Phantom Blade Zero Playtime Estimated to be 20-30 Hours with Adjustable Difficulty

Get ready for Phantom Blade Zero, boasting four difficulty levels and exciting gameplay features! This 2025 release promises a thrilling experience. Read on for the latest development updates.

Phantom Blade Zero Development: Debunking the Soulslike Label

Phantom Blade Zero offers four difficulty settings: Easy, Ordinary, Difficult, and Extremely Difficult. While its visuals and combat initially drew Soulslike comparisons after its PlayStation Showcase 2023 debut, the inclusion of varied difficulty levels distinguishes it. The game director, Soulframe, clarified on Twitter (following its Summer Game Fest 2024 appearance) that creating a Soulslike wasn't the goal. Instead, the focus is on dynamic, rewarding, and exhilarating combo-driven combat.

The game's dark world and challenging boss encounters did inspire Soulslike comparisons. However, Soulframe confirmed that inspiration ended with the multi-layered maps, diverse approach paths, and hidden areas. He described the gameplay as "Ninja Gaiden Combat on a Souls Game Map," a blend of hack-and-slash action and extensive exploration.

Gameplay: Extensive Weapon Selection, Lengthy Playtime, and More

Recent interviews revealed further details. Players can choose from over 30 primary and 20 secondary weapons, each with unique combat properties. Expect a 20-30 hour main story campaign, complemented by an additional 20-30 hours of side content.

Boss fights are multi-phased (at least two phases). Dying in the second phase allows players to restart from that point, skipping the first phase. A "Li Wulin" mode lets players rematch defeated bosses, potentially unlocking hidden encounters. A gameplay mechanic influencing the game's ending is also confirmed, though specifics remain undisclosed.

Phantom Blade Zero "Year of the Snake" Gameplay Trailer

The "Year of the Snake" trailer showcases Soul, the protagonist, battling "Chief Disciple of The Seven Stars." The trailer also highlights weapons like the "Weapon No.13 Soft Snake Sword" and "Weapon No.27 White Serpent and Crimson Viper." A 2025 release is hinted at. Soulframe's Lunar New Year message on the official Twitter (X) page promises more exciting announcements and previously unseen reveals.

Phantom Blade Zero is currently in development for PlayStation 5, with a PC release planned. No official release date has been announced. Stay tuned to our Phantom Blade Zero page for the latest updates.