.

Soulframe explained that Phantom Blade Zero isn’t a typical Soulslike or a run-of-the-mill hack-and-slash game. Originally, the team set out to create a layered hack-and-slash experience, but as development went on, the visuals, animations, and cultural aesthetics merged to form a far more unique identity.

In general, it still fits under the action RPG category, but Soulframe thinks a new genre tag might work better—something like a Wuxia-style action game, which is known for its gravity-defying martial arts and gripping storytelling.

Players can anticipate moments such as:

Jumping across rooftops while arrows fly all around

Fighting enemies on top of quickly moving carriages

Uncovering dark secrets behind events that shake the world

Enjoying cinematic scenes inspired by classic martial arts movies

A Fresh Approach to Difficulty

Phantom Blade Zero will have three difficulty settings: Wayfarer, Gamechanger, and Hellwalker. But unlike traditional Soulslike games, these options aren’t available right from the start. Instead, they unlock only in New Game+, giving players a reason to return to the world after finishing their first playthrough.

What’s Next for Phantom Blade Zero?

While there’s still no confirmed release date for the game, fans can expect a big update at Gamescom 2025. S-Game is planning a strong presence at the event, with more than 60 demo stations set up in a 500-square-meter booth (Hall B-050G).

This new demo is set to be the most detailed look at Phantom Blade Zero yet, offering a full hour of hands-on gameplay. Players will get to try out newly revealed boss fights, see visually stunning level designs, engage with immersive storytelling, and experience the game’s signature blade-based combat system.

After last year’s first hands-on reviews, the upcoming demo is expected to show more clearly what makes Phantom Blade Zero different and how it’s establishing itself as a bold new name in the action RPG scene.

Closing Thoughts

To wrap up, this title is shaping up to be one of the most impressive action games around! The combat animations—for both the player and enemies—are incredibly stylish yet realistic, with a tangible sense of weight and impact. The parry mechanics look smooth and easy to react to, and the range of weapons shown so far adds even more depth.

A memorable moment was the Puppet Boss battle revealed a few months ago; it felt more like a cinematic clip than regular gameplay, highlighting the game’s high production standards and intense pacing. The boss itself looks like a puppet master, with visual effects that hint at marionette-style control—even if it’s just for dramatic effect. Interestingly, the attack patterns seem to be carefully thought out and fit naturally into the fight, making the encounter more immersive and deep. All in all, it’s a clear sign of the polish and creativity that’s going into Phantom Blade Zero.

I don’t usually get my hopes up for unreleased games, but this one really does look exceptional. Instead of adopting the slow, careful style of Soulslikes, it captures the fast-paced energy of classics like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden, delivering smooth and dynamic action.

With upcoming games such as Wukong, Lost Soul Aside, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Tides of Annihilation, Faith of Danschant, Blood Message, and Where the Winds Meet, it’s exciting to see Chinese studios becoming major players in the action genre this console generation.