Phantom Blade Zero Debuts at 88 on Metacritic Before Launch

Its 91 OpenCritic average ties it for second place among 2026 releases.

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A silver-haired warrior in a broad hat stands before a traditional temple, with a sword strapped across his back.

Phantom Blade Zero has an 88 Metascore on PS5 and a 91 average on OpenCritic, placing it among 2026’s highest-rated games ahead of its scheduled Oct. 29 launch.

Metacritic’s current PS5 score puts the game at No. 21 in its 2026 overall rankings. Its 88 also tops Metacritic’s 86 for Nioh 3 and 85 for Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

OpenCritic’s current average ties Phantom Blade Zero with Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower for second place among 2026 releases, behind Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.

Individual reviews give a more varied picture of the action behind those scores. GamesRadar’s review praises the weapon selection, secret bosses, and fluid fights. GameSpot’s review highlights the free-flowing wuxia-inspired combat, but says weaker enemies can make some encounters tedious.

Eurogamer’s review praises the animation and environments, while arguing that boss fights interrupt the combat’s flow and slow the early-to-midgame pace. It also criticizes the narrative and lore dumps.

The game is scheduled to launch on Oct. 29, and its PS5 preload is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Which part of the early reception most shapes your expectations for Phantom Blade Zero? For more on the reviews and the approaching launch, follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

Framed for the death of his master and left with a ruined heart, Soul has sixty-six days to live. Alone and hunted by his former comrades, he moves through a world of shifting loyalties and silent blades — determined to unravel the conspiracy that has condemned him.

Rain mixes with blood, mercy entangles with vengeance. Soul's journey is one of love, hate, and the fragile search for what it means to have a heart.