Eurogamer reviews Valor Mortis, highlights parkour and bullet‑time shotgun

One More Level released Valor Mortis on October 13, 2026, a first-person Soulslike action RPG set in an alternate-history Napoleonic era where the Nephtoglobin plague mutates soldiers and civilians into monstrous creatures. The game follows William Dowsett, a resurrected British soldier haunted by Napoleon’s voice, as he battles through a war-torn Europe ravaged by the plague.

Valor Mortis merges traditional Soulslike mechanics – such as checkpoints, corpse runs, and parry-based combat – with first-person mobility tools like wall-running, grappling, and bullet-time shotgun blasts. The game begins with classic Soulslike combat but gradually introduces parkour mechanics that transform encounters into dynamic, platformer-like sequences. Eurogamer reviewer called it ‘not your usual Soulslike,’ highlighting its blend of genres.

Combat in Valor Mortis combines melee weapons – including the saber, rapier, and claymore – with firearms like the pistol, shotgun, and rifle, as well as magical abilities called Transmutations, such as flame throwers, stasis freezes, and grapples. Players can dual-wield a melee weapon in one hand and a gun or spell in the other, allowing for fluid transitions between ranged and melee combat. The rapier excels at parrying, while the claymore deals heavy damage but cannot block.

The pistol in Valor Mortis can be fired without halting movement, enabling players to interrupt enemies, land headshots, or target glowing Red Plague pustules for critical damage. Ammunition is limited, encouraging a ‘run-and-gun’ rhythm where players use shots to weaken enemies before closing in for melee combat. The randomized positions of the pustules prevent complacency, adding an extra layer of strategy to encounters.

Parkour mechanics in Valor Mortis are introduced in stages, starting with basic jumps and swings before adding wall-running, grappling, and timed parkour markers that create ledges mid-air. These mechanics are integrated into both combat and traversal, allowing players to reposition during fights or bypass enemies entirely. Some parkour sections are restricted to fixed locations, maintaining the game’s challenge.

Valor Mortis features a linear but exploration-rich structure with shortcuts, alternate paths, and secrets unlocked by gaining new abilities or exploring thoroughly. Levels loop back on themselves, rewarding players who seek out hidden routes or revisit areas after acquiring new movement or combat abilities. Some paths are initially inaccessible until upgrades are unlocked, encouraging thorough exploration.

Boss encounters in Valor Mortis are imaginative and visually striking, with one early fight featuring a general fused with his battalion, whose soldiers emerge from his body to attack. Later bosses incorporate parkour and large-scale spectacles, adding variety to the game’s combat. These encounters highlight the game’s creativity in blending Soulslike mechanics with first-person movement.

The narrative of Valor Mortis explores themes of war, propaganda, and the horrors of Napoleon’s campaigns, but it is overshadowed by the game’s combat and movement mechanics.

Valor Mortis received generally positive reviews, with praise for its combat, movement, and level design. Critics highlighted the game’s fluid combat, expressive first-person movement, and inventive boss encounters. However, technical issues such as stuttering and bugs, particularly on PC, were noted, along with a lack of hidden weapons or deep build customization. A day-one patch addressed some performance issues, improving stability on supported hardware.

The developers optimized the game for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, with the PS5 version performing better than the PC version due to optimization differences. While the PS5 version runs more smoothly, the PC version initially suffered from stuttering and performance issues that the day-one patch partially fixed. The skill tree and collectible Ambers provide some progression, but reviewers noted that the limited weapon variety and lack of hidden gear reduce replayability.