Valor Mortis Reviews Range From 9/10 Praise to 6/10 Criticism Ahead of Game Pass Launch

Valor Mortis is arriving on Xbox Game Pass with a sharply divided critical response, with some reviewers calling it one of the strongest recent Soulslike games while others point to technical problems, uneven difficulty and limited enemy variety.

The first person action RPG comes from One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner, and places its Soulslike combat inside a dark alternate version of 19th century Europe. Early reviews currently range from 9/10 to 6/10, showing that critics broadly agree on the game's ambition but differ considerably on how successfully its ideas come together.

Some Critics See One of the Year's Stronger Soulslikes

At the positive end, three outlets awarded Valor Mortis a 9/10.

One review praised the fluid gameplay and distinctive world, arguing that while no Soulslike is without weaknesses, Valor Mortis comes unusually close to delivering a complete package. Another highlighted its engaging story and world building despite some technical issues, while a third praised the way its alternate history setting uses war and horror to support the narrative.

Reviews in the 8/10 range were similarly positive about the game's core ideas.

Its combination of first person swordplay, firearms and parkour received particular praise, while the Napoleonic setting was repeatedly identified as one of the elements that helps it stand apart from more conventional Soulslike games. Level design and combat were also highlighted as strengths.

Review score	Main reaction
9/10	Strong world, fluid combat and ambitious design
8/10	Distinctive setting, good combat and level design
7/10	Enjoyable but held back by bugs and uneven execution
6.5/10	Solid value, but campaign feels too long
6/10	Good ideas undermined by repetition and inconsistent challenge

Technical Problems and Uneven Difficulty Hurt Lower Scores

The more critical reviews focus on execution rather than the overall concept.

A 7/10 review praised the game's combination of first person combat and supernatural abilities, but said bugs, technical problems and a relatively thin story prevent the experience from reaching its full potential.

Another 7/10 review said the game becomes more satisfying during its second half, but criticized deaths that felt unfair rather than educational. The reviewer still described One More Level's first attempt at the genre as confident and capable of delivering tense, rewarding moments.

At 6.5/10, criticism centered on the length of the campaign, with the game described as visually strong and reasonably well acted but longer than necessary for a genre already known for demanding significant time from players.

Limited Enemies and Underused Systems Draw Criticism

The 6/10 reviews were more direct about the game's weaknesses.

One critic liked the responsive first person combat but pointed to a small enemy pool, underused weapons and abilities, inconsistent challenge and a story that never fully develops beyond several stronger individual moments.

The review argued that Valor Mortis contains the foundation of a much better game, but spreads its attention across too many systems instead of focusing more tightly on the mechanics that work best.

Another 6/10 review said that simply moving a parry focused Soulslike into first person is not enough to make the game feel genuinely distinctive in such a crowded genre. It still credited the game with moments of personality and charm, but found the underlying gameplay more familiar than its presentation initially suggests.

PS5 Reviews Are Currently Stronger Than PC

The early Metacritic results also show a noticeable platform difference.

At the time of the roundup, Valor Mortis held a score of 83 on PS5 and 77 on PC. No Xbox Series review score was available yet because there were no Xbox specific reviews listed. Its overall rating remained at 77.

The lack of Xbox reviews does not necessarily indicate a problem with the Xbox version. It may simply reflect review code availability, timing or the smaller number of outlets choosing Xbox as their review platform.

Valor Mortis launches on Xbox Game Pass on October 13, giving subscribers the chance to judge the game without buying it separately.

The review spread suggests that players who value unusual settings, first person Soulslike combat and ambitious mechanical ideas may find plenty to enjoy. Those who are more sensitive to bugs, repetition, uneven difficulty or longer campaigns may have a more mixed experience.