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Valor Mortis is a single-player, first-person action Soulslike from One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner. It places you in a supernatural version of Napoleonic-era Europe, where William, a resurrected soldier, battles plague-created abominations and Napoleon’s corrupted forces. Its combat combines stamina-conscious melee, parries, evasive dashes, firearms, supernatural abilities and visceral finishers, while exploration uses secrets, shortcuts and side quests in historically inspired environments.
What kind of game is Valor Mortis?
Valor Mortis is designed around the tension associated with Soulslike combat: enemies are dangerous, attacks must be timed, and success depends on learning patterns rather than simply overpowering everything in front of you. The first-person viewpoint makes that formula feel immediate. You read an enemy’s movement at close range, decide whether to parry or retreat, and use mobility to create a better angle for the next strike.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Valor Mortis - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gran Turismo 7 PS5 | $46.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Horror Tales: The Wine (PS5) | $28.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Scars Above, 1 PS5-Blu-Ray-Disc | $29.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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DEATHLOOP - PS5 | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
One More Level developed the game, while Lyrical Games and One More Level are listed as publishers. The project is not a sequel to Ghostrunner and does not share that series’ setting; the useful connection is the developer’s experience with fast, first-person action design. Valor Mortis is built as a standalone single-player adventure with action, adventure and RPG elements.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe game’s official description presents William as a soldier of Napoleon’s Grande Armée who is resurrected after dying on a battlefield. He wakes in a Europe transformed by a mysterious plague, discovers that its corrupting force is present in his own body, and becomes entangled in a conspiracy that threatens humanity.
#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.
Setting: a supernatural Napoleonic Europe
History reimagined as horror
The setting draws on the Napoleonic Wars and 19th-century Europe, but it is not a historical simulation. The fiction begins with recognizable elements—Napoleon’s army, occupied territories, period weapons and European architecture—then introduces a plague with supernatural effects. Endless war has ravaged the continent, and the disease creates abominations while corrupting members of Napoleon’s Eternal Guard.
Developer material identifies the protagonist as William Dowsett and describes Napoleon’s conquests stopping in Eastern Europe as the plague spreads. Occupied populations resist, and the mystery reaches into Napoleon’s own writing. These details frame the campaign as both a survival story and an investigation: William is trying to understand his resurrection and the plague while navigating a political and military crisis.
William’s unusual condition
William is not simply a conventional soldier returned to duty. His resurrection and exposure to the plague are tied to the abilities he uses in combat. That connection gives the supernatural systems a story role: the same force that makes him capable of confronting monsters also raises questions about what he is becoming and whether the plague can be controlled.
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How combat works
Timing, stamina and risk
Combat is described as stamina-and-skill based. Attacks, defensive actions and movement therefore have to be managed together instead of being used continuously without consequence. A successful encounter depends on recognizing an opening, committing to an attack, and preserving enough stamina to defend or escape when an enemy responds.
Rank #2
- 1183237
- Parries: Timed defensive actions can interrupt an incoming attack and create an opportunity to counter.
- Dashes: William can move out of danger quickly, reposition around an opponent or avoid an attack that is unsafe to block.
- Visceral finishers: Vulnerable enemies can be finished with brutal close-range attacks, reinforcing the game’s violent tone.
- Mobility: Movement is a core survival tool against plague-ridden enemies, not merely a way to traverse scenery.
The first-person perspective changes how these mechanics feel compared with a traditional third-person Soulslike. You have less of an external view of your character’s body and surroundings, so positioning, audio cues and deliberate camera control matter when several enemies attack together.
Enemies and the Eternal Guard
William faces plague-ridden abominations as well as members of Napoleon’s Eternal Guard whose corruption has altered them. The Steam description emphasizes outmaneuvering these enemies, suggesting that movement and spacing are as important as raw damage. Environmental secrets may also provide information or resources that improve your chances of surviving difficult encounters.
Weapons, firearms and supernatural powers
Napoleonic-era weapons
The arsenal combines period equipment with supernatural force. Named examples include rapiers and flintlock pistols. The contrast is intentional: a precise melee weapon, a slow-loading firearm and an otherworldly ability can all occupy different tactical roles in the same fight.
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Official gameplay material says players can dual-wield and level up swords, firearms and magic. This means progression is not limited to one weapon category. You can develop a close-range approach, invest in ranged damage, strengthen supernatural abilities, or combine those paths to suit different encounters.
Rank #3
- Mediterranean Horror: Explore the forsaken capital of an awe-inspiring archipelago. Do not let yourself be fooled by the gentle sea breeze, the Mediterranean vistas or the comforting summer sun. Since the Devil's Fevers pandemic ravaged the city, it was abandoned, and now only horrific nightmares await there.
- Survive your Nemesis: Someone is relentlessly hunting you. Suffer and agonize while you try to run away from the encounters with this strange stalker obsessed with you.
- Intense Challenges: Solve environmental riddles, physics puzzles and other similar challenges in an interconnected vertical world. Even while being chased and hunted.
- Accessibility and Photomode: Tweak more than 20 Accessibility settings to create a tailored experience for you. Use the Photomode to make perfect shots and unlock many secrets using it.
Dual-wielding also gives the combat system a broader decision space. You may pair complementary weapons, switch between damage types, or use one hand for a defensive or supernatural option while keeping another tool ready for a counterattack. The available descriptions do not establish a fixed class system, so it is more accurate to think of these as upgradeable combat disciplines than as confirmed character classes.
Exploration and progression
Metroidvania-style level design
The publisher calls Valor Mortis’ level design “Metroidvania-style.” In practical terms, that points to interconnected areas, routes that become useful later, hidden spaces and progression that rewards remembering previously visited locations. It should not be read as a promise that the game is a completely open world.
Secrets, shortcuts and side quests
Developer descriptions specifically mention secrets, shortcuts and side quests. A shortcut can reduce the distance between a safe route and a dangerous encounter; a secret may reveal a useful reward or additional context; and a side quest can broaden the story beyond William’s immediate path through the campaign. Historically inspired architecture supplies the visual framework for these routes, while the plague and supernatural corruption make familiar European spaces hostile.
Exploration is therefore part of progression rather than a break from combat. Searching an area can improve your options for a later fight, uncover a route around a difficult group, or explain how the plague has affected a region.
Rank #4
- Tauche in ein ausgeklügeltes Abenteuer ein, das von Klassikern der Science-Fiction inspiriert wurde
- Setze eine Kombination aus Fernkampfwaffen, Gerätschaften, Verbrauchsgegenständen und Nahkampf ein
- Schalte mit dem gesammelten Wissen neue Gerätschaften, Waffen und Fähigkeiten frei
- Aufregende Bosskämpfe: Grauen erregende Gegner, die nach vielseitigen Strategien und Taktiken verlangen
Story structure and tone
The central mystery has three connected parts: William’s resurrection, the origin and behavior of the plague, and the conspiracy surrounding Napoleon’s campaign. The narrative combines military conflict with supernatural horror, so historical figures and institutions appear inside an invented alternate history. Events in the game should not be treated as claims about what happened during the real Napoleonic Wars.
Content is explicitly mature. Steam describes a brutal, war-torn landscape with violence throughout. The PlayStation listing specifies Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. Players looking for a restrained historical adventure should expect graphic combat and a consistently dark atmosphere instead.
Platforms and release timing
Valor Mortis is announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and Windows PC through Steam. The PlayStation version supports offline play, one player, PS5 Pro enhancements, DualSense vibration and adaptive trigger effects.
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Best Value
- Value for money
- Good product with exc\
- Perfect puzzling: Puzzles slowly increase in complexity enabling seamless progression and rewarding exploration.
The developer announced that the Steam demo would go offline on September 8, 2026. That announcement does not establish that a demo remained downloadable on launch day. The developer also said the build intended for physical discs was ready for printing, which supports the expectation of a physical PS5 edition but does not confirm that a particular retailer listing was live.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.PC system requirements
Steam’s listed requirements are shown below. They are storefront targets and can change; both configurations require an SSD and DirectX 12.
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-10600K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X or Intel Core i5-13400 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD RX 5600 XT or Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti | AMD RX 6800 or Nvidia RTX 3070 |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 60 GB, SSD required | 60 GB, SSD required |
| Stated performance target | 30 frames per second at 1080p on Low with upscaling | 60 frames per second at 1440p on Medium with upscaling |
The targets include upscaling, so they should not be interpreted as native-resolution guarantees. A PC that only meets the minimum specification is aimed at the Low preset and 1080p target, whereas the recommended specification is intended for Medium settings at 1440p.
Campaign length and price
One More Level announced a planned 20-hour story on September 17, 2026. That is a developer-provided estimate for the story campaign, not an independently measured completion time; exploration, side quests, secrets and the player’s combat style can change the total time.
The same announcement gave a launch price of $39.99, with regional prices of €39.99 and 149.99 zł. Prices vary by territory, currency conversion and store changes, so the relevant PlayStation or Steam page is the authority at purchase time.
Who is Valor Mortis for?
- Players who want first-person Soulslike combat: The viewpoint, parries, stamina management and dashes make timing central.
- Players who enjoy hybrid loadouts: Swords, firearms and supernatural abilities can be upgraded and combined.
- Exploration-focused players: Secrets, side quests and shortcuts reward revisiting and careful searching.
- Fans of dark alternate history: The game uses Napoleonic imagery as the foundation for plague horror rather than historical simulation.
- Players seeking cooperative play: The official listings describe a single-player game, not a multiplayer campaign.
Useful comparison points with other Soulslikes
If you are deciding whether this particular Soulslike fits your preferences, compare the following features rather than relying on the label alone:
- Viewpoint: Valor Mortis is first-person, which changes spatial awareness and the feel of parries.
- Combat rhythm: Stamina, timing, dashes and finishers define its moment-to-moment risk.
- Tool variety: Melee weapons, firearms and supernatural powers are developed together.
- World structure: The publisher’s “Metroidvania-style” description points to interconnected exploration, shortcuts and secrets rather than a confirmed fully open world.
- Technical demands: The recommended PC target calls for a Ryzen 7 5800X/Core i5-13400-class processor, RX 6800/RTX 3070-class graphics and an SSD for 1440p Medium with upscaling.
- Availability: Check the current storefront because release unlocks, demos, prices and requirements can change.
Where to play
The confirmed platforms are PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and Steam for Windows. PlayStation’s listing confirms the PS5 edition, while Steam provides the PC requirements and release status. A physical PS5 version was being prepared for printing, but a specific retail listing should be verified before assuming it is available.
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Quick Recap
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.
