Valor Mortis
Giving That New World Nostalgia In A New Souls-Like way
Lyrical Games, One More Level
Valor Mortis is a first-person action soulslike from the creators of Ghostrunner. Rise from death as a former soldier of Napoleon’s army. Wield supernatural powers, battle horrifying monsters, and unravel a conspiracy that threatens all of humanity.
Let me tell you something. The first trailer for Valor Mortis immediately piqued my interest—and it delivered.
I poured a ton of time into New World. I led a big Marauders Company on the Rosa server before the mergers. (I'll let you guess my character name) That world, those atmospheres, the way the environments pulled you in… I’ve been chasing that same feeling ever since. Valor Mortis isn't an MMORPG, yet it still scratched that itch in a surprisingly satisfying way.
The world design and layout as you move through it feel familiar in the best possible sense—similar enough to stir up that old New World nostalgia, but refined and improved. Haunting battlefields stretch out in the distance, burning and broken. And having Napoleon himself speaking to you in your head? Instant flashbacks to Isabella. It just works.
What really hooked me, though, is the sheer visceral energy of the combat and presentation. The gore hits hard. Dismemberment in fights delivers that pure, chaotic thrill I first felt the moment the chainsaw lancer roared to life in Gears of War. You’re right there in first-person, cutting through plague-ridden horrors and corrupted soldiers in this grim alternate 19th-century Europe where Napoleon’s endless war has unleashed something far worse than just more bloodshed. Supernatural forces, demanding combat, melee weapons mixed with ranged options and mysterious abilities—it all feels weighty, aggressive, and deeply satisfying.
The game doesn’t hold your hand. It’s challenging in the classic souls-like tradition. Think you’re low on health and potions and can just safely rest at a camp to reset? Guess what—the enemies can recover too. Every encounter demands focus. Every death teaches you something.
Spoiler ahead for a major boss encounter:
I streamed the whole fight. Third attempt. I finally thought I had it locked down… then the second phase hit like a right hook from Mike Tyson. Completely unexpected. Caught me completely off guard and dropped me again. I had to tell everyone watching I’d be back the next day. And the wild part? I wasn’t frustrated. I was satisfied. That rare, pure feeling of “okay, this fight earned it—I’ll come back stronger.”
Right now the demo is available on Steam for a free download and a solid playthrough. From the creators of Ghostrunner, this first-person souls-like is shaping up to be something special when it fully launches on October 13, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Do yourself a favor:
Grab the demo.
Add the full game to your wishlist.
Give the team some love.
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/2828710/Valor_Mortis/
This one stuck with me. If you’ve been missing that particular blend of atmosphere, challenge, and raw combat satisfaction, Valor Mortis is absolutely worth your time.
One More Level, Lyrical Games
Valor Mortis is a first-person action soulslike from the creators of Ghostrunner. Rise from death as a former soldier of Napoleon’s army. Wield supernatural powers, battle horrifying monsters, and unravel a conspiracy that threatens all of humanity.