Lyrical Games has unveiled a new story trailer for Valor Mortis, the upcoming first-person Soulslike from One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner. Revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live, the trailer introduces The Shrike, a rebel leader fighting against Napoleon’s Empire in occupied Eastern Europe, while offering a closer look at several of the characters players will encounter throughout the supernatural reimagining of the Napoleonic Wars.
Valor Mortis is set against an alternate version of European history where Napoleon’s conquest has ground to a halt in Eastern Europe. As a mysterious plague spreads across the continent, the war takes an increasingly supernatural turn, with resurrected soldiers and unnatural forces becoming part of the conflict.
Players take on the role of William Dowsett, a young Englishman who volunteered to fight for Napoleon after becoming disillusioned with the monarchy. Inspired by the Emperor’s vision of a unified Europe, William joined Napoleon’s forces hoping to help reshape the continent. However, the story begins with him waking on a devastated battlefield with little memory of his past and seemingly being the only soldier left standing with his mind intact.
William’s situation becomes even stranger as he discovers that the plague spreading throughout Europe has infected him. The affliction is corrupting his body while simultaneously giving him dangerous abilities. It also allows him to hear the voice of Napoleon Bonaparte inside his head, with the Emperor attempting to guide William toward taking control of The Shrike’s resistance movement.
The new trailer marks the first appearance of The Shrike, a powerful rebel fighter who has been battling the Empire while protecting the people living under its occupation. Unlike the other forces William encounters, The Shrike answers to no authority and has plans of her own for the resurrected soldier. Her voice will eventually join Napoleon’s inside William’s head, further complicating the choices he will have to make.
The story will also introduce James Stewart, William’s closest friend in the Legion. The son of a blacksmith from the Scottish Highlands, James volunteered for Napoleon because he believed his service could earn him glory while helping Scotland gain its freedom. He serves as a skilled weaponsmith and remains one of the few sources of optimism amid the horrors of the campaign, although the supernatural events surrounding the war could force him to question his unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.
Another important character is Lucjan Skawiński, a Polish craftsman and veteran of multiple wars who has abandoned the battlefield. Lucjan travels through the devastated countryside searching for safe havens for people fleeing the conflict. He marks these locations with handcrafted lamps filled with an apparently endless supply of oil. Despite presenting himself as a calm and well-read protector, there is something unsettling about Lucjan that leaves the survivors around him questioning his true intentions.
Napoleon himself also plays a major role in William’s journey. Voiced by César Award-winning actor Vincent Cassel, the Emperor appears throughout the story primarily as a voice inside William’s mind. Rather than simply acting as a distant military commander, Napoleon speaks to William almost like a father addressing his son, attempting to maintain control as his campaign descends into something far beyond an ordinary war.
These characters will play a central role in determining William’s path as he attempts to understand what happened to him and decide where his loyalties truly lie. With his memories missing, the survivors claiming to be his former comrades may not be as trustworthy as they appear, leaving players to decide whether William remains loyal to Napoleon or joins The Shrike’s resistance.
Valor Mortis is scheduled to launch on October 13, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game will also be available day one through Xbox Game Pass.