Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Valor Mortis is a first-person action Soulslike set in an alternate-history, plague-haunted Europe during Napoleon’s campaigns. Its unusual viewpoint, demanding combat and grotesque horror imagery give it a clear appeal for players who want something harsher and stranger than a conventional fantasy Soulslike. The “strangely chill” part is best understood as a contrast in atmosphere—not a proven player consensus: the game pairs grim horror with the focused, deliberate rhythm of stamina-based combat and exploration.
At the time of the publisher’s announcement, the game was scheduled to launch October 13, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, with day-one Xbox Game Pass availability. Independent hands-on coverage before launch praised much of the game but reported uneven difficulty, especially around chapter-ending bosses. The final release build has not been independently assessed in the evidence available here.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
WWE 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $42.65 | Buy on Amazon |
What is Valor Mortis?
Valor Mortis is a first-person action game from One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner, built around Soulslike combat and interconnected, Metroidvania-style exploration. It reimagines 19th-century Europe during Napoleon’s campaign as an alternate-history horror setting. The official premise follows William Dowsett, a resurrected soldier of the Grande Armée, as he confronts horrifying creatures and a conspiracy threatening humanity, guided by Napoleon’s disembodied voice. The developer describes William as having supernatural powers. See the Unreal Engine developer interview and the publisher’s launch announcement.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Why the first-person view matters
The first-person perspective is part of the game’s central design framing, not a view option that the available official sources establish as switchable. It puts melee encounters, parries and enemy tells in the same close-up field of view as the setting’s horror imagery. Players who enjoy first-person action but want stamina management and deliberate enemy encounters may find that blend compelling; players who rely on a pulled-back view to read a fight may find the perspective less comfortable.
#1 Best Overall
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
How does combat work?
The publisher describes a mix of melee attacks, firearms, supernatural abilities, stamina management, parries and counterattacks. Its gameplay overview presents weapon choice as a response to the enemy rather than a purely cosmetic preference. Those are official descriptions of the intended mechanics, not independently tested conclusions. The gameplay overview gives examples:
- Claymore: a slow, high-impact two-handed blade.
- Musket: a longer-range, more powerful two-handed firearm than William’s pistol.
- Parries and counters: timing-focused defensive actions are among the combat features highlighted by the publisher and developer.
- Exploration: the world is described as interconnected, with Metroidvania-style progression alongside combat.
The promise is a combat loop that asks players to manage stamina and choose how to meet a threat—close-range weapon, firearm or supernatural ability—while navigating a hostile world. How smooth that loop feels in the finished game cannot be established from a publisher overview alone.
Rank #2
- Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. Swing, jump, and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city, and the ones they love.
- An evolution of the Spider-Man story: The incredible power of the symbiote forces Peter and Miles to face the ultimate test of strength, both inside and outside the mask, as they balance their lives, friendships, and their duty to protect those in need.
- Experience two playable Spider-Men: Quickly swap between both Spider-Men as you explore an expanded Marvel’s New York. Experience Peter’s new symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric venom powers, and discover upgradeable, high-tech equipment that enhances the combat experience for extensive gameplay depth and variety.
- Battle iconic Marvel Super Villains: Fight against a variety of new and iconic villains, including an original take on the monstrous Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and many more!
How hard is Valor Mortis?
The strongest independent difficulty evidence available before launch is a hands-on preview by Wesley LeBlanc, Senior Associate Editor at Game Informer, published September 21, 2026. LeBlanc said he enjoyed much of what he played, but described the difficulty balance as “incredibly uneven” and said key moments such as chapter-ending boss fights spoiled what should have been fun climaxes. He characterized the experience as often frustrating despite seeing the appeal of its Soulslike combat. Read the pre-release preview.
Recommended Free Tools
That is a warning about a specific pre-release build, not a verdict on the launch version. The developer’s Steam announcements add context: the team said it was working on combat readability, hitbox range, enemy staggering, boss variety and the difficulty curve, among other areas. It also cautioned that its demo’s Chapter I and Chapter VII versions were bespoke event builds and no longer represented full-game polish. A boss encountered after roughly 30 minutes in the demo was intended for the end of Chapter II in the full game. Those statements explain why demo impressions may not map neatly to the finished campaign; they do not prove that the launch balance was fixed.
Rank #3
- THE SHOW NEVER STOPS: Run the world’s greatest show your way and live out your WWE fandom to the fullest. Experience the most expansive gameplay to date with rebellious Legends of the Attitude Era and Superstars of today.
- MORE SUPERSTARS THAN EVER BEFORE: Featuring the most stacked lineup in franchise history with 400+ playable WWE Superstars and Legends including The Rock, Triple H, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and fan-favorites like Rey Fénix, Rusev, and Blake Monroe.
- 2K SHOWCASE: Rewrite wrestling history and relive CM Punk’s greatest rivalries in a world where The Voice of the Voiceless never left, including fantasy historical scenarios. Punk’s rise, rebellion, and return make this the most personal Showcase yet.
- NEW MATCH TYPES AND MORE: Bring the chaos to every corner of the ring with new match types, including I Quit, Inferno, and Dumpster. Plus, take the fight to The Island in the new Scrapyard Brawl arena, experience an updated progression system, and test your skills in MyFACTION with Quick Swap, a fast-paced, team-based mode. Enjoy interactive entrances, new crowd interactions, and fresh commentary from Booker T and Wade Barrett.
What the available evidence supports
- Supported: one independent pre-release preview found uneven difficulty and frustrating chapter-ending bosses.
- Also supported: the developer said it was addressing difficulty curve and combat-readability issues, while describing the demo builds as bespoke and not representative of full-game polish.
- Not established: how difficult the final release is overall, whether boss balance was corrected, or whether players broadly agree on the game’s challenge.
When does Valor Mortis come out, and what platforms is it on?
The publisher announced an October 13, 2026 launch at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM UTC for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, with day-one Xbox Game Pass availability. The official PlayStation listing also specifies a PS5 release at 17:00 UTC and lists one player, offline play, DualSense vibration and trigger-effect support. At the time the listing was checked, it showed no player ratings.
The publisher’s October 9 announcement listed these edition prices and plans. They are announced figures and future-content plans, not independently verified live store prices or confirmation that planned content has since been delivered.
Rank #4
- With the return of classic cars, iconic tracks, and fan-favourite modes like GT Simulation and Sport Mode - Gran Turismo 7 is the complete Real Driving Simulator, 25 years in the making.
- Find your line. Whether you're a racer, collector, tuner, designer, photographer or arcade fan - immerse yourself in the facets of automotive culture that matter most to you.
- Connect and compete. Join an international community of drivers to share race strategies, tuning tips, livery designs and photos, before taking to the track to go head-to-head.
| Edition | Announced price | Announced content |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39.99 / €39.99 / 149.99 zł | Base game |
| Deluxe | $59.99 / €59.99 / 199.99 zł | Base game, cosmetic packs and a Major Story DLC planned for the following year |
The publisher also mentioned planned free updates. The available platform information does not establish PC system requirements, console performance modes or frame rates, cross-save support, or performance parity between platforms.
Who is likely to enjoy Valor Mortis?
The game’s pitch is most promising if you want first-person melee combat, deliberate stamina-based encounters, a supernatural action toolkit and a horror story rooted in an unusual historical setting. Its central trade-off is that the perspective and challenge may make fights feel intense, while the only independent pre-release hands-on assessment identified uneven difficulty as a significant weakness.
Quick Recap
- Consider it if: you are curious about a first-person take on Soulslike combat, like parry-focused encounters, or want an alternate-history Napoleonic horror premise.
- Be cautious if: inconsistent boss difficulty would sour your interest, you prefer a third-person camera for reading enemy movement, or you want a clear assessment of final-build balance before buying.
- Check your access route: the publisher announced PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, plus launch-day Xbox Game Pass availability; verify your local store’s current listing and price before purchase.
