Napoleon’s armies marched across Europe in pursuit of glory, conquest and an empire that would reshape the continent. Thousands of soldiers gave their lives in those campaigns, their sacrifices swallowed by the mud, blood and misery of endless warfare. Now imagine one of those fallen men clawing his way out of the grave, only to discover that the world he died for has become something far more terrifying than the battlefield he left behind. That is the grimly compelling premise of Valor Mortis, a first-person action Soulslike that takes the familiar brutality of historical warfare and plunges it into a nightmare of plague, supernatural corruption and desperate survival.
Developed by One More Level, the studio behind the blisteringly fast Ghostrunner, and published by Lyrical Games, Valor Mortis reimagines nineteenth-century Europe as a land consumed by a mysterious plague. You play as William, a soldier of Napoleon’s Grande Armée who has been resurrected with the very corruption threatening to destroy the world around him. The promise of serving Napoleon, dying for Napoleon and then rising once more for Napoleon provides a wonderfully unsettling hook, especially as the loyalty that once defined William’s existence becomes entangled with forces beyond his understanding.
This is not a conventional historical adventure in which players recreate famous battles and march towards military victory. Instead, it takes the familiar foundations of the Napoleonic era and twists them into something monstrous. The uniforms, fortifications and remnants of military power belong to a recognisable period of European history, but the plague-ridden abominations wandering through its ruined landscapes suggest that history has taken a profoundly wrong turn. For anyone who enjoys their action games with a generous helping of gothic horror, Valor Mortis has the makings of a particularly intriguing proposition.
A Soldier Caught Between Life and Death
William’s resurrection immediately establishes the central conflict of Valor Mortis. He has already made the ultimate sacrifice, yet death has offered him no peace. Instead, he returns to a Europe that has grown increasingly hostile and unfamiliar, carrying a supernatural power that may be as dangerous to him as to his enemies. This creates an appealing tension between the soldier he once was and the unnatural force he is becoming.
The Napoleonic setting deserves particular credit for giving the horror a distinctive identity. The nineteenth century was an age of military ambition, political upheaval and extraordinary human suffering, making it fertile ground for a story about the consequences of endless war. Rather than relying on the usual medieval castles and fantasy kingdoms, Valor Mortis draws on a period when armies were reshaping nations and ordinary soldiers were caught up in events far beyond their control. Adding a supernatural plague to that already brutal world creates an atmosphere in which human ambition and monstrous corruption seem uncomfortably intertwined.
There is also something inherently disturbing about William’s condition. He has been returned to life, but that does not necessarily mean he has been saved. The power pulsing through his veins offers the potential for survival and revenge, yet it also ties him to the very horror he must fight. This is fertile territory for a protagonist whose journey might involve more than simply becoming stronger, particularly if the story explores what remains of a man’s identity after death has been interrupted by something unnatural.
The narrative also promises encounters with historical figures and a conspiracy surrounding the plague and William’s resurrection. That combination could provide a satisfying blend of historical intrigue and supernatural mystery, giving players reasons to explore beyond the immediate demands of combat. The challenge will be balancing those revelations with the relentless action. A strong central mystery can give a Soulslike adventure genuine emotional weight, but it needs sufficient character development and storytelling to make the answers feel worthwhile.
First Person Combat With a Soulslike Bite
The defining feature of Valor Mortis is its first-person approach to Soulslike combat. The genre has traditionally relied on third-person perspectives, allowing players to study enemy movements, judge distances and observe the animations that signal an incoming attack. Moving the action into first person changes that relationship considerably. Every confrontation becomes more immediate, placing the player directly in the path of violence rather than allowing them to observe it from a comfortable distance.
Combat revolves around parries, evasive dashes, carefully timed attacks and brutal finishers. This is not a game that appears interested in letting players mindlessly swing a weapon until an opponent falls over. Enemies demand attention, and survival depends on learning their behaviour, recognising openings and responding at the right moment. A poorly timed attack could leave William vulnerable, while a successful defensive manoeuvre may create the opportunity to turn the tables.
That emphasis on timing should appeal to fans of demanding action games, particularly those who enjoy the satisfaction of mastering an encounter through practice. There is a special kind of pleasure in facing an enemy that initially seems impossible, gradually learning its attack patterns and eventually defeating it through improved judgement rather than sheer persistence. Valor Mortis appears built around that philosophy, encouraging players to treat every confrontation as a test of observation and discipline. Victory should feel earned rather than handed over.
The first-person perspective does, however, introduce potential problems. Judging distances during fast melee encounters can be awkward when an enemy is close enough to fill much of the screen, particularly if attacks have narrow timing windows or unclear hitboxes. In a game where precise parries and defensive reflexes are essential, even a small degree of uncertainty can become frustrating. Difficulty is part of the appeal of a Soulslike, but the player needs to feel that mistakes are their own rather than the result of unreliable feedback.
If One More Level can make the combat consistently readable, the perspective could become one of the game’s greatest strengths. Sword fighting viewed from the point of impact has the potential to feel genuinely visceral, especially when combined with weighty weapons, sharp defensive movements and supernatural finishers. The key is ensuring that the intensity never comes at the expense of fairness. Players should be punished for mistiming a parry, not left wondering why a seemingly correct one failed.
Death Is Not the End
The idea that each death offers an opportunity to grow stronger is particularly fitting for William’s unnatural existence. In many action games, death is a setback, a failure that forces players to retrace their steps and attempt the same challenge again. Valor Mortis instead ties growth directly to its protagonist’s corrupted resurrection, making death part of the game’s wider identity. That is an elegant thematic fit, though the appeal will depend on how the progression systems reward persistence.
William can channel his supernatural power to enhance attacks and unlock additional abilities, creating opportunities to develop a more personalised approach to combat. Some players may prefer to focus on precise defensive play, using parries to create openings for devastating retaliation. Others might gravitate towards supernatural abilities that increase offensive pressure or provide additional ways to deal with dangerous enemies. A system that supports several approaches could help keep encounters engaging as threats become more demanding.
Weapon variety also plays an important role. Different weapons can change the rhythm of combat, influencing how aggressively players approach an enemy and how much risk they are willing to accept. A heavier weapon might reward patience and carefully chosen openings, while a quicker option could encourage a more responsive style. The available description does not establish the full range of weapons or upgrades, so it would be premature to assume that every build will feel dramatically different. However, the foundations offer plenty of room for experimentation.
The most satisfying progression systems make players feel as though they are becoming more capable without removing the need to improve their own skills. Stronger abilities can provide a welcome advantage, but they should not make timing and awareness irrelevant. The balance between player knowledge and character progression is especially important in a Soulslike, where overcoming difficult encounters is part of the reward. If Valor Mortis gets that balance right, William’s gradual transformation could become as compelling mechanically as it is narratively.
A Ruined Europe Worth Exploring
The world of Valor Mortis sounds appropriately bleak, with plague-ridden cities, ruined military fortifications, and battlefields transformed into hostile environments. These locations provide more than a suitably grim backdrop for sword fights. They connect the supernatural disaster to the physical consequences of war, suggesting a continent already exhausted by conflict before the plague began its destructive work. The result promises an alternate history in which the familiar symbols of military power have become monuments to failure.
Exploration follows a largely linear structure, with shortcuts opening up as players progress. This approach suits a tightly controlled action-adventure, allowing the developers to shape encounters and introduce threats at carefully chosen moments. Shortcuts also provide a welcome sense of familiarity as players revisit areas they have already traversed, making progress feel tangible without requiring an enormous open world. A carefully designed route can be far more memorable than a sprawling map filled with activities that contribute little to the main experience.
Environmental secrets offer another reason to look beyond the obvious path. Discovering hidden resources or useful upgrades can make exploration feel rewarding, particularly when players are struggling against increasingly dangerous enemies. There is a satisfying relationship between curiosity and survival in games of this kind. Taking the time to investigate a suspicious corner or explore a less obvious route might provide the advantage needed for a difficult encounter later on.
One More Level’s experience with Ghostrunner also raises expectations for movement. That earlier game established the studio’s association with fast, demanding action, and Valor Mortis appears to carry some of that energy into a more deliberate combat framework. William’s mobility allows him to outmanoeuvre enemies and navigate the environment, potentially creating a satisfying contrast between careful defensive swordplay and rapid traversal. However, movement needs to feel responsive and consistent, especially when it is incorporated into scripted sequences or narrow environmental passages. If the controls become awkward at precisely the moment when accuracy matters most, the resulting frustration could undermine an otherwise excellent encounter.
Horror, Atmosphere and the Sound of Corruption
The plague is more than a convenient excuse to fill the world with monsters. It represents the corruption of a society already scarred by warfare, while William’s own condition makes him a walking reminder of the boundary between survival and damnation. This gives the game’s horror a thematic foundation that distinguishes it from a straightforward action-adventure with grotesque enemies. The most interesting question is not simply what the plague has done to Europe, but what it means that William has been brought back with its power inside him.
The visual direction should play a major role in establishing that oppressive mood. Ruined fortifications and decaying European streets offer a sense of historical authenticity, while the presence of plague-ridden abominations pushes those familiar surroundings into nightmare territory. There is an inherent horror in watching a recognisable world become hostile, particularly when the structures that once promised order and protection have become places of danger. The contrast between military discipline and supernatural chaos gives the setting a compelling identity.
Sound design is equally important in a first-person game, where audio can help players understand threats that may be difficult to track visually. The clash of weapons, the sound of an approaching enemy, and the impact of a successful parry can all contribute to the physicality of combat. Atmospheric audio can also make quieter stretches of exploration feel tense, reminding players that danger may be waiting beyond the next doorway. While the precise quality of the soundtrack and sound effects cannot be judged from the description alone, the setting provides plenty of opportunities for an immersive and unsettling soundscape.
Where the Challenge Could Become Frustration
For all its promise, Valor Mortis faces a difficult balancing act. Soulslikes are meant to test players, but demanding gameplay works best when the rules are consistent and the reasons for failure are clear. First-person melee combat introduces additional challenges with spacing, visibility and animation readability, particularly when several enemies are involved. If these elements are not carefully tuned, encounters that should feel tense and rewarding can become exercises in frustration.
The same applies to traversal. Fluid movement can make exploration more engaging and offer welcome opportunities to escape or reposition during combat, but scripted sequences can interrupt that flow if their timing feels too rigid. A game built around precise actions must ensure that movement, defensive responses and attacks work together naturally. Even experienced players may struggle to remain immersed if they are repeatedly fighting the controls rather than the creatures in front of them.
The linear structure may also disappoint those hoping for a sprawling role-playing adventure filled with extensive side quests and branching routes. Yet that is not necessarily a weakness. A focused campaign can deliver a stronger sense of pacing, allowing each location and encounter to serve the central narrative. The real question is whether Valor Mortis provides enough variety in its enemies, environments and progression to sustain interest throughout its journey.
Final Verdict: A Resurrection Worth Fighting For?
Valor Mortis brings together several appealing ingredients: a twisted take on Napoleonic Europe, a resurrected soldier with a dangerous supernatural gift, demanding first-person swordplay and the grim atmosphere of a continent succumbing to plague. Its most distinctive idea is how its setting and mechanics reinforce one another. William’s unnatural return gives the progression system a narrative purpose, while the corruption consuming Europe provides a convincing backdrop for an adventure built around death, persistence and increasingly brutal encounters.
The combat system has the potential to be the game’s greatest strength, particularly if its parries, dashes and supernatural abilities work together with precision. The combination of deliberate melee encounters and fluid traversal could distinguish it from more conventional Soulslikes, while the alternate historical setting offers a welcome change from the genre’s familiar fantasy landscapes. Its linear progression and environmental secrets also suggest an experience that values careful level design over sheer size.
There are legitimate concerns, especially around first-person hit detection, cramped encounters and the reliability of scripted movement sections. These details matter enormously in a game where timing is everything, and no amount of atmosphere can completely compensate for combat that feels inconsistent. Nevertheless, the underlying concept is strong, and One More Level’s experience with fast, demanding action makes this a project worth watching for fans of the genre.
Ultimately, Valor Mortis offers a deliciously grim twist on the Soulslike formula. It takes a soldier who has already given everything for an empire and asks him to fight through a world that has become even more horrifying than the wars that killed him. For players who enjoy punishing combat, supernatural mysteries and historical settings drenched in darkness, William’s second life could prove well worth the struggle.
