The series has 8 games over almost 20 years. It began with Rainblood: Town of Death, a turn-based RPG that Soulframe Liang made in RPG Maker, followed by Rainblood 2: City of Flame (2011), Rain Blood Chronicles: Mirage (2013), Phantom Blade (2014), Phantom Blade 2 (2016), Phantom Blade 3 (2021) and Phantom Blade: Executioners (2023). Phantom Blade Zero (2026) is the eighth and the biggest hit in the series. You do not need to play the earlier ones.
The series in 8 games
From RPG Maker to PS5
- Rainbloodturn-based RPG
- Miragereal-time action
- Phantom Blademobile era
- ZeroPS5 and PC
List and years from Areajugones (13 Nov 2026). The first Rainblood’s date is unclear: the source gives 2008-2010.
Where the series comes from
It all starts with Soulframe Liang (Liang Qiwei), now S-GAME’s founder. GamesBeat reports he made the first Rainblood in RPG Maker as a student, and that the kungfupunk idea was born there. Those games gave us Soul, his limited lifespan and the betrayals that return in Phantom Blade Zero, which Areajugones describes as a reboot of that first story.
All 8 games, one by one
How the series changed, according to Areajugones’ overview:
- Rainblood: Town of Death (2008-2010). Turn-based RPG made in RPG Maker. Soul is an assassin betrayed by his allies who reaches a great city emptied by an epidemic.
- Rainblood 2: City of Flame (2011). Keeps Soul and his limited lifespan, and adds the sects fighting to rule the Wulin. Still turn-based, with bigger areas.
- Rain Blood Chronicles: Mirage (2013). Tells Shang and Soul’s past and drops turns: real-time side-scrolling combat, switching between both, with local co-op.
- Phantom Blade (2014). The first with that name, now on mobile and for the Chinese market. Skill chains arrive and kungfupunk starts taking shape.
- Phantom Blade 2 (2016). Over 40 playable characters, real-time PvP and co-op.
- Phantom Blade 3 (2021). Back to the solo adventure, digging into body modifications and Sha-Chi, the basis of Transcendence.
- Phantom Blade: Executioners (2023). Free-to-play side-scrolling ARPG and the international leap. Soul is the fast character, Zuo Shang the technical one and Mu Xiaokui the heavy hitter: the same names as in Zero.
- Phantom Blade Zero (2026). Out on 29 October on PS5 and PC, selling 4 million copies in 72 hours.
The Phantom Blade series at a glance
| Game | Year | Type | What it added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainblood: Town of Death | 2008-2010 | Turn-based RPG (RPG Maker) | Soul, the betrayed assassin |
| Rainblood 2: City of Flame | 2011 | Turn-based RPG (RPG Maker) | Limited lifespan and Wulin sects |
| Rain Blood Chronicles: Mirage | 2013 | Side-scrolling action | Real-time combat; Shang and Soul |
| Phantom Blade | 2014 | Mobile | Skill chains; kungfupunk |
| Phantom Blade 2 | 2016 | Mobile | 40+ characters; PvP |
| Phantom Blade 3 | 2021 | Mobile | Body modifications and Sha-Chi |
| Phantom Blade: Executioners | 2023 | Free side-scrolling ARPG (PC, PS5 and mobile) | International leap; Soul, Zuo Shang, Mu Xiaokui |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 2026 | PS5 and PC | S-GAME’s first big release |
Executioners launched in November 2023 on PC (Epic Games Store), PS5, iOS and Android. The announcement also mentioned PS4, but there is no PS4 version on PlayStation Store.
Do you need to play the earlier games?
No. Phantom Blade Zero tells its story from scratch, introducing Soul, Zuo Shang and the rest of the cast again. The earlier games are a bonus for anyone curious about the origin. For the studio and its engine, see S-GAME and the series.
Frequently asked questions
How many Phantom Blade games are there?
Eight, counting Phantom Blade Zero: three Rainblood (or Rain Blood) games, three numbered Phantom Blade games, Executioners and Zero.
What was the first game in the series?
Rainblood: Town of Death, a turn-based RPG made in RPG Maker between 2008 and 2010.
Is Phantom Blade Zero a sequel?
No. It reboots Soul’s story and can be played without knowing the earlier games.
Who created the series?
Soulframe Liang (Liang Qiwei), S-GAME’s founder.
Keep reading
Sources: Areajugones · GamesBeat.
Kaarosu Damu Kira is a soulslike player with 13 platinum trophies, from Dark Souls and Bloodborne to Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong, and the author of PBZ Guide. Kaarosu earned the Phantom Blade Zero platinum on 14 Nov 2026 in a single playthrough and turns every fight into clear, fact-checked guides.
