Phantom Blade Zero blends Soulslike and hack-and-slash elements with one clear goal: to match or even outdo the incredible success of Black Myth: Wukong. Developer S-Game believes the Monkey King adventure proved that “a Chinese-developed game can sell 30 million copies in just half a year.”

Game Science shook the industry with Black Myth: Wukong. After launching in August 2024, this action-adventure phenomenon shattered PC records and quickly became the best-performing paid title in Steam history in terms of concurrent players. Ever since, global attention has turned toward China, eager to see if lightning might strike twice. And the team behind Phantom Blade Zero is determined to be next in line for that spotlight.

In an interview with Eurogamer UK during GDC 2025, the game’s director—known as ‘Soulframe’ Liang—admitted that the explosive success of Wukong has raised both expectations and pressure. “Now everyone realizes that a Chinese-made game can potentially sell 30 million copies in half a year,” he noted, emphasizing how the bar has been dramatically raised for Chinese studios like S-Game.

While it may seem almost impossible to replicate Wukong’s breakout numbers, Liang points out that Phantom Blade Zero is already pulling impressive attention. In China, Wukong still garners more views, but internationally, the picture shifts: the launch trailer for Black Myth: Wukong sits at 3 million views on the PlayStation YouTube channel, while Phantom Blade Zero’s debut trailer has surpassed 5.3 million views on the same platform.

Phantom Blade Zero Walks the Line Between Soulslike and Hack-and-Slash

The interview also addressed constant fan comparisons between Phantom Blade Zero and FromSoftware’s Souls titles. While those parallels don’t entirely reflect the team’s approach, Liang views them positively. “I’m not bothered by the comparisons; if anything, they help players better grasp the game,” he said. “Some people even compare us to Ninja Gaiden or Devil May Cry now, which is the opposite end of the spectrum—but maybe that helps different kinds of players find something they connect with. There’s something here for both audiences.”

“We wouldn’t label it as a full-on Soulslike, but it’s not a classic hack-and-slash either. It exists in a middle space. It’s a narrative-driven action game,” Liang explained. At its heart, Phantom Blade Zero is rooted in the cinematic language of kung-fu movies while aiming to recapture the nostalgic spirit of older PlayStation titles. “We wanted to go back to that PS1 and PS2 era, when games weren’t bloated, budgets were lower, teams were tighter, and every developer had genuine passion, creativity, and experience.”

Source: 3djuegos