Last Updated on Sep 25, 2025 @ 17:53:33 PM.
Gamescom 2025 brought us plenty of incredible announcements and reveals, but one that caught nearly everyone off guard was One More Level and Lyrical Games’ Valor Mortis. With no rumours, leaks or insider information revealing anything, it was a treat to be genuinely surprised with what Opening Night Live showed us, and for those who attended Germany’s premium gaming event, it was even better for those who were able to get hands-on, real early with it.
Now, nearly two months later, it looks like plenty more gamers will be able to experience the absolute carnage that is One More Level’s first-person Soulslike, Valor Mortis.
Per One More Level:
Players can now join the first public playtest of Valor Mortis, the upcoming first-person action soulslike from the creators of Ghostrunner, taking place October 6-13, 2025. Players can join the playtest by visiting valormortis.firstlook.gg.
The pre-alpha playtest features the game’s complete introductory chapter, including a boss fight, mini-boss, 10 levels of player progression, and the first section of the upgrade tree. Localized in 15 languages (find the full list on Steam), the playtest gives players around the world an early look at the brutal, methodical combat and haunting setting of Valor Mortis.
Alongside the playtest, One More Level and Lyrical Games are running multiple community contests, including speedrun, fan art and screenshot contests. Players who participate have a chance to win prize packs at launch. Details about each contest can be found on Discord.
As playtests go, this is well above the average amount of content available at such an early stage. Taking control of William, a resurrected soldier of the Grande Armée brought back to a plague-ridden Europe, supernatural beasts and comrades corrupted into unimaginable horrors for 10 levels of player progression, and an entire section of the upgrade tree speaks volumes about the faith OML has in its upcoming Soulslike.
Valor Mortis doesn’t have a release date yet, but it has been confirmed to release on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
For more from us, check out the recent Faire Trade announcement or the unfortunate delay to Vampires: Bloodlord Rising.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
