- Valor Mortis is a dark alternate history action-RPG set in the 1800s where a corrupting substance called nephtoglobin creates a supernatural, war-torn landscape.
- The game features a high-profile cast, notably featuring legendary actor Vincent Cassel as the voice of the corrupted Napoleon.
- The gameplay innovatively blends first-person parkour and fluid movement (inspired by Ghostrunner) with deliberate, tactical Soulslike combat and environmental manipulation.
- Inspired by Resident Evil 4's atmosphere, the title features modular weapon loadouts, a 'die, learn, and grow' progression loop, and multi-platform availability.
Developed by One More Level (the Polish studio behind Ghostrunner) and published by Lyrical Games, Valor Mortis is breaking new ground in the action-RPG space. Combining dark alternate history, first-person parkour, and deliberate Soulslike combat, this upcoming title is shaping up to be one of the most unique releases of the year.
Here are 10 key features and details you need to know ahead of launch.
1. Vincent Cassel Voices Napoleon Bonaparte
In a star-studded casting reveal, legendary French actor Vincent Cassel (La Haine, Black Swan, Ocean's Twelve, and Victor Chevalier in Tekken 8) stars as the voice of Napoleon. A dream casting choice for the developers, Cassel - a former avid gamer who grew up on titles like SSX Tricky - has personal family roots in Corsica, making him a fitting choice to portray the corrupt emperor.
2. A Dark Alternate History of the Napoleonic Wars
Instead of traditional high fantasy, Valor Mortis is set in the early 1800s during Napoleon’s military conquest. In this supernatural universe, Napoleon utilizes nephtoglobin - a corrupting, plague-like substance - to fuel his war machine, mutating soldiers and citizens into horrifying abominations across desolate, war-torn cities.
3. Play as William: A Resurrected Soldier of the Grande Armée
You take on the role of William, a fallen soldier of the Grande Armée brought back from a battlefield grave. Reborn with the corrupting power of nephtoglobin pulsing through his veins, William must unravel the truth behind his unholy resurrection, his forgotten past, and the conspiracy consuming Europe.
4. High-Octane "Ghostrunner" DNA Meets Soulslike Combat
Valor Mortis carries the strong pedigree of studio One More Level. Leveraging their experience with the high-speed Ghostrunner series, the team has taken first-person fluid movement, wallrunning, and grappling, adapting them into a more grounded, deliberate Soulslike experience.
5. Tactical First-Person Combat & Execution Finishers
Combat balances defense with aggressive execution. Mastery requires precise timing with parries, dashes, and visceral finisher attacks. Players can dual-wield melee weapons, firearms, and supernatural abilities, making every encounter a test of strategy, spacing, and resource management.
6. Environmental Manipulation Powers
William’s connection to nephtoglobin allows him to actively shape the arena during combat. Beyond offensive spells, he can manipulate the environment - raising launch pads, forming instant cover, or creating temporary walls out of thin air to wall-run across or gain high-ground vantage points.
7. High-Skill Weapons & Modular Loadouts (Featuring the Rapier)
The game offers flexible build options - comparable to a recipe system - where players can customize builds around survivability, speed, or system synergies. A standout weapon is the Rapier, a high-risk, high-reward piercing weapon that sacrifices traditional blocking for precise parries and direct weak-point targeting.
8. A "Die, Learn, and Grow Stronger" Progression Loop
True to Soulslike tradition, each death serves as a learning experience. Falling in battle causes players to drop their unspent resources (Catalysts) at the point of death. Returning to claim lost resources allows players to upgrade stats, unlock new abilities, and refine their playstyle over time.
9. Resident Evil 4-Inspired Horror Atmosphere
While the game kicks off on a massive, war-torn battlefield, the tone quickly shifts toward a darker, survival-horror atmosphere. Inspired by games like Resident Evil 4, players witness the devastating impact of war and corruption on humble villages, plague-ridden towns, and innocent civilians.
10. Over 200,000 Playtesters Helped Shape the Final Game
To prove that first-person Soulslike combat could feel great, the developers hosted an open pre-alpha playtest that attracted over 200,000 players. With the core game now content complete, the studio has shifted all focus toward final balance, performance polish, and optimizing console builds for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
This article was written by Gemini 3.6 Flash and fact-checked and edited by a human.
Editorial Standard: Drafted with AI assistance, thoroughly reviewed and published under GoodGamePass editorial supervision.
