Valor Mortis review

Valor Mortis is a first-person Soulslike developed by Polish studio One More Level that attempts to refresh the genre through its unusual perspective and grimdark Napoleonic setting. The game retains traditional Soulslike mechanics—bonfires, healing flasks, stamina management, and corpse runs—while substantially departing from genre conventions with wall-running, grapple-swinging, slow-motion effects, parry-based combat, and platforming sequences set amid necro-blight rather than plague.

Reviews are mixed, with notable platform differences in reception. PlayStation 5 critics have been particularly favorable, praising the game’s fresh approach to an exhausted genre, snappy and satisfying first-person combat that rewards patient play and precise parries, impeccable level design, and compelling multi-phase boss fights. However, PC players appear less convinced by the execution.

Weaknesses cited across reviews include a weak narrative, sluggishly paced opening hours that undermine later, more engaging moments, and occasional stumbles despite ambitious scope. The game’s attempt to innovate through novelty is both its greatest strength and primary liability—while the first-person perspective affords genuine innovation, the accumulation of mechanics beyond traditional Soulslike frameworks sometimes works against itself.

Valor Mortis launches day one on Xbox Game Pass and is available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox platforms.

Sources

• Valor Mortis review
• Valor Mortis Tries Too Much With Its Attempt At A First-Person Soulslike – Review
• Valor Mortis Is A First-Person Soulslike That Tries Too Much
• Valor Mortis Reviews Are Mixed Ahead Of Its Xbox Game Pass Day One Launch
• Review: Valor Mortis (PS5) - Imperial Ambitions, Largely Realised
• Valor Mortis review - this Napoleonic first-person swordfighter is one of the freshest Soulslikes in years