Phantom Blade Zero Eyes GOTY After 91 OpenCritic Score

Phantom Blade Zero's reviews are in, with OpenCritic at 91 and Metacritic around 88. Fans are already debating whether it can take on GTA 6 for Game of the Year at The Game Awards.

Phantom Blade Zero hasn't even launched yet, but its review scores are already sparking some serious Game of the Year talk. With OpenCritic sitting at a 91 average and Metacritic around 88, the martial-arts action game is turning heads overseas—and now players are wondering: can it actually go toe-to-toe with GTA 6 at The Game Awards?

The praise is coming from all angles. Critics are highlighting the combat system, boss design, and striking art style as the game's standout features. Even before release, some outlets are already calling it a serious contender for the year's top prize. That's rare air for any game, let alone one still waiting to hit store shelves.

Over on the NGA forums, the debate is heating up. The optimistic camp argues that among this year's released titles, few can truly compete with Phantom Blade Zero—with Resident Evil 9 being the main exception. They also point out that a Chinese game winning GOTY would be a landmark moment for the industry.

But the cautious crowd isn't so sure. They note that The Game Awards factors in scale, genre, and overall impact—and action games don't always get the same spotlight as other types. Some players feel that taking home Best Action Game would already be a fantastic result.

Then there's the elephant in the room: GTA 6. The Game Awards recently announced its nomination cutoff date, and GTA 6 barely squeaked into eligibility for the 2026 show by a razor-thin margin. That means the Rockstar juggernaut is very much in the conversation, and it's a massive wildcard.

So what do you think? Can Phantom Blade Zero pull off an upset against GTA 6 and the rest of the field, or is Best Action Game the more realistic goal? Drop your take in the comments—we're all ears.