Phantom Blade Zero, one of my most-anticipated games, finally has a release date

I'm happy to admit that I was absolutely dreading playing Phantom Blade Zero. As someone who sucks at soulslikes and doesn't have the patience to fully commit to them, S-Game's Wuxia-inspired action game looked absolutely amazing, but also looked like a game I'd drool over but never actually play. Then I tried it at Summer Game Fest in 2024 - it was my last appointment of the show and, in many ways, it was the one I was least looking forward to. But having experienced its fluid, flashy combat first-hand, I can safely say that it's one of my most highly anticipated videogames alongside Divinity and the Fable reboot - and it finally has a release date.

Phantom Blade Zero thrusts you into the shoes of Soul, a mysterious, deadly assassin who, rather unfortunately, only has 66 days to live. Having been framed for murdering the patriarch of The Order - an elite guild that Soul once served - he sets out on a journey to unravel the conspiracy he's found himself embroiled in.

While we don't know much about the game's plot at the moment, my colleague Jamie and I have absolutely loved getting to grips with its tricky combat. I said that it was the "most fun I'd ever had with a soulslike" (still rings true a year on), while Jamie wrote about how it "pushed him to his limits." We're two people who like very different videogames, so the fact that it's appealed to both of us says a lot.

The trailer gives us a few more glimpses of that story, but weaves in plenty of gameplay as well, making it another welcome reminder of just how slick its combat and boss battles are looking. Whether you're a Sekiro die-hard craving something new, or someone who's recently been entranced by Where Winds Meet, this is absolutely one to keep eyes on.

Announced during The Game Awards, S-Game has confirmed that the Phantom Blade Zero release date is set for Wednesday September 9, 2026. You can wishlist it now on Steam to keep track of its progress, and we'll bring you more details as they come.