Soulslikes have made a huge impact on the gaming world, and I’ve spent years diving into them. So when One More Level, the team behind Ghostrunner, announced their new project, Valor Mortis, at Gamescom 2025, I immediately got excited. This isn’t just another entry in the genre; it’s taking a bold step forward by putting the entire experience in first-person perspective.
That alone makes Valor Mortis stand out. Soulslikes rely on precision, timing, and spacing, and shifting that into a first-person view changes everything. Given how One More Level nailed the speed and flow of Ghostrunner, I’m eager to see how they handle a slower, more methodical combat style while keeping the tension and challenge that define the genre.
The game drops players into a warped version of 19th-century Eastern Europe during Napoleon’s conquest. You play as William, a fallen soldier resurrected by Nephtoglobin, a plague-like substance that grants supernatural abilities but has also corrupted his allies into monstrous abominations. With Metroidvania-inspired levels, grotesque enemies, and Napoleon’s Eternal Guard standing in the way, William has to fight his way through a world ravaged by war and corruption.
Combat blends brutal melee with ranged weapons...
