Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Reviews
In many ways, this is the same satisfying core experience as the first game. A visual overhaul and some significant changes to combat and dungeon exploration, however, make Moonlighter 2 a bigger, bolder sequel that's worth clocking in for.
Although it can get grindy and the shopkeeping aspects feel a little slow at times, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault offers a lot of entertainment for both action-roguelike fans and cozy economic sim devotees.
The long-anticipated arrival of Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault from developer Digital Sun is definitely worth the wait, even after spending months in Early Access. The sequel is a well-polished release that strengthens the best aspects of the game, from its overall story, roguelike mechanics, and combat, engaging shopkeeping features, and worldbuilding, despite minor technical issues being a slight nuisance.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault just does what the original already did, slightly slower and slightly less crisp, with a handful of bugs that shouldn't have made it out the door.
Review key provided by the publisher.
The pixelated look of Moonlighter has been replaced with an art style more befitting the sequel's shift to 3D, which well suits its variety of environments and its blend of fantasy, real life, and sci-fi themes. Enjoyers of the first Moonlighter may bristle against the changes implemented for Moonlighter 2, but what's new here has made a fan out of me. Simply put, I'm over the moon.
In a way, I can see that reducing certain elements enabled the folks at Digital Sun to make something that felt more robust. Even if they followed the same path that many others took, it seems to have worked out swimmingly and that is something you can’t put a price on.
Moonlighter 2 isn’t like its predecessor, and that’s a double-edged sword. Some will say they preferred the formula of the first game, while others will welcome the new features with open arms. As far as I’m concerned, both deserve our attention and should be appreciated for what they are. This new title from Digital Sun brings its share of changes—starting with the genre—but it also retains what matters most: the fun you have playing it. Yes, the game is far from perfect. But that doesn’t stop it from being a good game. And very few titles can skillfully combine action, management, and roguelite elements. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is worth a try. And who knows—maybe you’ll end up loving it?
Review in French | Read full review
Moonlighter 2 takes one of gaming’s most satisfying gameplay loops and somehow makes it even better. It’s a prettier, deeper, more emotionally resonant game than the already excellent original, and is a must-play for all roguelike fans.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is an absolutely incredible game, sitting at the very top of the Roguelike tower with only the all time greats.
Takes the elements that worked in the original and expands them, making you alternate between deep dungeon runs and effective shopkeeping
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is not a revolution, but it is a very solid evolution of an unusual concept. Digital Sun understands what made the original special and builds upon that foundation with a much more extensive roguelite system, more varied builds, new inventory mechanics, and a significantly more modern presentation.
Review in German | Read full review
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault preserves the core idea that made the first game special while carving out its own identity through deeper combat, greater equipment variety, and a more focused roguelite structure. Exploration, relic management, and shopkeeping remain tightly connected, creating a rewarding gameplay loop that tests both combat skills and resource management. While repeated expeditions and grinding can become tiresome over time, the overall experience remains strong, offering plenty of room to experiment with weapons, temporary upgrades, inventory organization, and profit-maximizing strategies. Despite making significant changes from the original, the sequel turns its new direction into a cohesive and enjoyable experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With an addictive loop that respects the DNA of the original, Moonlighter 2 is a very competent shop-management roguelite.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Moonlighter 2 is an accessible roguelike with a strong sense of progression. Its mix of combat, puzzles, and shopkeeping makes for an enjoyable gameplay loop. The grind eventually becomes a bit noticeable and the loading times could be shorter. Overall, it is a visually appealing and polished improvement over its predecessor.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is a game with diverse ambitions that, to varying degrees, manages to deliver on its promises. Furthermore, it achieves an interesting balance between two layers that might seem weak on their own, but ultimately succeed when combined.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault proves to be an ambitious sequel—solid in its foundations and packed with new features that go beyond a mere incremental update.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you liked the first Moonlighter, this is an easy recommendation even in early access. If you never played the original but enjoy cozy roguelites with satisfying progression and a smart economy loop, this is absolutely worth watching. I went in hoping the sequel would still have that same addictive spark, and after several runs, several shop days, and many questionable pricing decisions, yeah, it definitely does.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault improves combat, exploration, and roguelike variety with clear ambition, but its shop loses weight and identity, making adventure outshine commerce.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While the current Early Access build suffers from some performance jitters and an incomplete narrative, the foundation is rock solid. If you loved the first game, or if you are a fan of Dave the Diver or Dredge looking for your next obsession, this is an easy recommendation. Just be prepared to wait a little while for the grand finale. Will is back, and business is booming. – ColdMoon