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The original Moonlighter, released in 2018, was an action-RPG roguelite with vibrant pixel art and a horrendously addicting core gameplay loop. I adored it as much as it consumed my life. For years, it didn’t seem like we’d see a sequel. But then, during the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, developer Digital Sun and publisher 11 Bit Studios answered my prayers with the announcement of Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault. The reveal also made me more than a little nervous.
Moonlighting
Moonlighter is an action-RPG roguelite in which you play as the young shopkeeper and adventurer, Will. Showing great entrepreneurial spirit and a distinct lack of self-preservation, Will risks exploring increasingly-hostile dungeons to secure things to sell at his up-and-coming shop. As Will’s business blossoms, so does his village, Rynoka, unlocking various perks and items to enable him to dive ever deeper into the mysterious worlds.
It’s a charming game with a vibrant color palette, superb soundtrack by the incredible David Fenn, a good variety of enemies, and a simple but effective story. But the thing that sets Moonlighter apart, for me, is the core gameplay loop. Great Zeus, it’s more addictive than Pokémon TCG Pocket. Well, okay, not quite, but it did take over my life. At times, I felt like I was moonlighting as a functioning adult while my other life was playing this infernally replayable game. That urge to push just one room further, to seek that extra-valuable treasure before bailing, was incredibly strong. If you played the Complete Edition, as I did, it was even worse (better)!
So, the announcement that Digital Sun is indeed working on a sequel has me simultaneously very excited and concerned about the inevitable impact on my productivity. That said, as charming as the original is, it’s not a perfect game. There are a few quibbles I dearly hope Digital Sun can address in Moonlighter 2.
Extra Dimensions
The first change that Moonlighter 2 makes over the original is apparent at first glance. The sequel has eschewed the top-down 2D pixel aesthetic in favor of a fully 3D, near-isometric perspective and smoother graphics. Moonlighter 2 certainly looks more “modern”, although I imagine some will be sad to see the chunky pixels sidelined.
Other than that, we don’t know an awful lot about Moonlighter 2 yet, other than the details on the Steam page. You’ll still play as Will, it seems, visiting various perilous dimensions, but this time returning to a new village in a land called Tresna. As befits a sequel, it sounds like the core gameplay loop will remain very similar to Moonlighter: venture into dungeons; get loot; return home; sell loot; repeat. Why fix what ain’t broke?
I only hope that, this time around, Digital Sun invests a little more time into making the village feel like a living place. In Moonlighter, there was precious little to do in Rynoka other than visit certain shops for upgrades. There weren’t villagers’ stories to uncover or, indeed, much personality to the villagers themselves beyond the superficial. I hope to see personal side quests in Moonlighter 2, with the villagers playing a more active role in Tresna’s development.
Moonlighter‘s shop system is as twee and charming as the rest of the game but, unfortunately, is rather limited. Hopefully Moonlighter 2 can provide more nuance to the acts of pricing, haggling and selling your items. Perhaps the dangers lurking in the dimensions could spill out to more directly threaten Tresna, adding some much-needed stakes to the story.
Endless Potential
Ultimately, there’s very little to go on at the moment. We’ll just have to wait patiently to see what Digital Sun has in store for us with Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault. One major note in the developer’s favor, however, is their latest game, Cataclismo. It’s in completely different genres to Moonlighter: real-time strategy and kingdom building as opposed to action-RPG roguelite. And Cataclismo has a very distinct vibe and aesthetic. Nevertheless, it’s a superb game. The title truly demonstrates how far Digital Sun have come as a developer, combining two genres with aplomb. If the Spanish developer can achieve such harmony with Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, we’re in for a treat.
Oh, and did I mention that there looks to be some sort of doggie thing in your shop now? If you can befriend, feed and pet the cute creature, what more could anyone want?
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is scheduled for release on Steam some time in 2025.
