Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?
According to the developers, no. S-GAME has said so since June 2024. In the studio FAQ after Summer Game Fest it wrote that "making another Soulslike was never part of the plan", and that the Souls influence is multi-layered maps, multiple approach paths and hidden nooks, but "the similarities stop there".
The latest answer comes from a Wccftech interview on October 8, 2026. Soulframe Liang described the game as a pyramid:
- base: an RPG system with side quests, a map and guidance through icons,
- middle: complicated level design that borrows some aspects from Souls games,
- top: fast, combo-driven combat known from hack-and-slash games.
His conclusion: he would not call it a Souls game, a hack-and-slash game or an open-world RPG. "Maybe it's an adventure game." In 2024 he put it more simply: it is like putting Ninja Gaiden combat onto a Souls-style map.
What press and players say
Journalists who played the previews do not agree.
- Eurogamer (September 2024): "absolutely not a Soulslike", in practice somewhere between Sekiro and Ninja Gaiden.
- Game Informer (October 8, 2026): hesitates to file it under Souls-like because it is more forgiving, but the level layout recalls that structure.
- GamesRadar (May 2026): the studio explicitly denies it, but the fact that it had to says something about how close the game is to the genre.
- Epic Games Store (October 9, 2026): the game "balances between both", meaning cinematic action and punishing Soulslike challenge.
Players on Steam argue too. In the same days there are threads titled "Another soulslike?" and "This is NOT souls-like game". In the first one a player writes that it is "not a soulslike" and "a common misconception", and another says flatly: "There isn't a single souls like mechanic". These are player voices, not facts, but they show the question is disputed.
What it shares with Soulslikes and what it doesn't
| Element | Like a Soulslike? | What we know (before launch) |
|---|---|---|
| Level layout | Yes | Branching paths loop back, with shortcuts and secrets (Metro, CGMagazine, Liang) |
| Parrying and dodging | Similar | The Sha-Chi resource works like stamina/posture: blocking drains it, a perfect parry does not |
| Tough bosses | Yes | According to Liang there are at least 50 bosses (each gives a weapon) |
| Checkpoints | Partly | Bells are used for fast travel and the press describes them as the equivalent of bonfires; they are placed near bosses |
| Losing resources on death | No | Currency stays after you die (Epic, Insider Gaming) |
| Enemy respawns | No | Defeated enemies do not respawn and map resources are finite (Liang to 4Gamer) |
| Returning to a boss | No | Die in the second phase and you restart from the second phase (Epic, Insider Gaming) |
| Difficulty levels | No | Wayfarer, Pathbreaker (default) and Hellwalker exist; Liang says Souls games "have one difficulty" |
| Combat | No | Fast combo combat in the style of Ninja Gaiden and DMC |
| Story and quests | No | Side quests, a map with icons, a stronger focus on story |
Behavior after death is described by press previews and official statements, not by the final game. After launch on October 29, 2026, we will check whether bells, currency and the second-phase restart work the same way in the full version.
Comparisons with other games
Sekiro. This is the most common comparison. Game Rant writes that the game "plays similarly to FromSoftware's Sekiro": parrying, dodging and draining the enemy's Sha-Chi for an execution. The difference, according to the same author, is that Phantom Blade Zero has a full combo system. After the August 2025 demo, PC Gamer added that the parry timing is easier to land than in Sekiro even on the Hellwalker difficulty (the harder of the core modes), and that this is a deliberate choice.
Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry. Here the creator points the way himself: old-school combo action. Eurogamer places the game "between Sekiro and Ninja Gaiden", and Metro says it is more for Devil May Cry fans than for Dark Souls fans. On Steam, to the question "is it more Sekiro or Stellar Blade combat?", one player answers "Ninja Gaiden Black/DMC" (a player's opinion).
Black Myth: Wukong. After the 2024 demo, Eurogamer worried the game could be a "beautiful and stylish boss rush with little substance in between", like Black Myth. PC Gamer wrote that it is glad Phantom Blade Zero is going for something "clearly more elaborate". Press from October 2026 sees more exploration between the fights.
Ghost of Tsushima, Where Winds Meet and Nioh. Neither the developers nor the press we have access to compared the game with them. They appear only in player conversations, so we draw no conclusions from them.
Is it a boss rush?
No. The shows in 2024 and 2025 were almost only fights, which created that impression. Liang says that was "the tip of the iceberg" and that the full game has "substantial story, exploration and hidden-secret elements". A Steam player sums it up as "a mix of linear progression with semi open world areas to explore". There are many bosses (at least 50 according to Liang), but between them there are side quests and secrets. Metro adds that despite the exploration the reviewer kept waiting for the next big boss (the writer says "pining for the next major boss encounter"), so the fights are what pulls the game forward most.
Is it open world?
No, that either. In the State of Play on August 17, 2026, Liang said Phantom Blade Zero "is not an open world game, nor is it a linear adventure from beginning to end". The world is eight maps joined together, and in complex regions the game gives only a rough direction. RPGFan described the structure as nonlinear, with linear progression through open zones. Details: world and exploration.
What this means for difficulty
Since it is not a classic Soulslike, it is no surprise that the game has several difficulty levels. Liang explained that higher levels change enemy behavior, not just the numbers. All names, descriptions and playtime: difficulty levels and how long to beat. Combat mechanics: combat system.
FAQ
Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?
The developers say no and have repeated it since 2024. The press sees the game as close to the genre (level layout, parrying, tough bosses), but with faster combat and no death penalties. The final verdict comes after launch.
What genre is Phantom Blade Zero?
Liang calls it a mix of genres (wuxia action with RPG and hack-and-slash elements). It is a single-player game for PC and PS5, scheduled to launch on October 29, 2026.
Do I lose currency on death and restart bosses from the start?
According to preview reports you do not lose resources, and if you die in a boss's second phase you restart from the second phase. This comes from previews, so we will confirm it after launch.
Is Phantom Blade Zero a boss rush game?
No. There are many bosses, but between them there are exploration, side quests and secrets.
How is it different from Sekiro?
Parrying and breaking the enemy's posture are similar. Phantom Blade Zero has a full combo system, faster combat and difficulty levels. The parry is easier to land than in Sekiro (PC Gamer, 2025 demo).
