Code provided thanks to Keymailer.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – Ready For More Business
We’re creeping toward the end of the year, and the Early Access releases just keep rolling in. Among them is Moonlighter 2, a sequel I honestly wasn’t expecting quite this soon, but was more than happy to dive into. I was fond of the original Moonlighter, that mix of dungeon diving and small-town shopkeeping had such an appealing rhythm to it, swinging you between bursts of action and calm stretches of haggling and arranging relics. It scratched a very unique itch.
So it surprised me when the sequel appeared in Early Access, because at first glance, it looks like a simple graphical upgrade. Once you actually play it, though, it becomes clear this is much more than a prettier version of the same idea. The team has polished, expanded, and thoughtfully reworked almost every corner of the experience. Even as someone who already liked the first game, this feels like a step up in nearly every department.
A Familiar Setup With Fresh Ambition
As before, you take on the role of a white-haired adventurer balancing two lives: exploring mysterious portals filled with creatures, relics, and danger, and running a shop back home to sell the spoils of your efforts. This time, an entity called the Endless Vault promises to grant your heart’s desire if you can earn enough wealth through relic-gathering and shopkeeping. So the core loop remains: go dungeon diving, stuff your bag with relics, then return home to sell your findings and grow stronger for the next attempt.
It’s simple on paper, but the sequel treats every part of that loop with new energy. Even wandering into town feels livelier, thanks to fresh NPC interactions, side quests, and an expanded hub where you’ll return again and again.
The Big Shift: Dungeon Diving in Full 3D
The most obvious change is the move from pixel art to a striking 3D style. The world now looks like a bright and vivid storybook, with colourful environments filled with energy. The shift gives each dungeon a sense of scale and atmosphere the original couldn’t quite reach.
Polished Combat
But the upgrade goes deeper than appearances. You begin the game wielding what is essentially a broom, a wonderfully silly callback, but quickly start unlocking a selection of melee and ranged weapons. Spears, heavy swords, dual blades, there’s plenty of room to experiment, and the combat has a snappiness that wasn’t always present before. You have standard and special attacks. Some enemies, when staggered, you can finish them off by literally whacking them with your heavy bag. Aim this well and you can smash enemies into traps or even other foes. Animations are cleaner, enemy telegraphs are easier to read, and overall responsiveness is noticeably smoother. Combat is just a joy to play.
Combat can still be challenging, but it rarely feels unfair. Enemies show their attack zones, giving you a chance to dodge or reposition, and the mix of close-range swings and ranged options adds welcome flexibility. And when things start getting heated, those clear visual cues save you from some otherwise messy situations.
Roguelike Flavour
Dungeon progression keeps that roguelike flavour, complete with bosses, mid-bosses, and the inevitable moment where you have to decide whether to push deeper or bail out with all your relics’ value intact. Get taken out, and you lose half the value of everything. This time around, you get to pick how you progress through the dungeons, allowing you to gauge future rewards received at the end of each room. Managing risk is half the fun here.
Bag Management: Now a Puzzle of Its Own
Your bag isn’t just storage, it’s a little logic puzzle. Some relics buff the value of whatever sits next to them; others might burn nearby items completely. With limited space, deciding what to take, what to risk, and what to leave behind gives each run a touch of strategy. It’s more involved than before, but not in a stressful way; rather, it adds a satisfying bit of planning. It’s a clever twist that makes the return trip to town feel earned.
Shopkeeping, Now With More Personality
The shop is where everything slows down, and this sequel gives the merchant life a major glow-up. Placing relics on pedestals, reading customer reactions, adjusting prices, that trial-and-error dance is still here, but expanded with customisation options that let you reshape your shop layout, decorate, and unlock quality-of-life features.
There’s even a robot helper now. It can store relics and allow you to alter the shop layout and cosmetics. Allowing you to make the shop truly your own.
Meanwhile, the wider village is full of NPCs who offer upgrades, quests, and hints of personal stories. Whether you’re talking to the blacksmith or visiting the potion maker, the town feels more alive, more connected, and more worth investing in.
Final Thoughts – Closing Time
Since this is Early Access, it’s fair to expect a few hiccups. I did encounter a couple of crashes, but nothing game-breaking, and these things are part of the process. The core experience already feels sturdy, rich, and surprisingly extensive.
The biggest praise I can give is that it’s hard to put down. Runs feel meaningful, the shop days feel satisfying, and the upgrades feed into a loop that’s easy to sink hours into. Whether you adored the original or bounced off it, Moonlighter 2 offers enough flexibility and refinement to win over newcomers and returning fans alike.
This is Early Access done well, not a barebones preview, but a robust, joyful foundation. I’m genuinely excited to see where development goes from here, and I’m already itching to jump back into the vault for “just one more run.”
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