Valor Mortis, the first-person Soulslike from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with the dark action game also joining Xbox Game Pass on launch day. To mark the release, publisher Lyrical Games has unveiled a new opening cinematic trailer that sets the stage for its twisted take on the Napoleonic Wars.
Rendered in striking hand-drawn artwork, the cinematic opens with Napoleon Bonaparte rallying his cheering Grande Armée before the horrors of war quickly take hold. As the mysterious power of Nephtoglobin envelops the emperor, gunfire and cannonballs tear through his troops, with the spreading corruption eventually reaching protagonist William Dowsett’s corpse and setting the game’s events in motion.
Priced at $39.99 on its standard edition, Valor Mortis puts players in the role of a resurrected soldier caught in a conflict that has become far more horrifying than a conventional military campaign. Guided by Napoleon’s disembodied voice, William must navigate ravaged battlefields, sprawling mountains, and historical cities consumed by a grotesque plague while contending with the same corruption that brought him back to life.
The game combines stamina-based, first-person Soulslike combat with Napoleonic-era weaponry, including rapiers and flintlock pistols, alongside supernatural abilities. Players will also explore interconnected environments inspired by Metroidvania design, using William’s mobility to outmaneuver the plague-ridden Eternal Guard and uncover secrets buried throughout the remains of an endless war.
Players looking for additional content can also purchase the $59.99 Deluxe Edition, which includes a major story DLC expansion planned for next year, along with several cosmetic packs scheduled to arrive beforehand. Lyrical Games has also outlined plans for multiple free updates in the weeks and months following launch.
The launch follows a pair of behind-the-scenes interviews released earlier this month featuring César Award-winning actor Vincent Cassel, who portrays Napoleon Bonaparte, and BAFTA Award-winning voice actress Jennifer English, who plays The Shrike, a key figure in the resistance against Napoleon’s war. English discussed her approach to the character in an interview released October 6, while Cassel shared a personal anecdote about his family’s connection to Napoleon in a video published October 7. Both actors star alongside James Alexander, the voice of William Dowsett.
Valor Mortis also features an original soundtrack co-composed by Arkadiusz Reikowski, whose previous work includes Silent Hill 2 Remake, The Medium, and Layers of Fear, alongside in-house composer Oskar Bała.
With its blend of first-person combat, supernatural abilities, and an alternate-history vision of Napoleon’s campaign, One More Level is taking a different approach to the Soulslike formula it has helped popularize. Valor Mortis is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and Steam.