# Phantom Blade Zero vs Mortal Shell II

As of 29 October 2026, 79% of 3,373 player reviews recommend Phantom Blade Zero, and 80% of 20,652 recommend Mortal Shell II.

> Mortal Shell II is a hard, fast soulslike, and players find Phantom Blade Zero a flashier action game that asks far less of them.

## In short

Players praise the combat in both games for different reasons. Mortal Shell II’s hits land with weight and its eight Shells change how it plays, though its second half loses players with reused enemies and damage many call unfair. Phantom Blade Zero’s fights are faster and more cinematic, and many players find them easy, even on its harder mode. Soulslike fans who want to be tested are better served by Mortal Shell II, and players who want spectacle by Phantom Blade Zero.

## At a glance

| | Phantom Blade Zero | Mortal Shell II |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Released | 28 October 2026 | 20 August 2026 |
| Price at launch | $59.99 | $49.99 |
| Developer | S-GAME Studio | Cold Symmetry |
| Publisher | S-GAME Publishing | Playstack |
| Players recommend it | 79% of 3,373 reviews | 80% of 20,652 reviews |
| Our reading | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 29 October 2026 | 80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 10 October 2026 |

## What players praise

### Phantom Blade Zero

- **The fights look like a martial arts film.** Fast, fluid combos, parries that flow into counters and boss attacks with their own animations make every fight a show.
- **Bosses and weapons keep it fresh.** Players praise bosses that make them adapt and a wide range of weapons, each with its own moves.
- **Many PCs run it smoothly.** Players report steady frame rates from older cards such as the RTX 2060 up to high-end machines.

### Mortal Shell II

- **The combat is the best part.** Hits land with weight, movement is quick without a stamina bar, and parries and finishers feel good.
- **The Shells change how it plays.** Eight Shells with distinct styles make switching between them worthwhile.

## What players criticise

### Phantom Blade Zero

- **Many find it too easy.** Long combos seem to play themselves and parries come easily, and some find little risk even on Hellwalker, the harder mode.
- **Shader compilation takes a long time.** The first launch spends 20 minutes or more compiling shaders for several players, and some had to sit through it twice.
- **Some PCs hit glitches and crashes.** Players report stutter, broken sky and hair textures and crashes, and several turn off ray tracing to stop light flickering.

### Mortal Shell II

- **The second half loses players.** Players meet reused enemies, damage that kills in two or three hits and a final area many call untested.
- **Late-game damage feels unfair.** Players describe grabs and combos they can’t answer and attacks that land after a clean dodge.
- **Resources limit the Shells.** A run fully builds only two to four of the eight, though an update added a way to respec.

## Which to pick

- Pick Phantom Blade Zero if you want cinematic kung fu fights and would rather not be punished for every mistake. https://creativecult.digital/games/phantom-blade-zero
- Pick Mortal Shell II if you want a hard, fast soulslike with several play styles to master. https://creativecult.digital/games/mortal-shell-ii

## Questions

### Is Phantom Blade Zero better than Mortal Shell II?

They suit different players. As of 29 October 2026, 79% of Phantom Blade Zero’s 3,373 reviews recommend it and 80% of Mortal Shell II’s 20,652. Mortal Shell II is a hard soulslike, and most players see Phantom Blade Zero as a fast, stylish hack and slash.

### Is Phantom Blade Zero a soulslike like Mortal Shell II?

Most players say no. Its look draws the comparison, and in play they place it nearer Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden or Black Myth: Wukong, a game they can enjoy without a soulslike’s pressure.

### Which is harder, Phantom Blade Zero or Mortal Shell II?

Mortal Shell II, by players’ accounts. In its second half enemies kill in two or three hits, and players describe grabs and combos they can’t answer. Many find Phantom Blade Zero easy, some even on Hellwalker, its harder mode.

### How much do Phantom Blade Zero and Mortal Shell II cost?

Phantom Blade Zero costs $59.99 and Mortal Shell II $49.99.

### When did Phantom Blade Zero and Mortal Shell II come out?

Mortal Shell II came out on 20 August 2026, and Phantom Blade Zero on 28 October 2026.

## Sources

65. Steam: Mortal Shell II, store page and user reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2584270/
66. Cold Symmetry and Playstack on Steam: Mortal Shell II release date, pricing and pre-orders, 8 July: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2584270/view/1836506165580838
182. Steam: Phantom Blade Zero, store page and user reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4115450/

Page: https://creativecult.digital/compare/phantom-blade-zero-vs-mortal-shell-2