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If you want a shorter soulslike to play while you wait for Valor Mortis, start with Mortal Shell: it has the clearest short main-story estimate among the options here. Thymesia is another compact candidate if parry-focused combat appeals to you, although its surfaced playtime figure is a community estimate for a full achievement run. Lies of P is a useful genre comparison, but there is no sourced duration here to recommend it as a short game.
When is Valor Mortis coming out, and how long is its story?
As of October 4, 2026, Valor Mortis is scheduled to launch on October 13, 2026. The announced platforms are PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and Steam, and the publisher says it will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. See the PlayStation listing and the publisher’s announcement for those details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Valor Mortis - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Lords of the Fallen Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 5 | $27.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Lies of P - PlayStation 5 | $38.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bleak Faith: Forsaken | $32.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Morbid: The Lords of Ire [PS5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sJpAliWDL._SL160_.jpg)
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Morbid: The Lords of Ire [PS5] | $42.26 | Buy on Amazon |
A developer-associated statement on the Steam community hub describes the story as 20 hours. Treat that as the developer’s estimate, not an independently timed playthrough. The game’s first-person camera, action-soulslike framing, and mix of close- and longer-range weapons also make it a distinctive point of comparison for these third-person picks.
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| Game | Playtime evidence | Combat and perspective | How it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortal Shell | GOG displays HowLongToBeat estimates of 10.5 hours for the main story and 23.5 hours for completionist play. These are database estimates, not guarantees; the listing does not state a year for them. (GOG) | Third-person action-RPG; the supplied listing does not establish a specific parry emphasis. | Clearest short pick if you want a conventional third-person soulslike with a sourced main-story estimate. |
| Thymesia | A Steam Community guide estimates under 10 hours for a full achievement run. It is a player estimate, not an official figure or a clean main-story estimate; the result does not establish its year. (Steam Community) | Parry-forward combat; third-person. | Compact candidate for players who want a parry-centered challenge, with less dependable duration evidence. |
| Lies of P | No reliable completion-time figure is established here. (Steam listing) | Single-player soulslike set in a dark, Belle Époque-inspired Pinocchio world. | Boundary case, not a confirmed short recommendation. |
Mortal Shell: the clearest short, traditional option
If your main filter is a short campaign, Mortal Shell is the strongest fit in this group. GOG displays a HowLongToBeat estimate of 10.5 hours for the main story and 23.5 hours for completionist play. Those figures distinguish a focused run from a completionist one, but they cannot predict your time: exploration, combat familiarity, and retries all affect how long a soulslike takes.
#1 Best Overall
- HARNESS CORRUPTED POWER - Each death is a chance to grow stronger. Master a combat system of parries, dashes, and visceral finishers across a variety of weapons. Channel your power to enhance attacks and unlock new supernatural abilities to inflict upon your enemies.
- SECRETS LITTER THE BATTLEFIELD - Navigate a 19th-century alternate history where the costs of endless war have corrupted the landscape. Use your newfound mobility to outmaneuver the plague-ridden abominations of Napoleon’s Eternal Guard and uncover environmental secrets that may increase your chances of survival.
- UNCOVER A HORRID CONSPIRACY - Witness a compelling story where historical figures and realities intertwine with elements of horror and the supernatural. Explore beyond the dark corners of the world to discover the truth behind the plague and your unholy resurrection.
Its third-person action-RPG framing makes it a more conventional perspective match for players coming from many other soulslikes than Valor Mortis’s first-person view. Choose it for the clearer duration benchmark, not because the available evidence establishes that its combat will feel identical to the upcoming game.
Thymesia: a compact pick for parry fans
Thymesia may suit you if you want a short, parry-forward challenge. One Steam Community guide puts a full achievement run under 10 hours, but that is community guidance rather than an official duration. It also describes a broader achievement run, not a directly comparable main-story estimate, so do not read it as proof that every playthrough will fit inside that time.
Rank #2
- Overhauled Character Creator – Create more lifelike characters with improved facial detail, body shapes, and visual fidelity
- Shared-Progression Cross-Play Cooperative Play – Both players now save all main story progress as long as they’re on the same “New Game” and have defeated a similar number of main bosses within one. Both players retains all loot, 100 percent vigor, and can revive each other in all online sessions.
- Free Friend’s Pass – Invite any friend to join your adventure in online co-op even if they don’t own the game. Friends keep loot and character progress, plus get full offline access to the tutorial and character creator
- Revamped Combat and Movement – V2.0 adds smoother animations, better weapon response, refined lock-on, improved evasions, and new grievous strike prompts
Its parry-centered combat gives it a more specific appeal than a general “short soulslike” label: consider it if learning and landing defensive counters is part of what you enjoy. If you mainly need a dependable campaign-length comparison, Mortal Shell has the stronger evidence.
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Lies of P: a boundary case, not a verified short pick
Lies of P is identified as a soulslike in its Steam store context and is described there as a single-player game with a dark, Belle Époque-inspired take on Pinocchio. However, the store information cited here does not provide a reliable completion-time estimate. It belongs in the conversation as a genre comparison, not on a strict short-games list based on the evidence available.
Rank #3
- The essence of battle: Wield and master various weapons with unique combinations of Fable Arts and Legion Arms to find out what fits your playstyle
- Variety of attraction: Enjoy the beautiful, yet dark atmosphere of the Belle Époque era and explore the once prosperous city of Krat
- Lie system: P is made of a puppet's heart, but he learns how to think and feel like a human by lying
- Legacy of the classics: The city of Krat, the characters, and even the smallest objects reflect our deepest admiration for the original tale of Pinocchio
How to choose based on the time you have
- Want the clearest short main-story estimate? Choose Mortal Shell, while treating the displayed 10.5 hours as an estimate rather than a deadline.
- Want a parry-forward challenge? Consider Thymesia; its under-10-hour figure concerns a community-estimated full achievement run, not a typical campaign.
- Want another well-known soulslike regardless of confirmed length? Lies of P is a genre fit, but no duration figure here supports calling it short.
If you have seen players ask, “Do you guys have any smaller soulslikes” or “what game are you playing while waiting”, these options answer different versions of that question: a clearer short estimate, a parry-focused compact candidate, and a larger commitment whose duration is not established here. The phrasing reflects community questions, not a measure of how popular any game is. (Community wording)
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Morbid: The Lords of Ire is the successor to the critically acclaimed isometric souls-like action role game "Morbid: The Seven Acolytes".
- Conquer the princes of wrath in a gloomy horrorpunk world and explore varied environments in five individual countries full of nightmarish visions and greyish creatures.
- Experiment with different playing styles and a variety of weapons, runes and blessings.
- Surrender to madness or follow the light of the clear mind, and determine for yourself how great the risk and reward is.
- In the new 3D perspective, the horrors of Morbid take on completely new dimensions.
Rank #4
- Open World and Exploration - Explore the Omnistructure for the first time ever. Rich in atmosphere and rife with danger, be prepared to be immersed in a new world unlike any you've experienced before. Not every path is paved and catered to you, so be prepared to run, climb, leap, to ascend in Bleak Faith.
- Hardcore Combat Experience - Combat is dangerous and will push you to your limits. Positioning, timing, and resource-management are all things you must keep in mind at all times. Expect to be challenged
- Epic Boss Fight - Be prepared for memorable boss fights with unique soundtracks. Bosses ramp the danger levels even higher and ensure a thrilling ride through the manifold sectors of the Omnistructure
- RPG Progression and Playstyle Versatility - Choose a class and progress into your perfect playstyle. But remember, not every choice is reversible, so decide wisely what direction you take your character in
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
