During the Future Games Showcase for Gamescom, we got a closer look at Phantom Blade Zero – the stylish kung fu action RPG that blends Soulslike combat with The Witcher’s narrative structure. And it still looks ridiculously cool.
Kung Fu Combat With Real-World Motion Capture
Phantom Blade Zero is built to feel like a playable martial arts movie. Every animation is motion captured by real kung fu masters, with a huge focus on authentic Chinese weapons and combat.
- 30 primary and 20+ secondary weapons
- You can equip two of each for flexible builds
- Designed to feel fast, fluid, and cinematic
Not Just Another Soulslike
The game pulls some inspiration from Souls titles, but it is not just a dark, maze-like slog. The devs describe it as a mix between the challenge of a Soulslike and the storytelling of The Witcher.
- No endless backtracking or getting lost
- Hand-drawn maps help you navigate the world
- Fast-paced, story-driven progression
A World With Layers
Your first playthrough only shows about 30–40% of the total content. Even full handcrafted zones can be completely missed depending on your path. There is a lot more going on than it first seems.
Coming to PC and PS5 in 2025
Phantom Blade Zero is coming to Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and the PS5 Pro. The exact release date will be revealed “soon”.
All this information comes from a short but meaty new video that the devs shared with the Future Games Show. It had more info on gameplay structure, design goals, and weapon variety. You can watch it below:
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