The team behind Ghostrunner is trading cyberpunk skyscrapers for plague-ridden battlefields. At Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer One More Level officially unveiled Valor Mortis, a new first-person soulslike that blends deliberate, punishing combat with a nightmarish alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars.
A Soldier Resurrected in a Corrupted War
Valor Mortis casts players as William, a fallen French soldier of Napoleon’s Grande Armée who is resurrected on the plague-ravaged battlefields of 19th-century Europe. His revival is powered by the Nephtoglobin, a strange, corruptive substance that grants supernatural abilities at the cost of his humanity.
Former comrades have transformed into twisted monstrosities, and Napoleon’s Eternal Guard stalk the land. William must carve a path through corrupted landscapes, mastering brutal combat and facing unforgettable boss fights as the lines between war and horror blur.
Soulslike Combat With a One More Level Twist
Building on the precision and timing of their Ghostrunner series, One More Level is taking a new approach to the soulslike genre. Valor Mortis introduces:
- Brutal first-person combat with dual-wielding, ranged weapons, and deadly counters.
- Transmutations, supernatural powers fueled by Nephtoglobin, offering risk-reward synergy.
- Metroidvania-inspired levels, encouraging exploration, shortcuts, and mastery over interconnected zones.
- Boss fights that challenge both reflexes and strategy in an unforgiving alternate history.
“This is a darker experience, while still offering players a true challenge,” said Szymon Bryla, CEO of One More Level. “We wanted to evolve what we do best—making demanding games for hardcore players—while showing that the studio has grown since Ghostrunner. Valor Mortis is a fresh take on the soulslike genre we can’t wait for players to try.”
Demo, Playtest, and Launch Plans
Gamescom attendees can get hands-on with a playable demo of Valor Mortis at booth A-053 in Hall 8. A closed playtest will follow in the weeks after Gamescom, with sign-ups available at ValorMortis.com
The game is set to launch in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. One More Level is also finalizing a publishing partnership with Lyrical Games, a new publishing label from Lyrical Media.
