Phantom Blade Zero Playtime Estimated to be 20-30 Hours with Adjustable Difficulty

Get ready for Phantom Blade Zero, boasting four difficulty levels and exciting gameplay features! This 2025 release promises a thrilling experience. Read on for the latest development updates.

Phantom Blade Zero Development: Debunking the "Soulslike" Label

Contrary to initial comparisons, Phantom Blade Zero offers four distinct difficulty settings: Easy, Ordinary, Difficult, and Extremely Difficult. While its visuals and combat initially drew Soulslike comparisons following its PlayStation Showcase 2023 debut, the inclusion of varied difficulty levels sets it apart. The game director, Soulframe, clarified on Twitter (following its Summer Game Fest 2024 appearance) that a Soulslike experience wasn't the goal. The aim is "combo-driven, heart-pumping combat that is hectic, rewarding, and exhilarating."

The game's dark aesthetic and challenging boss encounters did inspire Soulslike comparisons. Soulframe acknowledged inspiration from Soulslike games in aspects like multi-layered maps and multiple approach paths, but emphasized that "the similarities stop there." He previously described the game's style as "Ninja Gaiden Combat on a Souls Game Map," blending intense hack-and-slash action with extensive exploration.

Gameplay: Extensive Weapon Selection, Lengthy Playtime, and More

Recent interviews revealed further details. Players can choose from over 30 primary and 20 secondary weapons, each with unique combat properties. Expect a 20-30 hour main story campaign, complemented by an additional 20-30 hours of side content.

Boss fights are multi-phased (at least two phases), with a convenient feature: death during the second phase restarts the encounter from that point, eliminating the need to repeat the first phase. A new "Li Wulin" mode lets players rematch defeated bosses, potentially unlocking hidden challenges.

A game mechanic influencing the ending is also confirmed, though the specifics and number of alternate endings remain undisclosed.

Phantom Blade Zero "Year of the Snake" Gameplay Trailer

The "Year of the Snake" gameplay trailer showcases Soul, the protagonist, battling the "Chief Disciple of The Seven Stars." The trailer also highlights weapons like the "Weapon No.13 Soft Snake Sword" and "Weapon No.27 White Serpent and Crimson Viper."

A 2025 release is hinted at in the trailer. The official Phantom Blade Zero Twitter (X) account also shared a Lunar New Year video where Soulframe teased further exciting announcements and previously unseen content.

Phantom Blade Zero is currently in development for PlayStation 5, with a PC release planned. No official release date has been announced. Stay tuned to our Phantom Blade Zero page for the latest updates.