Game Information

Game Title: Valor Mortis

Platforms:

• PC (Sep 24, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 80 average - 81% recommended - 43 reviews

Critic Reviews

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available

Atarita - Batuhan Günaydın - Turkish - 80 / 100

Valor Mortis sets out to be an enjoyable Souls-like by combining an FPS perspective with parkour mechanics, and succeeds as a solid Metroidvania by channelling the dark atmosphere of war throughout its levels. However, it is far from a flawless game. Its repetitive enemy variety, forgettable boss fights and technical issues are all hard to overlook. Despite all of this, it is a title that Souls fans should give a chance.

CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 8.5 / 10

Valor Mortis is a well-realised Soulslike FPS with a 19th-century coat of paint that enthusiasts of the genre will surely enjoy.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 78 / 100

Better balance and more gratifying progression would help Valor Mortis become a must-play Soulslike.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis offers a unique setting with some excellent performances, and it’s clear the studio has the skill to deliver a memorable Soulslike experience. You get an exciting adventure with a welcoming challenge. It’s a unique Soulslike idea that mostly pays off, but it has its issues. Thankfully, nothing that’s going to detract from the gameplay experience enough to push people away, but ultimately, when the core systems come together, you’re getting an experience that’s rarely been done before.

DayOne - Jesse Norris - 6.5 / 10

While a solid bang for your buck, Valor Mortis ends up done in by an overly lengthy campaign in a genre that already isn’t known for respecting your time. It looks great, has a decent story, and some solid acting.

It is available Day One in Xbox Game Pass. For fans of From and the Ghostrunner series, it may be worth checking out regardless. For everyone else, at only $40, it will be up to you if this soldier is worth reviving.

DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 8.5 / 10

I was skeptical about a Soulslike in first-person, but Valor Mortis proves that it works very well.

Eternal Games - محمد الأحمري - Arabic - 7.5 / 10

Valor Mortis succeeds brilliantly in delivering a first-person Soulslike experience, thanks to a deep and addictive gameplay loop built upon a combat system that combines swords, pistols, and magic, featuring a parry, dodge, and ultra-smooth movement. This is supported by a diverse arsenal of weapons where each one clearly differs from the next, excellent and varied enemies that push you to utilize everything you learn, complemented by a charming art style, a diverse world, perfect visual and sound effects accompanying every movement and strike, ingenious level design, smartly crafted exploration, and a high level of challenge. On the other hand, the game suffers from a weak story and characters, underwhelming bosses, forgettable music with no presence or impact, technical performance issues and frequent bugs, a limited character progression system, and a heavy, unfluid weapon-switching system.

Eurogamer - Matt Wales - 4 / 5

Ghostrunner studio One More Level returns with a Napoleonic alternative history Soulslike that fuses fluid sword- and gunplay with exhilarating parkour, and it's a delight.

Everyeye.it - Lorenzo Mango - Italian - 8.3 / 10

Valor Mortis, in short, is a soulslike that fans of the genre will not want to miss: an unexpected, golden link between the From-style action RPG and the first-person world.

Fun Factor - Miguel Teixeira - Portuguese - 8 / 10

One More Level's attempt at a first-person soulslike turned out great for the most part. Valor Mortis' visceral combat and engaging Metroivania-esque exploration make up for a satisfying and fun experience that I easily recommend.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 80%

Those who enjoy a challenge will find it particularly rewarding, provided the high importance of timing for parries and dodges generally appeals to you.

GAMINGbible - Olly Smith - 8 / 10

Some frustrations with the first-person camera aside, Valor Mortis is a very capable soulslike that is well worth checking out during this busy season of game releases, even if there isn’t a whole lot of new elements that it brings to the table.

GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Bogusz - Polish - 8.5 / 10

Valor Mortis is a well-executed experiment that isn’t afraid to draw on the best the genre has to offer, whilst also implementing bold ideas that actually work. The experience gained from the Ghostrunner series has resulted in dynamic, satisfying combat and parkour in FPP, all set within a unique setting. Whilst not all bosses are of the same level and the range of attacks can be difficult to assess at times, as a fan of the soulslike genre, I had a great time playing Valor Mortis.

GameRant - Nick Rodriguez - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis, the latest project from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, is absolutely wonderful, though not without its flaws.

GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 6 / 10

There are the bones of a great game here–one that would benefit from a tighter focus on its engaging first-person combat and a trimming of the superfluous mechanics that detract from the ones that work. Instead, it’s an uneven experience that delights as much as it disappoints.

Gameliner - Hannah Herzberg - Dutch - 3.5 / 5

Valor Mortis isn't a perfect game, but thanks to its innovations within the soulslike genre and its cool setting, it's definitely worth taking the time to really dive into it.

Gamer Social Club - Andrew Cooper - 9 / 10

Valor Mortis is the kind of ambitious swing that soulslike fans have dreamed of for years. Witnessing the horrors of war through William’s eyes is one of the best stories brought to the genre in recent memory, and its dark setting of an alternate 19th century Europe carries as much weight as the narrative itself. The gameplay seamlessly grafts the brutality of the soulslike genre with the fast-paced fluid movement of the Ghostrunner series. Valor Mortis is a genuine triumph, and one every soulslike fan needs to experience.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 85 / 100

Featuring buttery smooth play, fans of first-person melee filled with impactful and meaty combat shouldn't hesitate to check out Valor Mortis.

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis proves, how good the soulsike principles can work in first person. Personally I had higher hopes for the story, mixing fantasy horror with the Napoleonic Wars.

GamingBolt - Joelle Daniels - 9 / 10

Valor Mortis stands out in a saturated genre thanks to its fun combat, excellent level design, and gorgeous visuals.

Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis features one of the more interesting concepts in the Soulslike genre. The combination of a first-person perspective, challenging melee combat, and a dark reinterpretation of Napoleonic Europe gives the game a unique character. Above all, the precise parries, the variety of weapons, and the supernatural abilities show that the developers aren’t relying solely on familiar genre formulas.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 78 / 100

Valor Mortis is a textbook soulslike, somewhere between the grandeur and fame of Napoleon Bonaparte and the triviality of Joseph Bonaparte.

IGN - Travis Northup - 7 / 10

Valor Mortis is a novel soulslike packed with interesting ideas, even if they don’t always work out super smoothly.

IGN Italy - Alessandro Digioia - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Quote not yet available

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10

With fast-paced, responsive first-person combat, a distinct visual style and a highly engaging level design, Valor Mortis is shaping up to be one of the most interesting Double-A titles of the year

Just Play it - Mohamed Merzoukene - Arabic - 9 / 10

Valor Mortis offers a great mix of Soulslike gameplay and a first-person perspective, with fun combat and a constant challenge. It also tells an interesting story full of mysteries and secrets in a dark world that mixes history with fantasy.

Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis is beautifully grim, the atmosphere is palpable, and there is an intriguing narrative to pick apart when it starts to reveal itself.

PPE.pl - Maciej Zabłocki - Polish - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis captivates with its satisfying combat and an atmosphere you won’t find in other games of this type. The Polish developers have skilfully combined swordplay with firearms, supernatural abilities and character progression, offering fans of souls-like games plenty of possibilities. Uneven game balance and technical glitches can spoil an otherwise enjoyable encounter, but they do not detract from the adventure’s greatest strengths. It’s a strong offering for fans of challenging games and atmospheric horror, though the imperial army could do with a bit more discipline. Either way, I recommend it!

Pizza Fria - Leandro Felippe de Paiva Gomes - Portuguese - 6.5 / 10

Valor Mortis is a game full of highs and lows. While the story didn't impress me, I quite enjoyed the gameplay flow, especially the boss battles, which represent some of the best moments of the experience. However, I feel that the biggest battle of my journey ended up being against the game itself, which, for much of the time, simply refused to function as it should.

Polygon - Marloes Valentina Stella - Unscored

Apart from the difficulty hiccups, Valor Mortis is a steady Soulslike that prioritizes fun over hardcore gameplay, and it's made my time with Napoleon all the more memorable.

Push Square - Khayl Adam - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis is a worthy addition to the Soulslike genre, its first-person perspective and Napoleonic setting making it stand out from a sea of samey titles. With strong combat and impressive level design, its well worth your time and investment, especially considering the reduced pricepoint.While it may stumble in places and starts stronger than it finishes, Valor Mortis should be high on the list of anyone in the market for a grimdark action game.

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 4 / 5

Valor Mortis feels like the next frontier for the Soulslike genre. It is a massive undertaking to rewrite the language we use to understand these games, and One More Level succeeds in stamping its mark on it.

Saudi Gamer - Seif Fayed - Arabic - 3.5 / 5

Valor Mortis offers a refreshing spin on the soulslike formula, combining brutal, parry-driven combat with first-person shooter mechanics and intricately designed levels that take clear inspiration from Ghostrunner. Unfortunately, its Resident Evil-inspired boss encounters, overly simplistic progression system, and underwhelming narrative prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Saving Content - Scott Ellison II - 4 / 5

Valor Mortis is a deeply rewarding "First-Person Soulsvania" that successfully injects the high-stakes melee combat of a Soulslike with the ability-driven exploration of a Metroidvania.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10

As unforgiving as Valor Mortis can be, it doesn’t forget the fun between the frustration.

Sirus Gaming - Jarren Navarrete - 7 / 10

Valor Mortis is a fun experience and, like most Soulslikes, requires a keen focus and stubborn determination to see through. It has solid mechanics; however, nothing really stood out as particularly memorable for me. I won’t deny it’s fun and worth diving into for those seeking a Soulslike experience that doesn’t require too much from you.

SmashPad - 4.5 / 5

Fast movement, fluid and gratifying combat, remarkably rewarding exploration, a surprisingly captivating story, and a world that is as bleak as it is beautiful make Valor Mortis one of this year’s must-plays.

The GameSlayer - Callum Marshall - 7.5 / 10

Valor Mortis is a flawed gem, but a gem nonetheless. It presents one of the most unique and interesting Soulslike formats in recent memory, with a compelling setting and superb interconnected level design. However, balance issues, baffling design choices, and friction that comes part and parcel with the first-person format hold it back from being a Soulslike hall of famer.

TheGamer - Steven Garrard - 4.5 / 5

Valor Mortis is still a thoroughly engaging experience that left me more than satisfied with my time going through its story and learning about its world.

Thumb Wars - Liam Magee - 4 / 5

For me, the combat was very fun, whether it be using the swords, guns, or transmutations, but there were quite a few glitches that ruined the fun at times and led to me losing out on the immersion. The parkour again was fun at the beginning and when a new ability was released, but there were numerous situations where the maneuvers didn't trigger when intended, causing failure.

The game world was great to explore with a reasonable pace to the main story, but that was all there was to see, with the side paths being so small they felt pointless unless there was a side quest involved. In regard to the overall story, I was constantly intrigued by what was going on, and I always wanted to find out more, so I was always progressing through the story and learning all I could from the side quests, notes, and NPCs.

Virtualni Kutak - Kristina Žarkov - Unknown - 8 / 10

Valor Mortis blends first person souls-like combat, fluid parkour and supernatural abilities into a dark, atmospheric reimagining of the Napoleonic wars. Its striking world, creative environmental interactions and engaging combat make for a memorable experience, despite some technical issues and a few forgettable boss fights. In the end, Valor Mortis proves to be a promising and distinctive souls-like with plenty of potential for the future projects.

WayTooManyGames - Kyle Nicol - 8.5 / 10

For the most part, Valor Mortis has lived up to my expectations. It’s a fast-paced, visceral first-person soulslike that manages to be both challenging and a hell of a lot of fun. A little more enemy variety and an extra layer of polish would have gone a long way, but these are relatively minor complaints in an otherwise excellent experience.

Steam Cooking Fest is now live, running from October 12–19.

The event highlights cooking-focused games, including restaurant management, co-op cooking, and food truck sims. There are discounts on released games, playable demos, and upcoming titles to browse.

Official event page:

https://store.steampowered.com/category/cooking/

The event ends on October 19 at 10 AM PDT / 5 PM UTC.

Any standout demos or games you’d recommend checking out?