Why Valor Mortis Costs $40 in a Crowded Steam Market

What Is Valor Mortis?

Valor Mortis is a single-player Napoleonic-era soulslike video game developed by One More Level, the studio known for creating Ghostrunner. It is a 3D action-adventure title with a $39.99 price point, designed to deliver a brutal combat experience within a compact, story-driven campaign rather than a sprawling open world.

The game solves a player demand for shorter, quality-focused titles in a Steam marketplace where developers face intense competition for attention and consumer dollars. According to the developers, Valor Mortis is a “full-fledged game” that respects the player’s time by offering roughly 15 hours of content without artificial padding such as lengthy fetch quests or grinding mechanics.

Key Facts

AttributeValue

Game TitleValor Mortis DeveloperOne More Level (creators of Ghostrunner) GenreNapoleonic-era Soulslike (3D action-adventure) Price$39.99 USD Campaign LengthApproximately 15 hours MarketplaceSteam Core Design GoalQuality over quantity, minimal padding, high player value

Why Does Valor Mortis Cost $40?

Valor Mortis is priced at $39.99 because the development team at One More Level believes the $20 price point common for indie titles undervalues the high-budget, AAA-style polish they have applied to combat animations, enemy AI, and visual fidelity. The price is a calculated compromise between a full $60 AAA release and a standard indie price.

In an interview with Kotaku, the developers explained their reasoning. They stated that the 15-hour campaign length is a deliberate choice, arguing that most major AAA titles are bloated with “filler” content that extends playtime but not player satisfaction. The team aimed to create a game where “every single mission has a purpose” and the player is constantly engaged with unique mechanics rather than repetitive tasks.

This pricing strategy is a direct response to the competitive pressure on Steam, where a lower price could signal lower quality. The developers concluded that a price lower than $40 “would devalue the work” and the artistic effort, positioning Valor Mortis in a mid-tier category that offers a premium experience without the premium price tag of a new AAA blockbuster.

Valor Mortis’s $39.99 price point is a strategic move to distinguish it from both cheaper indie titles and more expensive AAA bloat, targeting players who value quality over quantity.

How Does the Steam Competition Affect Game Pricing?

Steam’s intense competition directly informs pricing strategy because independent and mid-sized developers must justify every dollar spent against a vast library of cheaper alternatives. The developers of Valor Mortis argue that the “Fall is stacked” with high-quality, low-cost games, forcing them to compete on distinct design philosophy instead of raw price.

According to the developers, the current market is characterized by “high demand for your time and money,” meaning players are more selective than ever. They claim that games priced too low often generate initial sales but suffer from negative reviews due to mismatched expectations, while games priced too high face scrutiny unless they meet AAA standards. One More Level’s research indicated that a mid-tier price allows them to fund further development and DLC while maintaining a perception of premium quality.

“We have to compete with games that are five dollars, ten dollars, and we have to fight for the player’s attention that is constantly bombarded by news, by everything, by games coming out every day.” — One More Level developers, in an interview with Kotaku

This philosophy suggests that price is not just a monetary value but a signal of the game’s scope and respect for the player. By avoiding a $20 price tag, the team aims to position Valor Mortis as a “premium indie” title that offers a complete, non-padded experience.

In a crowded Steam marketplace, the developers assert that a $40 price point serves as a quality filter, helping players distinguish focused, polished experiences from heavily discounted but lower-effort titles.

Who Is Valor Mortis For?

Valor Mortis is for players who experience “open-world fatigue” and prefer a tightly crafted, linear narrative over massive maps filled with repetitive side objectives. The ideal user is a fan of the Ghostrunner franchise or the Soulslike genre who values combat mastery and atmospheric storytelling but has limited gaming time.

The developers specifically mention that the game avoids “filler” content—such as excessive fetch quests and backtracking—that is often used to inflate playtime in other titles. This makes the game suitable for adults with busy schedules who want a complete, satisfying experience without committing 60+ hours. It is also aimed at players who appreciate the historical Napoleonic aesthetic but want it filtered through a dark fantasy lens.

For these players, the $39.99 price is justified by the high density of unique content per hour. While a $20 game might offer 5 hours of quality, and a $70 game offers 60 hours of mixed quality, Valor Mortis offers 15 hours of consistently high-quality interaction.

Valor Mortis targets players seeking a “quality-over-quantity” gaming experience, specifically those who are willing to pay a premium for a dense, 15-hour campaign with no filler content.

How Does Valor Mortis Compare to AAA and Indie Titles?

The pricing of Valor Mortis sits in a niche between the $19.99 indie standard and the $69.99 AAA standard. The developers justify the position by comparing the cost per hour of entertainment with a focus on the intensity and quality of that hour, rather than the raw number of hours.

While specific sales data for Valor Mortis is unknown, the developers rely on the performance of their previous title, Ghostrunner, to validate their approach. Ghostrunner launched at a similar price point and found success by offering a focused, high-difficulty experience. The studio believes that players are willing to pay more for a game that does not waste their time, even if it offers fewer total hours than a typical AAA release.

Here is a breakdown of how the $40 price bracket compares to standard tiers in the market:

Price TierTypical Content StrategyPlayer Expectation

$19.99 (Indie)Often short, experimental, or early accessLow risk, high value for bargain seekers $39.99 (Mid-Tier)Full narrative, high polish, no filler (Valor Mortis)Complete experience, respects player’s time $69.99 (AAA)Open worlds, massive scope, often includes paddingHigh production values, 40+ hours of content

Valor Mortis distinguishes itself by rejecting the “more hours equals more value” logic, offering a condensed, high-quality experience that costs less than half of a standard AAA title.

Common Questions

Why isn’t Valor Mortis priced at $20 like other indie games?

The developers at One More Level argue that a $20 price point would undervalue the production quality and artistic effort required to create the game’s combat animations and level design. They believe players are willing to pay double the indie standard for a guaranteed “no filler” experience.

Does Valor Mortis have multiplayer or microtransactions?

The source material indicates that Valor Mortis is a single-player focused title. The developers’ entire marketing strategy revolves around the “15-hour, no filler” campaign. There is no data in the source regarding multiplayer or microtransactions, so those features are unknown.

How does a short game justify a $40 price tag in a competitive market?

Valor Mortis justifies the price by prioritizing “density of content” over total length. The developers claim every mission serves a unique purpose, comparing the experience to a “premium” product where the quality of each hour outweighs the quantity, making it a distinct alternative to bloated AAA titles.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the original reporting published by Kotaku, titled “Ghostrunner Devs Explain Why Their Napoleon Soulslike Valor Mortis Is Just 40, The Fall Is Stacked And There’s High Demand For Your Time And Money.” The source URL is: https://kotaku.com/ghostrunner-devs-explain-why-their-napoleon-soulslike-valor-mortis-is-just-40-the-fall-is-stacked-and-theres-high-demand-for-your-time-and-money-2000735278.

All quotes and statistics regarding price, playtime, and market philosophy are taken verbatim or paraphrased from the developers’ statements within that article. No external datasets or third-party studies were referenced in the source material. This article synthesizes a single primary source and does not include independent verification of the developers’ claims.

Currency conversions were not required as the source specifies the price in US Dollars ($39.99). This article was last updated on May 20, 2025.