Phantom Blade Zero Surpasses Black Myth: Wukong and Genshin Impact as China’s Highest-Rated Game with an 88 Metacritic Score

Phantom Blade Zero has become the highest-rated Chinese game on Metacritic, earning a score of 88 following the lifting of its review embargo. Developed by S-GAME, the upcoming action game has surpassed established Chinese hits, including Genshin Impact and Black Myth: Wukong.

The result puts Phantom Blade Zero among the highest-rated releases of 2026 and marks a major milestone for its developer ahead of the game’s launch on October 29. Most reviews reportedly fall between 8 and 10, indicating a broadly positive critical response, although the game has also received at least one notably less enthusiastic review.

The score places the upcoming title ahead of several prominent Chinese-developed games across different genres, from expansive action RPGs to competitive multiplayer experiences.

Phantom Blade Zero Surpasses Genshin Impact and Black Myth: Wukong

Phantom Blade Zero has overtaken several successful Chinese-developed games. Genshin Impact holds a Metascore of 86, while ICEY follows with 84. Eastward has a score of 83, and Black Myth: Wukong sits at 81. These figures put Phantom Blade Zero seven points ahead of Wukong in the reported comparison.

Metascores can change as additional reviews are published, and rankings may differ by platform.

The achievement adds to the growing international recognition of Chinese game developers. Black Myth: Wukong previously demonstrated the global appeal of a major Chinese single-player action game, while Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail built large international audiences through ongoing updates and live-service content.

Critics Praise Phantom Blade Zero’s Combat and Boss Battles

Much of the praise for Phantom Blade Zero centers on its fast-paced combat, weapon variety, and challenging boss encounters. The game blends traditional wuxia influences with supernatural elements and a distinctive visual style that S-GAME describes as “kungfupunk.” Its action also draws on martial arts choreography to create cinematic sword fights. 

Some reviews praised the depth of its world and combat, describing the experience as one that introduces S-GAME to a wider audience. Other critics have also highlighted the fluid fighting system, although some reviews have raised concerns about the storytelling and technical issues. 

The strong Metacritic result makes Phantom Blade Zero one of the most acclaimed action games of 2026. However, a high review score does not necessarily guarantee that it will match Black Myth: Wukong in sales or player numbers. The upcoming launch will provide a clearer picture of its commercial performance and long-term popularity.