Valor Mortis Hands-On: First-Person Soulslike Impresses

One More Level, the studio behind the Ghostrunner series, is developing Valor Mortis, a first-person soulslike set in an alternate history interpretation of the Napoleonic Wars. A recent hands-on preview at Gamescom 2026 revealed a polished experience that successfully translates genre conventions into a rarely-explored perspective while maintaining the core appeal that makes soulslikes compelling.

The preview began with the protagonist William awakening on a desecrated battlefield with no clear memory of how he arrived there. Hearing Emperor Napoleon's voice in his mind, William is immediately thrust into combat against an undead British soldier wielding a cutlass. The opening encounter introduces Valor Mortis' combat fundamentals: right trigger for sword attacks, R1 for side-step dodging, and L1 for blocking and parrying. The parry mechanic emerged as the standout feature, proving intuitive and deeply satisfying. Weaker enemies can be finished with a single successful parry, while tougher opponents require consecutive parries to stagger before a finisher becomes available. The responsiveness of inputs, accurate camera lock-on, and detailed gore animations combine to create engaging combat, while the audio design particularly stands out—each parry and sword strike produces a progressively higher-pitched metallic sound that reinforces the impact of each action.

Progression follows familiar soulslike conventions. Defeating enemies grants points that can be invested into health, mana, or stamina attributes. Checkpoints called lanterns function similarly to bonfires, allowing players to regain health and spend accumulated points on upgrades. More specialized skills, such as increased parry impact, become available as progression continues. The level design demonstrates the interconnected structure characteristic of the best entries in the genre, with new abilities opening shortcuts and alternative paths through the environment.

During the preview, William discovers a corpse with a flaming heart embedded in its chest and consumes it, granting a fire cone ability reminiscent of BioShock's plasmids. This ability serves dual purposes: it provides combat utility while also opening shortcuts throughout the level. Later, the pistol becomes available as a weapon swap option, replacing the fire ability. The gun features an aiming mechanic and targets glowing weak points on enemies' bodies or heads, dealing significant damage and encouraging players to fluidly alternate between melee and ranged combat during encounters.

The preview spanned two distinct environments. The opening section takes place on a blood-soaked battlefield filled with undead riflemen and grotesque imagery. The second area transitions to a canyon in the countryside, offering surprising visual contrast while introducing the pistol and light platforming sequences reminiscent of Ghostrunner. The art direction throughout proves strong, creating an immersive and ominous atmosphere that complements the violent gameplay.

The combat encounters escalate in complexity as the preview progresses, requiring players to manage sword strikes, parries, finishers, pistol shots, environmental hazards, and platforming challenges simultaneously. The design encourages engagement with multiple systems rather than relying on a single approach, creating varied and dynamic combat scenarios.

After approximately ninety minutes with the demo, the experience left a strong impression. The game successfully captures the elements that define compelling soulslikes—rewarding parry mechanics, interconnected level design, and fair but challenging combat—while exploring them through a first-person perspective. The historical setting of the Napoleonic Wars provides a distinctive backdrop rarely seen in the genre. The overall polish and cohesion of the systems suggest a well-developed title approaching its release date.

Valor Mortis launches on October 13, 2026. The game carries an ESRB Mature 17+ rating for intense violence, blood and gore, and strong language. It is being developed and published by One More Level in collaboration with Lyrical Games.