Review roundup
Phantom Blade Zero Reviews Are In: 88 on Metacritic
Current critic scores, reviewers’ praise and criticism, and what the extra $10 for Digital Deluxe buys.
· 5 min read
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Current critic scores
Checked October 28, 2026: the Metacritic page displays 88 and OpenCritic displays a Top Critic Average of 89.
The reception puts S-GAME’s martial-arts adventure in a strong position. Perfect scores from Wccftech, TheGamer and PCGamesN sit alongside 9/10 verdicts from IGN, Push Square and GamingBolt.
Reviewers agree that the martial-arts presentation stands out, but differ on how well the exploration, storytelling and technical performance support it.
Around the review table
The October 27 review artwork lists these publications and scores.
IGN’s 9/10 verdict highlights fluid combat, memorable bosses and the game’s unmistakable style. Its video review takes a closer look at the experience on PC.
What the reviews criticise
GamesRadar+: strong combat, uneven storytelling
In his PC review for GamesRadar+, Luke Kemp praises weapon variety and a world that rewards exploration. His reservations concern the story’s uneven delivery, the volume of scattered notes and bugs in the pre-launch build.
Creative Bloq: restrictive exploration and drawn-out bosses
Alan Wen’s PS5 Pro review for Creative Bloq admires the art and martial-arts animation, but finds traversal too dependent on fixed prompts and invisible barriers. He also criticises lengthy boss health bars, obstructed camera views and severe combat frame-rate drops, even in Performance mode with ray tracing off.
Wen played a pre-patch review build.
Should you buy it, and which edition?
If your main draw is fast weapon combat and martial-arts choreography, these reviews give you a clear reason to consider it. If smooth performance or a consistently told story matters more, read the platform-specific criticisms above and check reports for the current build before buying.
Standard: the choice for the game itself
Both editions include the full game. At the US PlayStation Store’s listed prices, Standard is $59.99 and Digital Deluxe is $69.99. Our recommendation is Standard if you mainly want to play the campaign.
Digital Deluxe: decide whether you want the extras
The extra $10 buys the Wulin Legend and Blood-Steel Form appearances, Digital Artbook and Digital Soundtrack. Choose Deluxe if you want that collection of visual and music extras. The edition comparison separates those extras from the Treasure Basin and Legacy preorder unlocks, which are also obtainable through progression.
Watch the IGN review
Travis Northup reviews Phantom Blade Zero on PC. Watch the full video below for a closer look at the combat, weapon variety and the world surrounding Soul’s journey.
Phantom Blade Zero Review
Travis Northup reviews Phantom Blade Zero on PC, also available on PlayStation 5.
Before you enter the Wulin
If the reviews have moved Phantom Blade Zero onto your list, the next step is practical: check the PC requirements and storage space, compare the Standard and Digital Deluxe editions, and find your local release time.