Phantom Blade Zero Review Roundup: Metacritic 88, Worth It?
Phantom Blade Zero reviews are in, and critics are largely behind S-GAME's debut action RPG. It sits at 88 on Metacritic for PC (PS5 87 at the latest check) and around 89-91 on OpenCritic, with roughly 96-100% of critics recommending it depending on when the count was taken. The game launched October 29 on PS5 and PC.
- Metacritic: 88 on PC, 87 on PS5, no negative reviews
- OpenCritic: 89-91 'Mighty' tier, 96% recommend (latest figure)
- Praised: combat, boss fights, art direction
- Criticised: convoluted story, linear levels, performance dips on PS5 Pro
What are the Phantom Blade Zero review scores?
| Outlet | Score |
|---|---|
| DualShockers | 9.5/10 |
| IGN | 9/10 |
| Push Square | 9/10 |
| GamingBolt | 9/10 |
| TheSixthAxis | 9/10 |
| GameSpot | 8/10 |
| VGC | 4/5 |
| Eurogamer | 3/5 |
Scores are as listed by Game Beacon and OpenCritic in the days after the embargo lifted; aggregate numbers shift slightly as more reviews arrive.
What do critics love about Phantom Blade Zero?
Nearly every review singles out the fast, cinematic kung fu combat and the boss fights. IGN called it an unbelievably smooth action game with memorable bosses, while several outlets point to the large weapon arsenal and the striking art direction.
What are the main complaints?
The story is the most common weak spot, described as convoluted or safe. Reviewers also mention very linear levels, invisible walls and frame-rate dips on PS5 Pro. Eurogamer gave the lowest of the major scores, 3/5, citing balance and quality issues.
How does it compare with Nioh 3 and Onimusha?
According to GamesRadar+ and TheGamer, its 88 Metacritic beats Nioh 3 (86) and Onimusha: Way of the Sword (85) this year. On OpenCritic it ties Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower at 91 in one snapshot.
Is Phantom Blade Zero worth buying?
If you want punchy, technical action combat, the consensus is yes. Standard edition is $59.99 and Digital Deluxe $69.99. Check the hardware first in our Phantom Blade Zero PC requirements and India price guide, and if you are upgrading, see why GPU prices are rising.
Players should wait for user scores on Metacritic, which open after enough ratings, before judging long-term reception.
Frequently asked questions
What is Phantom Blade Zero's Metacritic score?
88 on PC and 87 on PS5 at the latest check, with no negative critic reviews.
What is its OpenCritic score?
Roughly 89-91, in the Mighty tier, with about 96% of critics recommending it.
What do critics dislike?
Mainly the convoluted story, linear levels and some performance dips on PS5 Pro.
Which platforms is it on?
PS5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).
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Metacritic
OpenCritic
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