How long is Phantom Blade Zero? Chapters, endings and what you can miss
A standard playthrough takes about 25 to 30 hours, according to the director, Liang. Press-reported
The game is reported to have eight chapters and eight endings. Press-reported chapters, CGMagazine; Unconfirmed endings, English Wikipedia Side-quest outcomes are said to decide which ending you get, and some side quests expire as the main story moves on. Unconfirmed endings, English Wikipedia; Press-reported expiring quests, Gamersky
| Count | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | 8 | Previews covered chapter 1 and part of chapter 2. |
| Maps | 8 | Hand-painted ink-wash maps, joined together. |
| Endings | 8 | Decided by side-quest outcomes. |
| Bosses | At least 50 | The director’s figure. Every weapon comes from a boss. |
| Standard playthrough | 25 to 30 hours | The director’s figure, from before release. |
Press-reported Chapters from CGMagazine and RPGFan. Bosses from Gamersky and playthrough length from Gamersky, both quoting Liang. Unconfirmed Endings from English Wikipedia, which cites a Game Rant article of 18 December 2025 that we have not read. Official The eight maps are also stated in the State of Play narration, 7:03–7:26.
How long the game runs
Director Liang gives about 25 to 30 hours for a full playthrough, provided you do not get stuck on a boss. The figure comes from an interview that DualShockers ran, as reported by Gamersky. Press-reported Gamersky, October 2026, citing a DualShockers interview with Liang.
Every hour figure we found, on one scale
- 30 to 40 hoursmain story, the studio on Discord, May 2023Press-reported MP1st, 26 May 2023
- 20 to 30 hours, plus about 20main story, plus side content, January 2025Press-reported MP1st, 27 January 2025
- 25 to 30 hoursa full playthrough, director Liang, October 2026Press-reported Gamersky, citing DualShockers
- 4 to 6 hourstime played in one press preview, not a length estimate: chapter 1 and part of chapter 2, of eightPress-reported RPGFan, CGMagazine and other previews, October 2026
The earliest figure came from the studio itself. In a May 2023 question-and-answer session on the game’s Discord, it said: “Main story alone is about 30~40h, and there are tons of side quests to play with.” Press-reported MP1st, 26 May 2023, quoting the studio’s Discord Q&A.
An older estimate is still online: 20 to 30 hours for the main story plus about 20 hours of side content, reported in January 2025. The 25 to 30 hour figure is the newer one. Press-reported MP1st, 27 January 2025, citing Chinese articles and interviews.
All of these are estimates given before release. None is a measured average from players.
Chapters, maps and counts
The game has eight chapters. The previews published in October 2026 covered chapter 1 and part of chapter 2. Press-reported CGMagazine and RPGFan, October 2026 previews.
The world is made of eight hand-painted ink-wash maps, joined seamlessly. It is not an open world and not fully linear. A Chinese preview calls the structure wide-linear: a clear main route with many side branches. Press-reported Wccftech; Gamersky preview.
The narration over these map screens says: “Your journey is guided by 8 authentic, hand-painted Chinese ink wash maps.” Official State of Play subtitles, 7:03–7:26. The map screen in the same video shows a completion percentage for each region, and a separate list of what each region holds: bells, weapons and Phantom Edges, accessories and potions, challenge locations and more. Official State of Play, map screens at 7:03–7:12 and 7:52.
See also: Is it open world? How big is the map?
Endings
There are eight endings, and the outcomes of side quests decide which one you see, according to English Wikipedia’s summary of a Game Rant report. Unconfirmed English Wikipedia, read 11 October 2026, citing a Game Rant article of 18 December 2025 that we have not read.
New Game+ adds no new story. Press-reported Gamersky, citing DualShockers.
What each ending needs, and which side-quest outcomes lead to it, is not in the sources we read. It is listed under what is not yet known below.
Side quests that can expire
Side quests can expire when the main story moves on. NPCs warn you before this happens, and the quest log keeps the clue. Press-reported Gamersky, October 2026.
No source we read says which quests expire, or whether an expired quest changes the ending.
Enemies, resting and boss phases
Enemies do not respawn after you rest. Press reports say this holds for the full game, not only the demo. Press-reported IGN, 2025 demo; Gamersky preview, October 2026.
Boss fights work differently. If you die in a boss’s second phase, you restart at that second phase. Press-reported The Outerhaven, October 2026 preview.
The 66 days and any time limit
On a first playthrough, the 66 days is story framing only and there is no time limit, RPGFan reports from its question to director Liang. CGMagazine’s preview says the same in its own words. Press-reported RPGFan, reporting Liang’s answer, and CGMagazine.
Sixty-Six Days is a separate mode. It uses Hellwalker difficulty and adds a counter of 66 that drops on each death. When the counter reaches zero, the run ends. Press-reported GamingBolt and DualShockers.
Sixty-Six Days unlocks after you finish the game, according to RPGFan. CGMagazine calls it the New Game Plus mode, and GamingBolt says it is “also available after completing the game on Pathbreaker difficulty”. The in-game difficulty menu settles it: “Hellwalker difficulty, with one added rule: you have only 66 lives. Unlocks after completing PATHBREAKER or HELLWALKER.” A Wayfarer clear is not listed. Official State of Play gameplay deep dive, PlayStation on YouTube, difficulty menu at 11:51; Press-reported RPGFan, CGMagazine and GamingBolt. Details are on the time limit page.
Earlier coverage differs. IGN’s 2025 demo write-up says each death costs one of the 66 days, Chinese Wikipedia reports an earlier statement by Liang that running out leads to a bad ending, and PSU’s October 2026 preview says 100 days where the official store text says sixty-six. Press-reported IGN, 2025, and PSU, October 2026. Chinese Wikipedia is a wiki.
How in-story days pass, whether per chapter or per rest, is not yet known.
Trophies and platinum
Most players can earn the platinum trophy in a single playthrough, Liang said. Press-reported Gamersky, citing DualShockers.
We have not recorded the trophy list or the condition for each trophy. For how fights work, see the combat page. For the weapons that appear in them, see the weapons page.
What is not yet known
- What each ending requiresWhich side-quest outcomes lead to which ending.
- Which side quests expire, and whenNot listed in the sources we read.
- How in-story days passPer chapter, per rest, or another rule.
- A demo before launchNone announced. A store listing leaked in August and was pulled.
- The full trophy listNot recorded in the sources we read.
FAQ
How long is Phantom Blade Zero?
Director Liang gives about 25 to 30 hours for a full playthrough, provided you do not get stuck on a boss.
How many endings does Phantom Blade Zero have?
There are eight endings, and the outcomes of side quests decide which one you see, according to English Wikipedia’s summary of a Game Rant report.
Can you get the platinum trophy in one playthrough?
Most players can earn the platinum trophy in a single playthrough, Liang said.
How many chapters does Phantom Blade Zero have?
Eight, according to CGMagazine and RPGFan. The October 2026 previews covered chapter 1 and part of chapter 2.
Do enemies respawn when you rest?
No. Press reports say enemies do not respawn after you rest, in the full game as in the demo. If you die in a boss’s second phase, you restart at that second phase.