Phantom Realms Review
Score: 9.2/10
Phantom Realms is the kind of game that reminds you why you fell in love with gaming in the first place. It's a haunting, beautiful, occasionally terrifying journey through a world that feels genuinely alive — or rather, genuinely haunted.
Gameplay
The combat system strikes an excellent balance between accessibility and depth. On the surface, it's a straightforward action-RPG with light and heavy attacks, dodges, and special abilities. But the spirit system adds a layer of strategy that keeps encounters interesting throughout the 40+ hour campaign.
Highlights:
- Spirit companion mechanics are innovative and engaging
- Boss battles are challenging without feeling unfair
- Exploration is consistently rewarded
- The crafting system is deep but not overwhelming
Story
Without spoiling anything, Phantom Realms tells a story about loss, memory, and the worlds we create to cope with both. It handles heavy themes with surprising grace, never feeling manipulative or heavy-handed.
The voice acting is superb across the board, with standout performances from the leads that bring genuine emotion to every cutscene.
Presentation
This is where Phantom Realms truly shines. The art direction is breathtaking — a painterly style that makes every screenshot look like concept art. The soundtrack is equally impressive, shifting seamlessly between haunting ambiance and pulse-pounding battle themes.
Issues
No game is perfect:
- Some late-game fetch quests feel like padding
- The map system could be more intuitive
- A few minor technical issues at launch
Verdict
Phantom Realms is a triumph. It's the rare game that excels in every category — gameplay, story, presentation, and atmosphere — while also bringing genuinely new ideas to the table. This is an essential play for anyone who loves action-RPGs.
Recommended for: Fans of atmospheric RPGs, Dark Souls veterans looking for something different, anyone who appreciates strong world-building.