Phantom Blade Zero, the Wuxia-inspired action game from S-Game, has emerged as one of 2026’s best-reviewed releases. Its reception places it in contention for recognition at the 2026 Game Awards in December, although the year is not over yet.
The game currently holds an 88 on Metacritic. That score puts it ahead of other major 2026 action releases including Control Resonant, 007 First Light and Saros. It remains level with Star Wars Galactic Racer at 88, while Forza Horizon 6 leads that group with a 90.
For Australian players following the wider action-game conversation, the appeal is clear: Phantom Blade Zero combines martial-arts spectacle, a kungfupunk setting and highly technical combat. The critical response is not unanimous, however, particularly when it comes to the story and the rhythm of its boss encounters.
A sharp combat system carries Phantom Blade Zero
Reviewers have broadly agreed that the fighting is the game’s greatest strength. A 9/10 review praised the combat for remaining engaging across a roughly 50-hour adventure. That assessment also identified conservative storytelling, invisible barriers and occasional technical problems as weaknesses, but considered them minor beside the quality of the action.
A separate 8/10 review reached a similar conclusion. Its writer admired the kungfupunk presentation and occasional narrative highlights, while finding the plot difficult to follow and emotionally distant. The combat, by contrast, was celebrated for making players feel like martial-arts film heroes, with extravagant moves that challenge the usual rules of third-person action games.
Style and spectacle meet uneven storytelling
A four-star review also highlighted the setting and fast, elaborate martial-arts sequences. It judged the game stronger than Black Myth: Wukong, which received a 2024 Game Awards Game of the Year nomination and won Best Action Game that year. The same review was less impressed by Phantom Blade Zero’s characters and narrative, describing both as bland.
The more cautious view came from a three-star review. It praised the animation, environments and the creative freedom offered during multi-enemy street fights, where the combat can feel especially cinematic. However, the pacing shifts sharply between fast battles against weaker opponents and slow, restrictive boss fights, with some encounters making the player feel as though they are waiting for an opening.
That review still found merit in the game’s visual approach to storytelling, though review-embargo limits prevented a detailed discussion of its stronger narrative moments. The broader picture is therefore mixed: the presentation is consistently impressive, while the plot and encounter design do not always match the combat’s ambition.
Is Phantom Blade Zero the best action game of 2026?
One assessment described Phantom Blade Zero as an ideal martial-arts game in both its strengths and limitations. Its Wuxia influences are translated into striking animation and cinematic set pieces, but the emphasis on spectacle can sometimes reduce the player’s sense of control. In other words, the game often looks like an expertly staged martial-arts film, even when it does not fully trust players to express those techniques themselves.
For arcade fans, that distinction is familiar. The strongest action games balance immediate feedback with visual drama, much like a well-tuned fighting cabinet balances showmanship and responsive controls. Readers comparing different ways to enjoy games at home can browse RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog or explore the Arcade Machine Buying Guide for broader gaming-room ideas.
With an 88 Metacritic score and several highly positive reviews, Phantom Blade Zero is firmly among 2026’s leading action games so far. Its story and boss pacing may divide players, but its combat, animation and Wuxia-inspired presentation have made it one of the year’s most notable releases.
Those interested in bringing more dedicated game hardware into an Australian home can also browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines, consider a space-saving bartop arcade, or look through arcade parts for control and maintenance projects.
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