Lyrical Games, the independent publisher known for the Ghostrunner series, unveiled a new trailer for Valor Mortis that stood out at the Triple-i Initiative showcase.
Known for backing creatively ambitious titles, Lyrical Games offered an extensive look at the fast-paced, first-person Soulslike combat by developer One More Level, based in Kraków, Poland. The twist? It takes place in the era of Napoleon.
Los Angeles-based Lyrical Games described Valor Mortis as a dark, supernatural reimagining of 19th-century Europe, where a mysterious plague ravages the continent following Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquest. Valor Mortis is set to launch in the fall of 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and Steam. Lyrical Games is the publisher and One More Level is an independent studio developing the game.
It was one of 40 games in the Triple-i Initiative online showcase.
The trailer shows Napoleonic grit and the title’s brutal first-person combat. The trailer reveals tools players will have at their disposal, including traversal mechanics that nod to the developer’s Ghostrunner roots: a grapple hook and wall-running that let William flank enemies from above and navigate treacherous terrain, as well as the Rapier, a high-skill melee weapon that rewards well-timed parries and precise dodges.
Players will also come face to face with The Orphan, a Neftoglobin abomination lurking in the city sewers whose gaping chest cavity belches a jet of acid that strips flesh from bone.
Built in Unreal Engine 5, Valor Mortis represents One More Level’s most ambitious project to date: a bold new IP that channels the studio’s mastery of first-person perspective gameplay blended with Soulslike mechanics and a haunting aesthetic.
Valor Mortis Key Features:
- A Grand Napoleonic Narrative: Napoleon’s conquest has unleashed something far more horrifying than war. Play as William, a resurrected soldier of the Grande Armée guided by Napoleon’s disembodied voice, as you traverse ravaged battlefields, sprawling mountains, and European-inspired cities consumed by a grotesque, continent-wide plague — the same corruption that pulses through William’s veins and gave him life.
- First-person Soulslike combat: Challenging, stamina-and skill-based combat designed to feel threatening and immersive, drawing on One More Level’s expertise in first-person perspective. Every death is a stepping stone to mastery as you perfect your ability to parry blows, dash out of harm’s way, and deliver devastating, visceral finishers.
- Dual-wielding and supernatural powers: Master fluid combat by weaving together Napoleonic-era weaponry, such as rapiers and pistols, while also utilizing the arsenal of William’s devastating supernatural abilities.
- Metroidvania-style exploration: Use William’s newfound mobility to outrun and flank Napoleon’s plague-ridden Eternal Guard. Progress carefully, uncover environmental secrets, and survive the rotting remnants of an endless war.
- AAA audiovisual quality: A disturbing aesthetic built on theatrical lighting and mature, grim themes, with an original score co-composed by Arkadiusz Reikowski, known for his work on Silent Hill 2 Remake, The Medium, and Layers of Fear 1 and 2, alongside in-house composer Oskar Bała.
Lyrical Games’ current slate includes Valor Mortis (One More Level), Erosion (Plot Twist), and unannounced games from Blackbird Interactive and The Chinese Room.
One More Level creates high-intensity action games, including the critically acclaimed Ghostrunner series. The studio commands a global reputation for delivering tight, responsive mechanics and a striking stylistic vision. One More Level continues to push the boundaries of the action genre by mastering high-skill, first-person gameplay. Valor Mortis marks the studio’s first wholly owned IP and its most ambitious creative chapter to date.
Lyrical Games was launched in August 2025. The publisher is headed by Blake Rochkind and Roger Kurtz, alongside a core team of publishing veterans from Devolver Digital, Humble Games, and Microsoft.
It was established by Lyrical Media. Valor Mortis is slated for a 2026 release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The studio developing the game — One More Level — released Ghostrunner in October 2023.
Lyrical Media is privately funded by the parent company, Lyrical Media, and its CEO, Alexander Black, with investments scaling into the millions.
As for the inspiration for the game, the developers at One More Level (Ghostrunner) applied their first-person action expertise to a Soulslike framework, featuring Metroidvania-style exploration. It’s set in an alternate dark-fantasy 19th-century Europe where Napoleon’s endless wars have unleashed a supernatural plague.
As far as the meaning of the name goes, “Valor” translates to courage or bravery, and “Mortis” means “of death.” Meaning “Courage of Death,” tying to the game’s core concept of a soldier resurrected in a dark, plague-ridden and war-torn Napoleonic Europe.