Phantom Blade Zero’s Indie Roots Stretch Back Two Decades
Although Phantom Blade Zero and developer S-Game may appear to have emerged from nowhere, the action game’s legacy stretches back decades—to an indie title created as a hobby using RPG Maker. Even before Phantom Blade Zero’s release, analysts suspect it has already surpassed one million copies sold, marking a remarkable transformation from its humble origins.
From Rainblood to the Phantom World
“Twenty years ago, while I was still a student, I completed my first indie game, Rainblood: Town of Death,” creative director and S-Game CEO “Soulframe” Liang said in a message to fans ahead of Phantom Blade Zero’s launch. “It was a hobby project made with RPG Maker. With the limited skills I had at the time, I built the fantasy world I had imagined: the Phantom World, rooted in traditional Chinese wuxia but infused with elements such as body modification, parallel worlds, and more.”
Liang has previously described Phantom Blade Zero as a “spiritual rebirth” of Rainblood, and the parallels are clear, even though the new game’s scope is significantly larger. The original Rainblood: Town of Death, which remains available for $7 on GamersGate, is far more ambitious than a typical RPG Maker title. Its distinctive art style evokes the atmosphere of a long-lost anime.
“Back then, I had no idea where my life or career would lead,” Liang continued. “Making games had simply been a source of comfort while I studied abroad, but before I knew it, it had become one of the most important parts of my life.”
A Personal Message Before Launch
“The wait is almost over! Before the journey begins, our Game Director, Soulframe, shares a personal letter with you all. We wholeheartedly welcome you into the Phantom World on October 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM PDT!”
Original post: https://t.co/ZqTTv3tyDB
A Franchise Expands to a Global Stage
Rainblood eventually developed into a franchise with approximately 20 million fans, although many of its games were never released outside China. Phantom Blade Zero now occupies a much more global stage, and S-Game appears to be fully committed to this title.
Liang said the team canceled its other projects and “kept expanding the scale of production” for Phantom Blade Zero. “Making games is not always a rational pursuit,” he admitted. “Sometimes, it is passion and a little madness that give a game its richest flavor.”
Early Signs of Success
That dedication appears likely to pay off. Our Phantom Blade Zero review calls it “a GOTY contender with combat that looks as good as it feels,” while its early Metacritic score places it among the top action games of 2026—a year filled with exceptional entries in the genre.
It is an impressive outcome for a project with such modest beginnings. “Its roots lie in the indie game I created during my student years, at a time of hardship and uncertainty,” Liang concluded. “But it also holds everything we have been able to give.”
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