Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If you want fast, expressive swordplay while waiting for Phantom Blade Zero, start with Devil May Cry 5 for the deepest combo freedom and Ninja Gaiden for relentless, move-rich action. Choose Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice if precise deflections and demanding duels matter most, or Black Myth: Wukong for a wuxia-adjacent action-RPG with a more comparable atmosphere and boss focus.
Phantom Blade Zero is still upcoming. S-GAME and PlayStation announce October 29, 2026, while the Steam listing displayed October 28 when checked, so confirm the date in your region’s storefront before buying. The comparisons below describe what each available game is best at; none plays exactly like S-GAME’s new title.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition - PlayStation 5 | $23.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (PS5) | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition - Switch 2 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (PS5) | $27.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Devil May Cry 5 (PS4) (PS4) | $23.16 | Buy on Amazon |
What Phantom Blade Zero is promising
Phantom Blade Zero is a single-player action game from S-GAME and a spiritual rebirth of the studio’s earlier Rainblood/Phantom Blade work. You play Soul, an elite assassin framed for killing the Order’s patriarch. A makeshift cure keeps him alive for only 66 days, giving the story a built-in countdown while he searches for the truth.
S-GAME calls the visual direction “Kungfupunk”: wuxia and Chinese martial-arts influences mixed with punk attitude and dark fantasy. The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5. Rather than one uninterrupted open world, the developer describes a semi-open structure made from several reasonably sized, handcrafted maps. That distinction matters when comparing it with games that are either tightly level-based or built around a large continuous map.
#1 Best Overall
- Blood burns with a blue Flame as Vergil joins the fight!
- Powered up for the next-generation of gaming Hardware.
- New gameplay modes Made possible by the increased processing power
- Includes additional content released separately from the original version
Combat is the main attraction
The studio’s stated target is the sleek, breathtaking movement of 1990s kung-fu cinema, not slow, purely defensive action. S-GAME founder and CEO Soulframe Liang specifically cites Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden as examples of exhilarating hack-and-slash games with huge move sets and lightning-fast pacing. He also says the combat animations are handcrafted because motion capture could not deliver the intended movement.
Official material points to weapon switching, counters, upgrades, accessories, summons and side quests. Listings describe dozens of weapons: the PlayStation product page says more than 30 primary weapons and 20-plus unique Phantom Edges, while an August 2026 PlayStation deep dive says more than 30 main weapons and 25 secondary weapons. Because those counts differ between official pages, treat “dozens of weapons and secondary tools” as the reliable takeaway rather than a single final number.
Why it is not simply a Soulslike comparison
Steam includes a “Souls-like” tag, but that label does not settle how the finished game feels. S-GAME’s own comparison emphasizes old-school, fast hack-and-slash energy. A GamesRadar preview writer described the preview build as less Souls-like than Black Myth: Wukong, closer to level-based action and approaching Devil May Cry in style and skill expression. That is one writer’s hands-on impression of a preview, not a final review or a definitive genre classification.
The best games like Phantom Blade Zero
| Game | Best match for | Where it differs from Phantom Blade Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Devil May Cry 5 | Fast combos, aerial control and creative style expression | More score-driven character-action design and less wuxia world-building |
| Ninja Gaiden | Relentless speed, aggressive enemies and a large combat vocabulary | More punishing, arcade-like pressure and less emphasis on a semi-open map structure |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Readable duels, timing and deflection | More tightly centered on posture breaks and one core sword style |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Wuxia-adjacent atmosphere, mythic bosses and action-RPG progression | Broader action-RPG pacing and a different approach to weapon and stance variety |
Devil May Cry 5: the closest choice for expressive combos
Pick Devil May Cry 5 when your priority is doing more with the controls. Its combat rewards linking attacks, launches, aerial strings, weapon swaps and evasive cancels into a personal style rather than repeating one safest sequence. The series is one of the two examples Liang names directly, making it the clearest available answer to “what feels like fast, stylish sword combat?”
Rank #2
- Wield the Yamato: Take the stylish action to a new level as Vergil, Dante's long-time rival and twin brother. DmC5 players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also be able to access all Vergil content in the playable character: Vergil DLC at a later date
- New Gameplay Modes: Test your skills against the unique challenges of the new legendary dark Knight mode and Turbo mode. Legendary dark Knight mode: fans seeking an added challenge can Pit their skills and style against a crazy amount of enemies in the perilous legendary dark Knight mode
- Ascend the Bloody Palace: Tackle the increasingly difficult floors of the bloody palace challenge mode, originally introduced as free post-launch content for Devil May Cry 5. Only the most skilled demon hunters will make it to the top floor to face the ultimate challenge
- High-Octane Stylized Action: Play as four different characters: Nero, Dante, V, and the newly-added Vergil. Cut a path through the ruins of redgrave city with each character using radically different play styles as they take on the teaming hordes of demons
- Groundbreaking Graphics: Developed with Capcom in-house proprietary RE engine, DMC5SE brings the visual quality to new heights, with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs, stunning lighting and environmental effects
The important similarity is not that both games use identical weapons or systems. It is the design philosophy: speed, spectacle and a high ceiling for players who want to practice. You can clear encounters with basic attacks, but the game keeps exposing deeper options as you learn enemy timing and combine tools. That makes it a strong substitute if the appeal of Phantom Blade Zero is the promise of a large move set and visible mastery.
The difference is structure and emphasis. Devil May Cry 5 is a focused character-action game built around mission progression and style performance. It does not offer the same announced semi-open map format, wuxia framing or Soul’s 66-day mystery. Buy it for combat expression, not as a one-to-one setting replacement.
Ninja Gaiden: the choice for speed and pressure
Ninja Gaiden is the better fit if you want enemies to force constant movement and decisive offense. Liang names the series alongside Devil May Cry as an example of exhilarating, lightning-fast hack-and-slash action. Fights are about controlling space, recognizing threats quickly and using a broad set of attacks before opponents can overwhelm you.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIts appeal for prospective Phantom Blade Zero players is physical intensity. The combat does not wait for you to admire an animation; survival depends on attacking, repositioning and choosing the right response under pressure. That makes it particularly useful if trailers for S-GAME’s game caught your attention because of rapid takedowns and aggressive choreography rather than slower stamina management.
Rank #3
- Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition brings the heat on the Nintendo Switch 2! With its signature blend of high-octane action and otherworldly characters, Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition harnesses the latest Capcom gaming technology to deliver a graphically groundbreaking action-adventure masterpiece at 60fps in both TV and Handheld modes.
Expect a harsher learning curve and a more arcade-like sense of escalation than the semi-open, upgrade-and-side-quest structure S-GAME describes. Ninja Gaiden is a test of execution first. It is not the closest option for players who mainly want exploration, adjustable difficulty or a story built around a handcrafted-map journey.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: the precision and deflection alternative
Sekiro is the recommendation for players who define stylish combat as perfect timing. Its duels are built around reading attacks, deflecting at the right instant and breaking an opponent’s posture instead of simply draining a large health bar. Every successful exchange communicates why you won, which makes improvement feel unusually direct.
This is a comparison of combat feel, not a claim that S-GAME lists Sekiro as an inspiration. The games are useful side by side because they appeal to different kinds of mastery. Sekiro narrows the central sword language and demands consistency; Phantom Blade Zero is advertising a much broader arsenal, secondary tools, counters and customization. Choose Sekiro if you want readable one-on-one pressure and are happy to learn a strict rhythm.
Its tightly authored areas and high consequences also make it a poor substitute if you specifically want adjustable difficulty, a pause option during offline play or a large collection of interchangeable weapons. Those are features listed for Phantom Blade Zero, not promises made about Sekiro.
Rank #4
- Wield the Yamato - Take the stylish action to a new level as Vergil, Dante's long-time rival and twin brother. DmC5 players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also be able to access all Vergil content in the playable character: Vergil DLC at a later date.
- New Gameplay Modes - Test your skills against the unique challenges of the new legendary dark Knight mode and Turbo mode.Legendary dark Knight mode: fans seeking an added challenge can Pit their skills and style against a crazy amount of enemies in the perilous legendary dark Knight mode.Turbo mode: adrenaline Junkies can push their reaction times to the limit against the increased speed of Turbo mode, which ups the rate of gameplay by 20 percent to allow for even more rapid and fluid combo opportunities.
- Ascend the Bloody Palace - Tackle the increasingly difficult floors of the bloody palace challenge mode, originally introduced as free post-launch content for Devil May Cry 5. Only the most skilled demon hunters will make it to the top floor to face the ultimate challenge.
- High-Octane Stylized Action - Play as four different characters: Nero, Dante, V, and the newly-added Vergil. Cut a path through the ruins of redgrave city with each character using radically different play styles as they take on the teaming hordes of demons.
- Groundbreaking Graphics - Developed with Capcom in-house proprietary RE engine, DMC5SE brings the visual quality to new heights, with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs, stunning lighting and environmental effects. These Superb visuals have been enhanced with Ray tracing technology**, 4K visuals, and increased framerates, all with minimal load times.**Ray tracing will be included in the Xbox series x and series S versions as part of a downloadable title update..Vivid 3D Audio - Maintain their smokin
Black Myth: Wukong: the wuxia-adjacent action-RPG option
Black Myth: Wukong is the natural pick when atmosphere, Chinese mythology and action-RPG progression matter as much as raw speed. It occupies a useful middle ground for readers who want dramatic bosses and a martial-arts-inspired world rather than a pure combo laboratory.
The comparison should stay broad. A preview of Phantom Blade Zero characterized S-GAME’s game as less Souls-like than Black Myth: Wukong and more like old-school, level-based action. That does not mean the two games share identical sword systems, pacing or map design. It means Wukong can answer the adjacent question: “What can I play now that has a similarly mythic, Chinese-inspired action-RPG flavor?”
Choose it over Devil May Cry 5 when you want more progression and world context around your fights. Choose it over Sekiro when you prefer a broader action-RPG framework to a single, highly disciplined deflection loop.
Choose by the combat quality you want
If you want the fastest, most expressive combos
- Start with Devil May Cry 5.
- Move to Ninja Gaiden if you want more enemy pressure and less room to play safely.
- Keep Phantom Blade Zero on your release list because S-GAME explicitly describes a large arsenal and lightning-fast action as design goals.
If you want perfect timing and defensive mastery
- Choose Sekiro for deflection-focused duels and posture management.
- Do not expect its core sword language to represent the full range of S-GAME’s announced weapons, Phantom Edges, accessories and summons.
If you want wuxia atmosphere and action-RPG progression
- Choose Black Myth: Wukong for the closest currently available broad comparison in setting and mythic tone.
- Keep expectations flexible: a shared wuxia-adjacent identity does not make its combat or structure identical to Phantom Blade Zero.
If you need flexible difficulty and interruption-friendly play
PlayStation’s listing for Phantom Blade Zero names adjustable difficulty, pausing during offline play and manual saving. Those options are meaningful if you share a screen, play in short sessions or do not want a fixed challenge level. Confirm the final feature set on the store page for your platform because the game is not released yet.
Best Value
- The 16 million unit selling series is back with original Director Hideaki Itsuno at the helm of development
- A demonic invasion begins with the seeds of a "demon tree" taking root in Red Grave City
- Featuring three playable characters each with a radically different stylish combat play style
- Developed with Capcom's in-house proprietary RE engine, the series continues to achieve new heights in fidelity with graphics that utilize photorealistic character designs and stunning lighting and environmental effects
- Battle against epic bosses in adrenaline fueled fights across the over-run Red Grave City.Nero, one of the series main protagonists and a young demon hunter who has the blood of Sparda, heads to Red Grave City to face the hellish onslaught of demons, with weapons craftswoman and new partner-in-crime, Nico
How Phantom Blade Zero’s structure may set it apart
The announced format sits between a mission-based character-action game and a large open-world action RPG. S-GAME describes multiple handcrafted maps that are reasonably sized rather than one enormous continuous world. That could suit players who want authored encounters and visual variety without spending every session crossing empty terrain.
Side quests, upgrades, accessories and summons add reasons to revisit the maps and experiment with different approaches. The semi-open structure also gives context to the weapon variety: a large arsenal matters more when the player can choose equipment for different encounters instead of merely unlocking a new move at fixed story points.
Those are announced design elements, not a post-release assessment. Until the game launches, the safest expectation is a combat-first single-player adventure with handcrafted areas and RPG customization, not a guaranteed open-world sandbox or a confirmed Soulslike formula.
Recommended Free Tools
Release date, platforms and what to verify
S-GAME and PlayStation announced October 29, 2026, after moving the game from September 9, 2026. The Steam store page displayed October 28 when accessed, creating a one-day storefront discrepancy that may reflect regional timing or platform scheduling. Check the date shown by your own regional storefront before arranging time off or preloading.
- Release status: upcoming as of October 16, 2026; it has not been reviewed as a finished release.
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5.
- Format: single-player action game with semi-open, handcrafted maps.
- Combat scope: dozens of primary weapons and secondary tools; official counts vary between current listings.
- Convenience options listed by PlayStation: adjustable difficulty, offline pausing and manual saving.
Bottom line for players waiting on Phantom Blade Zero
Devil May Cry 5 is the strongest immediate recommendation for fast, stylish, highly expressive sword-and-weapon combat. Ninja Gaiden is better if you want speed combined with relentless danger. Sekiro serves players who want every duel to revolve around timing and deflection, while Black Myth: Wukong supplies the closest broad wuxia-adjacent action-RPG alternative.
Phantom Blade Zero is aiming at a distinctive combination: handcrafted, cinematic martial-arts animation; a large weapon toolkit; a semi-open map structure; and a dark “Kungfupunk” setting. Those goals explain why no existing game is a perfect substitute. Pick the available title that matches the specific quality you want, then verify S-GAME’s final regional release information before launch.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
