Blade & Soul NEO Review: An MMO with Cool Combos and a Vast World

Blade & Soul NEO is a new version of the famous Eastern fantasy MMORPG. The game has switched to the Unreal Engine 4, significantly improving upon the original 2012 release, while lovingly preserving many of its elements — particularly the combo-based combat system that gave it a fighting game feel. The MMO competes with hits like Lineage 2 and Aion Classic. We dove into the project to see how it plays in 2026.

Blade & Soul was a landmark project of its time. After a year of testing, the game sparked lively discussions and drew over a million players online at launch in the summer of 2012. A few years later, it broke records in China — estimates put the player count between five and seven million. The Asian audience was captivated by its vast Eastern fantasy world and skill-based combo combat system. Success in battle required not mindless button-mashing or exploiting overpowered perks, but precise maneuvering between targets and well-timed combos. This feature was most apparent in PvP matches between players.

Over the past decade, MMO standards have evolved. Blade & Soul NEO has scrapped stamina limits during running and flying — restrictions that once slowed exploration and frustrated players. The old, cumbersome gear enhancement system has been streamlined, and skill books now allow for more flexible builds, though they no longer level up automatically. The graphics have made major progress: the new project on Unreal Engine 4 boasts improved textures, lighting, and smoother combat animations, while eliminating the freezes that plagued large-scale raids in the original version.

The combat system has undergone some transformation but retains its core strengths — combos and a strong emphasis on player skill. Combo chains have been made slightly easier for beginners. In the old version, they always worked in the same way, but in NEO a new "mantra" (or soul item) mechanic was introduced. During battle, it occasionally adds random passive effects — for example, increased damage or a higher chance of a critical hit — and can influence how combos are executed. Nevertheless, player mastery remains the key factor. For even more intense experiences, you’ll have to look at the best fighting games.

Your journey in BnS NEO begins with selecting a class. By April 2026, the game features eight combat specializations — dual blade masters, kung fu fighters, elementalists, shadow warriors, axe wielders, summoners, and spiritualists. Each offers unique gameplay traits and different ratios of attack, defense, debuff, and support abilities. For instance, shadow and spirit masters excel in offense, axe fighters focus on defense and stunning enemies, while summoners aid their teammates from a distance.

Class choice depends on your race. The Shens resemble ordinary humans, the tall and mighty Wans descend from dragons, and the elegant Fens are exclusively female. The most distinctive race is the Lin — small, cute beings with animal-like ears and tails. They are the only ones who can become summoners and wield a special blade class with enhanced attack power.

Next comes the rich character customization system. Blade & Soul NEO features a pleasant character editor with dozens of facial options, hairstyles, and playful poses. You can craft anything from a charming trickster to a grizzled warrior whose wrinkles tell his story — or simply pick one of the default templates if you prefer to get started quickly.

After customizing your character, you’ll select a starting location. MMO veterans can jump into the "White Mountains," start at level 45, and unlock PvP content right away. New players, on the other hand, will feel more comfortable choosing "Dawn Peak." The single-player campaign helps you get used to the mechanics and learn the game’s nuances. Of course, nothing stops you from adventuring with friends — and afterward, you might want to explore other great co-op games.

Story-wise, Blade & Soul NEO begins with a short tutorial before plunging you into a web of Eastern fantasy intrigue. Mysterious dark sorcerers launch an assault on a floating martial-arts village, and your mentor sacrifices his life to save you. The protagonist falls into the sea and starts an archetypal journey from scratch. Surviving will take everything you’ve got — much like in the best survival games on PS4 and PS5.

This brings us into a vast open world (you can find even more best open-world games in our list). The map is divided into two large continents and dozens of smaller regions connected by special portals — some placed inside dungeons and even certain houses to optimize travel. As you journey, you’ll discover new settlements. Every village has someone in need of help and usually hides a dungeon full of bandits or terrifying monsters. Teleports make travel much easier but cost a certain amount of in-game currency, encouraging players to plan their adventures wisely.

The campaign lasts around 40 hours. The storyline, decent by MMORPG standards, occasionally introduces amusing characters — like the coal architect Cho Gitan, who’s terribly afraid of spiders — but its main purpose is to showcase the gameplay mechanics. Combos, the core feature of the MMO, are gradually learned through a set of training missions. Each combo requires precise button inputs in the correct order. Over time, they grow more complex, preparing players for real boss raids and hardcore PvP battles. Every class has its own unique combat techniques.

But the game isn’t limited to flashy kung fu. You’ll need to spend a long time leveling your character, searching for powerful mantras to boost gear passives, and running team dungeons in search of legendary skill books that greatly increase your power or even unlock new abilities. Before heading out, it’s best to stock up on useful potions. Story-related guilds appear in Emerald Village and help craft missing items, but you can only join two at a time.

At higher levels, players are kept busy with PvP battles and events. Martial arts duels for valuable rewards are available in special zones that rotate from time to time to keep things fresh. You can also start a fight in the regular game world. To do that, opponents wear the outfits of different factions — the blue Murim Alliance or the red Honchon Cult.

Regular events bring daily and weekly objectives. Most event tasks can be completed solo without much trouble, but special boss dungeons are usually designed for a team. An unbalanced party makes progression harder, so it’s best to find reliable teammates.

Every month, the game receives updates. For example, in March the developers added a cave filled with crazy trolls and a new PvP location in a former bandit camp, while April will bring a large-scale 12-player raid and a new difficulty level for the solo dungeon "Tower of the God of War." In May, they plan to add a new class — the spear master. In short, there’s always plenty of content to keep players busy for dozens of hours. Even if you’re reading this a year after the review was published, we’re sure the game is still getting new additions.

Blade & Soul NEO is a worthy successor to the cult classic. The remaster noticeably refreshed the visuals and became more accessible for newcomers, while preserving the original’s famous combat system. Every combo you learn feels rewarding in battle and motivates you to improve your gameplay skills. The main issue remains the typical MMO grind.