This week, Chinese developer S-GAME hosted S-PARTY 2025, a two-day event in Beijing during which fans could get hands-on with the highly anticipated Phantom Blade Zero. IGN India has posted a 22-minute gameplay video from this new demo that shows some hidden boss fights, secret item discoveries, and new weapons. We’ve embedded it below.
Phantom Blade Zero is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited games in the action RPG/Soulslike genre, although as you might recall, the developers stressed that it is not to be considered a pure Soulslike game.
Last month, S-GAME CEO Soulframe clarified exactly what he thinks the game is:
Phantom Blade Zero is neither a Soulslike game nor a traditional action game. I’ve always admired the creators who defined these genres. I spent years immersed in their work, drawing inspiration and learning from their brilliance. But in the process of making this game, we stumbled onto a path we never expected:
At first, we just wanted to make a game that brought ‘hack and slash’ Into a multi layered map. But once the animations and environmental assets came together, everything was “stitched together” by a strong cultural aesthetic — creating something that felt deeply familiar to us, yet is rarely seen or experienced in games.
Broadly speaking, it falls under the category of ARPGs. But more specifically, maybe it could create a new identity that is Wuxia Action Games? Because here you’ll get to experience:
- Leaping across rooftops under a rain of arrows;
- Fighting off pursuers atop a speeding carriage;
- Uncovering the truth behind an incident that shocked the world years ago;
- And even more iconic cinema moments.
Soulframe also added that Phantom Blade Zero will feature three difficulty settings (Wayfarer, Gamechanger, and Hellwalker, although the latter is only unlocked for a second playthrough with New Game+), unlike traditional Soulslike titles.
The game still has no release window, but we might learn more at Gamescom, where S-GAME is set to bring a large presence with a massive 500 m² booth in Hall 6 (B-050G) featuring over 60 demo stations. The demo is said to be the most comprehensive shared publicly to date, a full 1-hour playable experience featuring all-new boss battles, striking level design, immersive storytelling, and visceral blade-to-blade combat.
We’ll be at Gamescom and look forward to checking out the new demo after reporting on last year’s Phantom Blade Zero hands-on.
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