Phantom Blade Zero has been living in my head rent free since Summer Game Fest. My favorite game of the trip and one of the most innovative games I’ve seen in years, it sits easily at the top of my ‘Lauren really wants to play this’ list – a list that seems to grow longer every day. Kicking off 2025 with its Year of the Snake trailer, S-Game has shown off three new serpent-inspired weapons, new Phantom Edges, and a brutal boss fight that is easily one of the coolest things I’ve seen in years.
Phantom Blade Zero is, in many ways, the perfect game for me. Its traditional Chinese setting, brought to life with Unreal Engine 5, and fast-paced Wuxia-style action set it apart from other action games, but its ‘soulslite’ approach means it’s still accessible to me (I’m very, very bad at soulslikes).
The Year of the Snake trailer really emphazises the fluidity of the action, which has seen a little bit of a makeover as the team “moves beyond existing game references.” The combat is directly influenced by “Hong Kong martial arts films of the 1980s and 1990s,” and somehow feels even more fast-paced that the gameplay we’ve seen before.
The trailer revolves around the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars, a multi-character boss fight that sees our protagonist take on seven highly-coordinated enemies at once. The puppet-like assailants (called The Seven Judges) revolve around Decree, who sits at the heart of the formation. You’ll have to fend off the other six while trying to strike at Decree, but even if you chunk down his health, the Seven Judges will sacrifice their own vitality to heal him back up. Sound difficult yet?
But that’s just phase one. As Decree falls the disciples scatter, forming a spiderweb of red ribbon that scoops him up and imbues him with mysterious corrupted energy. Hanging by his feet, the disciples pilot him like a marionette, allowing him to swing from rope to rope and attack from above.
The sequence is absolutely stunning. Framed with flames and soundtracked with some heavy metal, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. While Lies of P had some pretty badass puppets, this feels like it’s on a whole new level.
But we also catch a glimpse of three new weapons, all inspired by the snake. There’s the White Python longsword and Red Viper shortsword, which work in tandem to offer a balance between offense and defense. The highlight, however, is the flexible Venomous Softblade, which can be used to counter enemy attacks. Successful parries and ripostes obliterate the enemy’s Sha-Chi (energy) gauge, and you can use its almost rubbery blade to snag enemies at the joint, tearing through muscle and bone.
There are two new Phantom Edges (your special secondary weapons) on show, too. First is the Savage Axe, which, when charged, can deal massive Sha-Chi damage to foes, then the Ink Cut, which can be used in tandem with Soul’s primary weapons to expand combos. S-Game’s keeping the info on Ink Cut close to its chest, but it apparently serves as “a key plot device and delivers unique effects in specific battles.”
While the Phantom Blade Zero release date remains a mystery, I’m beyond hyped. S-Game’s creating something really special here, that feels completely different to its competitors. I’m on the edge of my seat craving more, something I haven’t done for a game in some time.
Check out my Phantom Blade Zero preview from Summer Game Fest 2024 if you too are beyond excited. In the meantime, however, here’s a list of all the best soulslike games to keep you busy.
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