First-Person Soulslike "Valor Mortis" Targets Fall 2026 Release Date

During the highly anticipated Triple-i Initiative showcase, developer One More Level and publisher Lyrical Games officially pulled back the curtain on their ambitious new project, Valor Mortis. Best known for the high-octane Ghostrunner series, the Poland-based studio is pivoting its mastery of first-person action into the Soulslike genre. With a brand-new gameplay trailer showcasing a dark, supernatural take on the Napoleonic era, the developers confirmed that the game will be launching across PC and current-generation consoles later this year.

A Grotesque Napoleonic Nightmare

Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Valor Mortis trades traditional high-fantasy tropes for a grim, alternate-history vision of 19th-century Europe. In this timeline, Napoleon Bonaparte's relentless conquests have unleashed a grotesque, continent-wide plague powered by a mysterious substance known as Nephtoglobin. Players step into the boots of William, a fallen soldier of the Grande Armée who is mysteriously resurrected by the plague and guided by the disembodied voice of Napoleon himself. To survive, William must carve his way through ravaged battlefields, European-inspired cities, and his own undead former comrades to unravel the conspiracy behind his resurrection.

The new trailer highlighted the terrifying scale of the game's monstrous threats. Players got an extensive look at a boss encounter with "The Orphan," a horrifying abomination lurking in the city sewers whose gaping chest cavity belches flesh-stripping acid. Players will also have to contend with heavily armored elite troops known as The Relentless, who wield massive greatswords and relentlessly pursue William across the corrupted landscape.

Blending Ghostrunner Agility with Soulslike Combat

While Valor Mortis features historical firearms like flintlock pistols and blunderbusses, One More Level emphasizes that the game is deeply rooted in Soulslike melee combat rather than traditional first-person shooting. William's primary weapons are the cutlass and the rapier, demanding precise timing for parries, blocks, and dodges to survive the punishing encounters. Ammunition for ranged weapons is scarce, forcing players to use their guns tactically to target weak points and stagger enemies for devastating counter-attacks.

To bridge the gap between heavy, methodical combat and the studio's signature fast-paced DNA, Valor Mortis heavily incorporates agile traversal mechanics. The trailer showcased William utilizing a grappling hook and wall-running abilities to outmaneuver foes, flank from above, and navigate treacherous terrain. As players progress, they will also unlock magical abilities known as "transmutations," allowing William to unleash devastating elemental attacks like bursts of flame to tip the scales in his favor. Following a massive public playtest late last year, the developers have spent the last few months heavily refining combat readability, control bindings, and the target-lock camera system to ensure the high-stakes encounters feel as fluid and fair as possible.

The Bottom Line

Valor Mortis is officially set to launch in the Fall of 2026 for PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. By blending the lightning-fast traversal mechanics of Ghostrunner with punishing, first-person Soulslike combat and a uniquely horrifying Napoleonic setting, One More Level is shaping up to deliver one of the most distinct and ambitious action-RPGs of the year.