Stellar Blade

A linear action-adventure RPG where you parry relentless boss attacks and chain counters into lethal finishers across sci-fi corridors.

Last reviewed: May 3, 2026

Released Apr 2024 Singleplayer / 3D / Family Sharing

Nails Sekiro-tier parry combat in third-person — the June 2025 PC port hits 70+ FPS at native 4K and runs at 60 on handhelds.

8.1 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You want Sekiro-style parry combat with a Bayonetta-flavored skill ceiling on bosses
You enjoy linear-with-hub level design over open-world sprawl
You're playing on PC and want a port that scales from 4K at 120 to handheld 60

Not for you if

You expect deep narrative — Stellar Blade's story is the weakest part of the package
You hate parry-or-die boss design and prefer dodge-spam combat
You're put off by anime-girl proportions and bikini outfit aesthetics

What players love

The combat system, especially parry-based mechanics with progression, and the extensive outfit customization are consistently praised by long-time players.

What frustrates them

Heavy reliance on memorizing delayed attack patterns in combat creates a repetitive rhythm that frustrates some veteran players.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

7/10IGN
Great in all the most important ways for an action game, but dull characters and a lackluster story prevent it from soaring.
Mitchell SaltzmanApr 2024 Read review →
8/10GameSpot
A strong battle system and exciting moments make Stellar Blade more than just an imitator.
Imran KhanApr 2024 Read review →
8.8/10Game Informer
Silky animation and top-notch art shine, even if the story never clicked—a top-notch action experience.
Matt MillerApr 2024 Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Is the Stellar Blade PC port good?

Stellar Blade's PC port (June 11, 2025) is widely regarded as one of the smoothest releases of the year. Native 4K runs ~70 FPS without DLSS, RTX 4080 Ti hits 120+ FPS at 3440x1440, and even Steam Deck holds steady 60 FPS at appropriate settings. Full DLSS 4, FSR 3, ultrawide, and KB+M support out of the box. No shader compilation stutter, no frame pacing issues. The only persistent gripe is no in-game cutscene skipping in 2025.

Source: XDA: Stellar Blade PC port benchmarks

How does parrying work in Stellar Blade?

Stellar Blade's combat is built around Sekiro-style perfect parries. Tap L1 just before an enemy attack lands; perfect timing negates damage, refunds Beta Energy, and erodes the enemy's Balance gauge. Reduce Balance to zero and you can chain a Retribution attack for massive damage. When struggling, hold L1 to block (reduced damage) and learn the timing safer. Invest the Reflex Boost skill on the Survival Tree to widen the parry window, or equip Exospines that extend it.

Source: Game8: How to Perfect Parry

How do you get all endings in Stellar Blade?

Stellar Blade has three endings. (1) Return to the Colony: don't take Adam's hand at Spire 4; defeat the Elder Naytiba alone. (2) Cost of Lost Memories: take Adam's hand without max Lily affinity; you fight Lily's exosuit. (3) Making New Memories (true/secret): max Lily's affinity (collect every data entry; finish Enya and Katya side quests in Xion), visit Eidos 9 before Spire 4, then take Adam's hand. The true ending unlocks Lily's hyper cell return to Xion.

Source: GameSpot: All Stellar Blade endings

How long does it take to beat Stellar Blade?

Main story takes 25 hours for focused players. 100% completion (every collectible, every sub-quest, every outfit, the True Ending route) clocks in at 46-50 hours. Seeing all three endings requires three playthroughs and pushes total time to 80-100 hours. Hard Mode (NG+ unlock) bumps boss-parry timing tighter and is the recommended route for repeat plays.

Source: GameSpot: Stellar Blade length

What was the Stellar Blade costume censorship controversy?

Stellar Blade's day-one patch toned down violence and made costume revisions (added lace to cover cleavage on certain outfits). Director Hyung-Tae Kim said the day-one versions were the intended final designs, not response to Sony or Western press. Sony issued some refunds citing 'false advertising' on pre-order materials. A change.org petition by Mark Kern asking for pre-patch reverts gathered 80k+ signatures. NIKKE costume DLC packs released after launch include both pre-patch and post-patch styles.

Source: Game Rant: Censorship controversy