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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Phantom Blade Zero draws on five explicitly named games: Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, Metal Gear Rising, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Nioh. S-GAME describes the project as a deliberate hybrid: the level-design and artistic ideas associated with Souls games, the speed and spectacle of character-action games, and the studio’s own Chinese wuxia and “kungfupunk” identity. That makes it more accurate to call Phantom Blade Zero a new combination than a clone of any one predecessor.
The five confirmed game inspirations
S-GAME founder and CEO Soulframe Liang has repeatedly described the combat lineage behind Phantom Blade Zero. In an RPG Site interview, he said the team was “merging archetypes together, two main genres together”: Souls-derived ideas on one side and hack-and-slash classics on the other. A separate developer Q&A names Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Nioh as additional inspirations.
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The result is a game built around demanding action, expressive weapons and a strong cinematic identity. The comparisons below separate what S-GAME has confirmed from reasonable editorial comparisons about how those influences may meet.
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1. Devil May Cry: expressive weapons and spectacle
S-GAME’s official PlayStation Blog description calls Devil May Cry an exhilarating reference because of its huge arsenal and lightning-fast pace. Epic Games Store’s interview likewise points to its flashy, satisfying combo systems as an influence.
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That points to a Phantom Blade Zero combat goal in which the player feels highly capable rather than merely surviving. Weapon switching, varied attacks and stylish executions are useful comparison points. The available statements do not establish that Phantom Blade Zero copies Devil May Cry’s ranking system, exact move list or scoring rules, so those should not be treated as confirmed features.
2. Ninja Gaiden: speed and aggression
Ninja Gaiden is named alongside Devil May Cry and Metal Gear Rising as part of the classic hack-and-slash group S-GAME is borrowing from. Epic describes it as a clear influence on Phantom Blade Zero’s flashy combat.
The most useful comparison is tempo. Ninja Gaiden represents fast, aggressive encounters in which hesitation can be costly and movement is part of offense. If you want a preparatory game before Phantom Blade Zero, it is the clearest choice for understanding the direct character-action lineage S-GAME has discussed.
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3. Metal Gear Rising: forward-moving combo action
Liang explicitly includes Metal Gear Rising in the same group as Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. It therefore belongs on the confirmed list, even though S-GAME has not published a one-to-one feature comparison.
Editorially, Metal Gear Rising is a useful reference for aggressive forward momentum, dramatic finishers and combat that feels designed for the camera as much as for the input. Those are comparison axes—not a claim that Phantom Blade Zero reproduces its cutting mechanics or boss structure.
4. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: precision and defense-to-offense timing
A developer Q&A lists Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as an inspiration. The broader interviews explain that S-GAME is taking some level-design and art ideas from Souls games while pursuing a different gameplay identity.
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Sekiro is consequently the best comparison for precision combat: reading an enemy, defending at the correct instant and converting that defense into pressure. It is also a useful way to think about boss emphasis and how exploration supports individual fights. However, the sources do not confirm that Phantom Blade Zero uses Sekiro’s posture gauge, resurrection rules or exact parry system.
5. Nioh: the action-RPG bridge
The same developer Q&A names Nioh as an inspiration. That connection matters because Phantom Blade Zero is not being presented as pure arcade action. RPG Site’s interview describes a loadout with two main weapons, two secondary weapons, two potions and two accessories, alongside weapon upgrades, evolution systems and a skill tree.
Those announced elements make Nioh a useful comparison for players interested in demanding combat combined with build experimentation. They do not establish identical loot tables, stance mechanics or equipment economies, so those details should not be assumed.
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How the influences fit together
| Comparison axis | Character-action side | Precision/action-RPG side | What Phantom Blade Zero is confirmed to add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat tempo and defense | Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden and Metal Gear Rising supply the fast, aggressive reference point. | Sekiro supplies a useful timing and defense-to-offense comparison. | S-GAME says it is merging these traditions rather than following one template. |
| Weapon variety and progression | Large arsenals and expressive moves are part of the hack-and-slash influence. | Nioh provides the action-RPG comparison. | Two main weapons, two secondary weapons, two potions, two accessories, weapon upgrades, evolution systems and a skill tree have been described. |
| Level structure and exploration | Character-action references emphasize encounter flow and spectacle. | Souls-derived design informs the level-design comparison. | S-GAME has discussed borrowing Souls level-design ideas, without presenting Phantom Blade Zero as a Souls clone. |
| Wuxia and cinematic identity | The named action games explain speed and presentation. | The Souls and action-RPG references explain tension and progression. | Chinese kung fu cinema, steampunk, cyberpunk and anime/manga elements form the studio’s “kungfupunk” framework. |
Is Phantom Blade Zero a Soulslike?
Not in the narrow sense of being a direct Souls template. S-GAME has said it borrows selected Souls ideas, particularly around level design and art, while combining them with hack-and-slash combat. The developer’s stated objective is a different gameplay identity, not a replica of Sekiro, Nioh or another single game.
A better description is a hybrid action game with Souls-derived structure, character-action speed and action-RPG progression. Until more systems are demonstrated, labels such as “Soulslike” should describe one influence rather than the whole design.
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What game is Phantom Blade Zero based on?
It is not based on one of the five games above. Phantom Blade Zero began as a new version of S-GAME’s own history. Liang created the 2010 RPG Maker title Rainblood: Town of Death, and the studio describes Phantom Blade Zero as its “spiritual rebirth,” rebuilt and expanded in Unreal Engine 5.
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- High-Speed x Violent Action Further Evolved With the Latest Graphic Expressions! – Gore elements such as dismemberment and blood have been remastered to enhance the action experience. Players can enjoy high-speed, violent action using a wide variety of weapons and techniques, including Japanese swords, shurikens, Kusari-gamas, and tonfas. Note: The dismemberment feature can be toggled on and off in the Options menu
- Additional Characters, Mode for Beginners, and Elements From Subsequent Spin-off Titles Are Also Included! – This remaster includes additional elements from spin-off titles released after the original. Players can control three additional characters: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. The game also includes “HERO PLAY STYLE” mode that provides automatic support in challenging situations, making it accessible for those who may not be confident in their action skills
That lineage explains why the five named games are influences rather than source material. The project also draws on Chinese wuxia novels, Hong Kong martial-arts films, manga and the original Rainblood—important context, but not additional entries in this five-game list.
What to play before Phantom Blade Zero
- Start with Ninja Gaiden if you want the closest preparation for rapid, aggressive character-action combat.
- Play Devil May Cry to study weapon variety, stylish execution and combo expression.
- Try Metal Gear Rising for cinematic momentum and dramatic finishers.
- Play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice if precise defense, timing and boss-focused encounters interest you.
- Choose Nioh for the blend of demanding action and build experimentation.
This order is an editorial recommendation based on the documented comparison axes, not an official S-GAME requirement.
Why the project is drawing attention for 2026
Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled for release on the Epic Games Store in fall 2026; the cited announcement does not provide an exact day or month. Epic reported in 2025 that S-GAME had more than 150 in-house team members across Chinese cities and Los Angeles. Liang said contractors and outsourced workers amounted to roughly ten times that number, an attributed estimate rather than an independently audited headcount.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe project’s promise comes from the specificity of its combination: a long-running Chinese action-game lineage, kung fu cinema, a “kungfupunk” visual blend, rapid hack-and-slash combat and Souls-influenced structure. The five named games show where those design ambitions come from, while the final identity will depend on how convincingly S-GAME joins them together.
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