Free playtest: One of the "most promising Soulslikes in years"

Since Lies of P, there hasn’t been a standout Soulslike to capture wider attention. That could change with Valor Mortis, a new title from Polish studio One More Level, best known for the Ghostrunner series. Fans of Dark Souls, Nioh or Mortal Shell may be in for something special. According to Insider Gaming, the game could be the “the most promising Soulslike in years”.

The story follows William, a former soldier of the Grande Armée who mysteriously awakens in a mass grave. He finds a devastated Europe where most of the population has been wiped out and turned into monsters by a substance called Nephtoglobin. But William is different: the same substance that killed him also brought him back, granting him supernatural abilities – though at a price, as it slowly corrupts him from within.

Valor Mortis stays true to the classic Soulslike formula – punishing combat where every strike matters and timing, blocking and dodging are crucial. But it breaks new ground with a first-person perspective, offering a fresh twist on the genre. William’s supernatural powers take the form of “transmutations,” letting him channel his life force to enhance attacks or unleash powerful abilities. The catch is that each use feeds the corruption within him. Push it too far, and he risks losing control, becoming the very monster he is fighting against.