Phantom Blade Zero Is Out: Best Action Games in 2026

Phantom Blade Zero is a wuxia action game from S-Game. It launched on PS5 and PC on 29 October 2026 (Steam shows 28 October in US time zones). It opened at about 88 on Metacritic and 91 on OpenCritic, and a review roundup reports that every critic recommends it. Game Informer's Wesley LeBlanc gave it 9.5 and praised the weapon variety, a large roster of bosses and the music. Weapons are compared to fighting-game characters, with late-game combo lists that "look more at home in a Street Fighter menu". Not everyone agrees on the details. Eurogamer scored it 60, citing balance problems. Notebookcheck reported stuttering and frame-rate dips on PC and PS5 ahead of a day-one patch. Reviewers at Noisy Pixel and Checkpoint Gaming found the story underdeveloped or convoluted.

FromSoftware's 2019 action game is the reference point reviewers reach for when they describe Phantom Blade Zero. Sekiro is built around posture and deflection rather than a long combo list, so it rewards patience and reading an enemy over executing strings of attacks. Activision said it sold more than two million copies in under ten days. The GOTY Edition scores 88 on Metacritic's PC page, according to an aggregator listing. It is older and tougher by design than Phantom Blade Zero, which Game Informer says is not a Soulslike despite its challenging bosses.

Game Science's Journey to the West action game launched in August 2024. It holds a Metacritic score of 81 and a standard Steam price of $59.99. It is the closest recent comparison in setting and ambition: a Chinese-developed, boss-driven action game that drew a huge launch audience, passing 2.2 million concurrent Steam players within days, according to Press Start. It scores lower with critics than Phantom Blade Zero and leans on set-piece spectacle and a staff-and-transformation toolset rather than weapon-specific combo depth.

Team Ninja's Nioh 3 launched on 6 February 2026 on PC and PS5 with Metacritic scores of about 85 on PC and 86 on PS5. It is a true Soulslike with loot, builds and an open-world structure, so it suits readers who want depth over the character-action feel of Phantom Blade Zero. Reported sales passed a million units, and the paid Hell Rising DLC was scheduled for August 2026. We did not find an official launch MSRP, so check the store page for the current price.

Shift Up's sci-fi action game reached PC after its PS5 launch. It holds a Metacritic score of 84 on PC (some outlets cite 87, the PS5 figure). It combines parry-based combat with a story-driven structure. PC sales have been reported well below its $59.99 list price, though figures conflict across trackers. It is the closest match for readers who want a polished PS5 or PC action game now but are unsure about paying full price for a new release.

Capcom's 2019 stylish action game is the other Phantom Blade Zero reference named in Game Informer's review. Its PC version holds a Metacritic score of 89 and lists at $29.99 on Steam, roughly half the reported price of Phantom Blade Zero's standard edition. It is frequently discounted well below that. It is the cheapest way to find out whether you like combo-driven character action before buying a new release.