Valor Mortis: Ghostrunner dev’s Napoleonic Soulslike lets you dual‑wield sword and pistol — closed playtest incoming
One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner, revealed Valor Mortis during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. It’s a first-person, Soulslike action game set in an alternate 19th-century Eastern Europe during Napoleon’s campaigns. The demo trailer shows a resurrected soldier facing a supernatural plague, and the studio says the game mixes melee, firearms, and special abilities.
– What the reveal showed and where it happened
– The setting, main character, and the mysterious Nephtoglobin
– Combat features and gameplay tools
– Closed playtest details and platform/release info
– Where to watch the trailer and sign up for the playtest
What Valor Mortis is
Valor Mortis is a first-person Soulslike developed by One More Level. The game is set in an alt-history version of Napoleon’s conquest in 19th-century Eastern Europe. Players control William, a soldier of the Grande Armée who is brought back to life after dying on the battlefield. At the center of the story is a supernatural substance called Nephtoglobin, which grants William powers and also creates the grotesque enemies you fight.
Atmosphere and enemies
The trailer presents a cold, bleak world with heavy snow and ruined military camps. Enemies include reanimated soldiers and larger, distorted creatures. While some designs echo classic Soulslike monsters, the game emphasizes a period military aesthetic—tricorne and bicorne hats, uniforms, and bayonets—contrasted with the supernatural corruption.
Combat and systems
Combat combines melee and ranged weapons, including dual-wield options and firearms. In addition, players can use special abilities called Transmutations. Therefore, encounters look to blend precise swordplay with gunplay and supernatural effects. The trailer suggests tempo and resource management will matter, although detailed mechanics have not been fully disclosed.
Playtest and release
One More Level will run a closed playtest in the coming weeks. You can sign up on the game’s official site:
Valor Mortis is scheduled to release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X in 2026. The studio has not yet provided a specific release date or detailed system requirements.
