The final day of PAX East is always a bittersweet blend of high-energy highlights and the looming “post-con blues”. Sunday at the MCEC felt a bit more relaxed than the Saturday frenzy, offering the perfect opportunity to soak in the last moments of the show floor. Dressed as President Loki complete with the signature horns and Vote Loki button, I spent the morning weaving through the crowds, checking in with favorite vendors, and trying not to buy anything too expensive. There’s a unique magic to the final hours of the Expo when the initial rush subsides, leaving room for more curated, personal experiences with the people and products that make this community so special.

Before the lights dimmed and the breakdown began, I made sure to prioritize a few last-minute deep dives into the titles that had been generating buzz all weekend. Between the tactical, dark fantasy of Valor Mortis and the immense tabletop scale of Godzilla: The Roleplaying Game, my Sunday was anchored by two very different, but equally ambitious, visions of what gaming can be. As I bid farewell to another incredible year in Boston, these final hands-on sessions served as the perfect closing chapter to an unforgettable PAX East 2026.

Valor Mortis: One More Level Trades Cyber-Parkour for Napoleonic Souls-like Terror

The developers at One More Level are pivotally shifting gears. After defining high-speed mobility with the Ghostrunner franchise, their latest project, Valor Mortis, moves into the shadows of a haunting, first-person “Soulslike.” This isn’t just a change in pace; it’s a dark reimagining of 19th-century history infused with supernatural dread and methodical, high-stakes combat.

I had a great visit with them at their booth, it was great seeing them and so many developers from Poland in a concentrated spot. The team was really eager to show off the game and let me know that crowd reaction has been amazing which energizes them to finish the game and let the players get access to it as soon as possible.

Napoleon’s Shadow: An Alternate-History Nightmare

Forget the history books. Valor Mortis drops players into a version of Europe scorched not just by Napoleon Bonaparte’s cannons, but by an encroaching supernatural rot.

You rise from death as a former soldier of the Grande Armée, returning to a continent where the sheer scale of human warfare has thinned the veil, allowing horrifying entities to spill into our world. As you navigate decaying battlefields and haunted ruins, you’ll need to unravel a conspiracy that threatens to finish what the Napoleonic Wars started: the total collapse of humanity.

Core Mechanics & Gameplay Pillars

One More Level is leveraging their FPP expertise to create a combat system that feels heavy, deliberate, and punishing.

• FPP Soulslike Combat: Moving away from the “one-hit-kill” speed of their previous work, this system demands mastery over stamina management and precise timing. Success relies on a balanced mix of traditional 19th-century weaponry—muskets and sabres—and mysterious, otherworldly abilities.
• Metroidvania-Inspired World: The levels are complex and interconnected. Expect plenty of backtracking and environmental storytelling as you unlock supernatural powers that grant access to previously sealed regions of the map.
• Grim Aesthetic: The visual direction is a striking blend of period-accurate military aesthetics and gothic horror. The first-person perspective is used effectively to create a claustrophobic sense of vulnerability against the monstrosities roaming the countryside.

PAX East 2026: Hands-On Impressions

Valor Mortis was a major standout in the Expo Hall this year. The vertical slice showcased a war-torn village where the transition from traditional steel-on-steel combat to supernatural ability-use felt seamless yet tactical.

During our time at the booth, members of the development team discussed the technical hurdles of translating “Soulslike” weight to a first-person view. They are clearly focused on ensuring the combat carries the same tactile impact and tension found in third-person staples of the genre, utilizing their experience with Ghostrunner to ensure the camera and movement feel polished.

Development & 2026 Roadmap

• Current Status: The title is in active development, representing a bold mechanical shift for the studio.
• Release Window: One More Level is currently targeting an Early Access launch in 2026.

The focus for the coming months remains on refining the “heaviness” of the FPP combat and expanding the biome diversity within their alternate-Europe setting. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one as it nears its debut.

Godzilla: The Roleplaying Game – Hands-On with IDW’s Kaiju-Scale Tabletop Engine

At PAX East 2026, I had the opportunity to step into the shadow of the King of the Monsters during a hosted playthrough of Godzilla: The Roleplaying Game. Published by IDW Games and developed in partnership with Toho Co., Ltd., this isn’t just a monster-bashing simulator. It is a sophisticated RPG that prioritizes high-stakes human drama and the catastrophic geopolitical fallout of living in a world defined by Titans.

The Playthrough: Investigating the Aftermath

Our two-hour session dropped our group—equipped with pre-generated archetypes—into the devastated remains of a research base recently leveled by Godzilla. The objective was clear: investigate the site, hack into encrypted facility data, and trace the “Path of the Shape” while contending with the environmental hazards left in its wake.

What struck me immediately was the Game Master’s emphasis on open-ended roleplaying. The system encourages players to leverage specific skills, gear, and attributes through creative explanation. Whether we were hacking terminals or engaging in short, tense encounters with infected creatures, the mechanics rewarded playing to our character’s strengths. The flow of the session highlighted a game that is as much about atmospheric investigation and tactical survival as it is about the giant monsters themselves.

Living in the Era of Kaiju

The game utilizes a Multiverse of Monsters approach, allowing GMs to set campaigns in any era—from the Cold War tension of the 1954 original to modern biological thrillers. Players take on roles as G-Force agents, journalists, or scientists navigating the physical and social fallout of radioactive behemoths.

Core Gameplay Pillars:

• Scale-Based Narrative: In a brilliant mechanical move, the game uses a “Size Class” system. You aren’t here to deplete Godzilla’s HP—which is essentially impossible. Instead, combat is about Strategic Objectives: deploying experimental tech, managing evacuations, or distracting a Titan long enough for a larger plan to take effect.
• The “Cinematic Environs” System: This mechanic treats the map as an active participant. As a Kaiju moves, the terrain dynamically shifts. During our demo, this meant cover was constantly being destroyed, forcing us to rethink our positioning in real-time as the Mortis Fog and debris reshaped the battlefield.
• G-Force Management: Beyond the ground-level action, players can manage their own regional branch of an anti-kaiju task force—researching technologies and upgrading bases to handle the logistical nightmare of a world under constant threat.

PAX East Presence & Production Status

The IDW booth was impossible to miss, anchored by an 8-foot-tall diorama of Godzilla emerging from a tabletop city. Between the “Survival Challenge” demos and design panels showcasing modular “Kaiju Creation” tools, the buzz around the table was palpable.

Development Update:

• Current Status: Following a highly successful Kickstarter, the project is in the final stages of layout and asset production.
• Launch Window: Backer fulfillment and the wide retail launch are scheduled for Summer 2026.

I left the demo wanting more. The promise of a devastated world filled with rival mercenaries, infected humans, and the constant, looming threat of a Kaiju creates a complex and rewarding gameplay loop. It captures the awe and terror of the films while giving the human characters a meaningful, high-stakes role in a world of giants.