Phantom Blade Zero Could Steal GOTY 2026 From GTA 6, Fans Say

Overseas players are naming Phantom Blade Zero as a real Game of the Year contender alongside GTA 6, Control Resonant and more — and they're not joking around.

Think GTA 6 has 2026's Game of the Year award locked up? Some overseas players aren't so sure — and they're pointing at a Chinese action game as the reason why.

A gaming influencer recently put together a list of titles that could still shake up the GOTY conversation, and Phantom Blade Zero made the cut with some seriously high praise. According to this player, the game's biggest strengths are its clear single-player focus and the obvious creative passion coming from its development team.

Looking at the footage shown so far, that argument holds up. The game boasts a highly distinctive art style, fast-paced combat, and rock-solid action performance — enough, in their view, to give it genuine GOTY potential.

But Phantom Blade Zero isn't alone on that list. It's joined by some heavy hitters: GTA 6, Control Resonant, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Gears of War: E-Day.

GTA 6 barely needs an introduction — Rockstar's track record and the sheer weight of its predecessor do most of the talking. Control Resonant comes from Remedy, a studio that already proved its storytelling and design chops with Control and Alan Wake 2. And the Ocarina of Time remake has one of gaming's most beloved classics as its foundation — even with some debate over its art style, overseas fans still see it as a GOTY threat.

Meanwhile, Silent Hill: Townfall is being tipped as a horror dark horse that could sneak into award season, while Gears of War: E-Day carries hopes of bringing the series back to its former glory.

Of course, the final GOTY call depends on how these games actually perform once they launch. But based on the overseas buzz right now, Phantom Blade Zero has already crossed an important line — it's no longer just "that new game Chinese players are excited about." It's being taken seriously as a genuine contender on the world stage.

So what do you think — can Phantom Blade Zero really go toe-to-toe with GTA 6 when the awards roll around? Drop your pick in the comments.