Phantom Blade Zero details branching story: 8 endings, main-story rush likely leads to a bad outcome
A producer interview notes a 20–30 hour main story, with side content and key items driving which of the eight endings players can reach.
MSN’s report summarizes new interview details from producer Liang Qiwei about Phantom Blade Zero’s narrative structure, branching paths, and ending conditions.
Main story length and the “bad ending” risk
Liang says a straight shot through the main story is expected to take roughly 20–30 hours. However, players who ignore side quests are more likely to hit a “bad ending,” suggesting the critical path alone isn’t the intended way to see the best outcome.
Eight endings, driven by progress and items
The game reportedly includes eight distinct endings, which the report notes is more than Elden Ring’s six. Which one you reach depends on how many side quests you complete, how deeply you explore, and whether you have specific items at key story beats. The interview notes that acquiring a key item earlier can alter later branches.
Branching is not just a final choice
The report frames the system as a long‑term accumulation of decisions rather than a single late‑game prompt. In practice, that means exploration, optional content, and item collection feed back into the narrative route you end up on.
Why this matters
By linking endings to sustained engagement, the story payoff appears designed to reward players who invest across the full game. It also sets expectations that the “best” ending is more likely to come from a thorough run than a rushed one.
