Few games can follow in the footsteps of the Soulsborne titles with an exciting flow of combat, and even fewer can do so when accompanied by a beautiful, war-torn setting rooted in the history of 19th century Europe. Yet that's exactly what it is Valor Mortis does Created by the Polish studio One More Level, with the same developers behind it Ghostrunner and Ghostrunner 2, Valor Mortis is a Steam Soulslike game where you combine exciting supernatural powers with typical 19th century soldier's arsenal like swords and bayonets.
Although Valor Mortis is not a free game on Steam, you can add it to your wishlist before its release in 2026. Napoleonic France takes a special turn Valor Mortisbecause it's an alternate version of the real world's history and features magic combined with weapons, horrible monsters that could very well come from Resident Evil or Bloody.
List of Valor Mortis features
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A first-person Souls duel
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Parry, Dodge, Block, Stamina, Telegraph Attacks, Timing, Finishers, Healing Flasks
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- An explorable world with secrets to uncover as you unlock more abilities
- Environmental storytelling and memories to find to piece together the plot of Napoleon's Grand Armee
- Punishing boss encounters
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Lanterns that work as checkpointslike Bonfires/Sites of Lost Grace
- RPG features (Character progression, permanent upgrades that improve the main character in various ways, loot acquisition, upgrades with positive and negative modifiers)
- Mobility (Retains some elements of parkour from Ghostrunner games)
Valor Mortis meets Elden Ring, Dark Souls
How Valor Mortis challenges the status quo of souls
In an ambitious project that combines first-person combat with classic Souls-like mechanics, Valor Mortis aims to be a ruthless game that rewards players for mastering their game loop and learning enemy patterns to avoid damage. With many soul-like elements in its formula, Valor Mortis It's not a game for everyone, and I'm proud of it. A first-person spin on Soulslike combat Valor Mortis is an ace up its sleeve, but it can also be a problem if not executed correctly.
Valor Mortis' Ace Up Its Sleeve can make or break it
This is because many believe that first-person melee and Soulslike don't go together for several reasons.
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First-person combat reduces spatial awareness, which can become frustrating very quickly in an already punishing game.
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Melee combat can lead to fewer enemy variants, even with ranged weapons included in the mix.
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Camera settings in first-person games can be more limited, which can be a problem in demanding Soulslikes.
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Weapon impact (or lack thereof) can make or break the dip and flow of first-person melee combat.
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Level design can have a significant impact on how well Soulslike plays from a first-person perspective.
Valor Mortis Meets Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
How the historical setting of Valor Mortis takes the best of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Creepy Soulslikes
Nomination for TGA GOTY Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 he did not win any of the awards he was shortlisted for, much to the disappointment of his fans. However, it remains one of the best RPGs of 2025 by a wide margin, thanks to its focus on ways to customize the first-person combat experience, a greater focus on dialog skills and crafting than its predecessor, quests that have ramifications for the in-game world, and a rich open world. Valor Mortis it takes some of these functions and combines them with others Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2The secret ingredient: historical setting done right.
Valor Mortis is a game set in 19th century Europe, but spins things quite differently than other games that share the same time period. In this case, Napoleon Bonaparte rules as emperor in an alternate history version of 19th century Europe, mixing it with supernatural powers that consume one of the game's resources – Neptoglobin. This can be obtained by shooting at enemies' weak spots and resting in Lanterns, creating another layer of storytelling in a rather creepy world where zombies and mutants wear historic Napoleonic-era uniforms and it's hard to tell friend from foe.
However, expect more enemies and fewer friends. Valor Mortis isn't your typical Soulslike game that lets down a formula that tries to emulate success Dark souls without the sauce that makes it great and its setup is proof of that. Whether it delivers on the promise of a ruthless Soulslike first-person gameplay that rewards skillful play remains to be seen. However, if its playtest is any indication, it has the potential to make it to the top of the Steam wishlist.
- Released
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February 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Adults 17+ / Use of alcohol, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language, intense violence, partial nudity
- Developers
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Warhorse Studios
