After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features

1. Games
2. Roguelike Games

After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features Best-lists By Oscar Taylor-Kent published 20 November 2025

Feature | Moonlighter 2's already impressed me after five hours with early access, and I can't wait to see it grow further

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)

Moonlighter 2 has finally released in early access, which is great as I really loved the original and have been hotly anticipating returning to this unique roguelike dungeoneering and selling loop for some time. What you get in an early access launch can vary, but so far, Moonlighter 2 has an awful lot of content to fight through (and items to sell). In our Moonlighter 2 review, we're anticipating some tweaks to the way each system feeds back into one another, but are happy with how stacked the adventure is otherwise at the moment.

The roguelike has been one of the upcoming indie games we'd been looking forward to for quite some time, but developer Digital Sun has been staying busy. Working on other projects in between has even helped coalesce fresh ideas for this sequel at the same time, with co-director Victor Ribera saying that: "As a company, we think that it's actually quite safe to make a lot of things and keep bringing players different experiences." I think that's really worked to the game's advantage, as there's an awful lot to love. Across my own five hours with the game so far, here's the five features I'm already loving that make this sequel well worth jumping into , even during early access.

5. Dungeon delving from a new perspective

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)On the Radar

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)

After 2 roguelikes, an acclaimed strategy game, and a League of Legends spin-off all in just 7 years, the Moonlighter 2 devs explain how new ideas are key to their survival. This month, we're diving deep into the dungeon of On the Radar with exclusive access on Moonlighter 2.

Given how gorgeous the original Moonlighter still is, the shift from pixel art to 3D was what made me the most hesitant about Moonlighter 2. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. Not only is the new art style absolutely gorgeous, but the design of each procedurally generated set of levels leans into the 3D style. While some directions you choose to progress can lead to small combat arenas (dungeon progression is like a flow chart of different possibilities), there's also plenty of weaving paths to break up the pace, which differ between each biome to feel quite dynamic. Is Will only exploring Zephyr for the zipline? Who can say, but it looks hella fun.

You may like

• Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault review: "Dungeon delving, balancing sacks of loot, then hawking your wares is still a compelling loop – but the exchange rate between those pillars is wobbly in early access"
• "I do not know how the guys did Silksong for so many years without this": Dead Cells creators say Steam early access was "always the plan" for new roguelike Windblown because that's just how they make games
• I'm playing Hades 2 right after finishing the original, and it highlights how Supergiant Games wants players to "git gud" or get lost

4. Slice and dice

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)

All too often, great combat can be taken for granted, but I really want to give Moonlighter 2 its flowers when it comes to scuffling across each biome's dungeons. It's a simple loop, using melee weapons to land hits while also dodge-rolling away from danger, peppering blasts of your gun, which charges with each close-quarters strike. But it works really well, feeling super responsive to bob and weave, and maintaining clarity even in the beautiful 3D maps. It's great to see this evolve from the top-down original, feeling like an evolution while bringing plenty new to the table. I've yet to find every weapon, but each of those has their own special attacks to think about, from the classic sword circle slash, to laying down spikes with the spear that you can then call back to you, inflicting damage as they soar through the air. After all, the best roguelike games see you diving back in again and again, so they need to feel good to play moment to moment as well.

3. Selling stuff

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)

There's a simple pleasure to selling the fruits of your labor in Moonlighter 2 that continues to really set the series apart. After all, the game's primary progression – as you work to unlock each part of the titular endless vault – is based around earning more and more money from your cute little store. Learning the value of each item by slowly revealing how your suggested prices reflect on shoppers is compelling, helping to inform your collecting habits in the dungeon. And, there's a certain thrill to knowing when to go all out, jacking up a price just enough to slightly annoy someone but still compel a purchase, all while using buffs to exponentially increase the value, using cheaper deals to placate the overall mood to your store. Let's see Vinted match that.

2. Perk synergies

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)

'Pick three' is popular in roguelikes for a reason, and while Moonlighter 2 could still use some early access tweaks to the full lineup, there have been some incredible synergies to discover and play around with so far. Whether that's applying Wound statuses to your special attack that make enemies briefly vulnerable to a follow-up flurry, stacking up Thunder buildup strikes to unleash screen-wide lightning, and increasing the efficiency with which it charges, or simply hoarding armor so you barely take real health damage in the area's final boss – the sense of momentum can be really rewarding.

1. Rocking the backpack

(Image credit: Digital Sun)

It's easy in a game where you grab loads of loot to make that action simple, something you stop thinking about. But in Moonlighter 2, you're always considering which artefacts you swipe, and even how you carry them. It wonderfully suits the idea that Will is exploring dungeons for items to actually sell in a shop. There's a curation going on. Each item's quality can be buffed as you explore, but there's also lots of synergies between them.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

These can be good and bad, but even negative effects offer an avenue to earn rarer loot. Some may burn adjacent items, for example, but others can apply armor to negate that burn – all while others balloon in quality for each burn applied. A later zone involves absorbing items together into crystals, which can be boosted to then be absorbed into special doll pickups – but the crystals can't be carried back by themselves, so you have to see how far you're willing to push the boat out. Inventory management isn't just fun, it's a huge part of Moonlighter 2's entire identity.

"We know that the players are the ones actually enjoying the game": Moonlighter 2 owes its existence to its devs' astonishingly in-depth approach to player feedback

TOPICS Best List CATEGORIES PC Gaming Xbox Series X PS5 Platforms Xbox PlayStation Oscar Taylor-KentSocial Links NavigationGames Editor

Games Editor Oscar Taylor-Kent brings his years of Official PlayStation Magazine and PLAY knowledge to the fore. A noted PS Vita apologist, he's also written for Edge, PC Gamer, SFX, Official Xbox Magazine, Kotaku, Waypoint, and more. When not dishing out deadly combos in Ninja Gaiden 4, he's a fan of platformers, RPGs, mysteries, and narrative games. A lover of retro games as well, he's always up for a quick evening speed through Sonic 3 & Knuckles or yet another Jakathon through Naughty Dog's PS2 masterpieces.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault review: "Dungeon delving, balancing sacks of loot, then hawking your wares is still a compelling loop – but the exchange rate between those pillars is wobbly in early access"    "I do not know how the guys did Silksong for so many years without this": Dead Cells creators say Steam early access was "always the plan" for new roguelike Windblown because that's just how they make games    I'm playing Hades 2 right after finishing the original, and it highlights how Supergiant Games wants players to "git gud" or get lost    As The Outer Worlds 2 embraces "crunchy" role-playing, its directors say people are "more open" to deeper RPGs after Baldur's Gate 3: "It's good to bring that stuff to the forefront again"    I've played The Outer Worlds 2, and forget what you know about the first game because this silly sequel already feels like a bigger and better RPG    2 hours in, and Hollow Knight Silksong is already making me feel like I'm playing Dark Souls for the first time again    Latest in Roguelike Games With an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam, Risk of Rain 2 fans finally get the DLC they deserve after the first Gearbox-led effort put the roguelike "in a really bad place"    "We know that the players are the ones actually enjoying the game": Moonlighter 2 owes its existence to its devs' astonishingly in-depth approach to player feedback    After 2 roguelikes, an acclaimed strategy game, and a League of Legends spin-off all in just 7 years, the Moonlighter 2 devs explain how new ideas are key to their survival    Palworld lead and Pocketpair founder says Megabonk dev is "one of the game developers I respect the most" as the solo indie creator withdraws his roguelike hit from The Game Awards    Roguelike superstar drops out of The Game Awards because Megabonk "is not my debut game," but fans beg solo dev to reconsider: "Wait until you hear about 'indie' games in the indie category that are backed by multi-billion-dollar corps"    Saros throws anything that slowed Returnal down out the door, meaning it'll be tough for other games to keep pace with my most anticipated PS5 game of 2026    Latest in Best Lists After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features                   GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
2. 2Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"
3. 3Demonschool review: "This Persona-inspired RPG is full of fun, flair, and ready to chomp away at your free time"
4. 4Morsels review: "The Binding of Isaac style roguelike shooting gets somehow grosser, but struggles to set itself apart"
5. 5Dispatch review: "Critical Role fans rejoice – episodic gaming has been superheroically saved by this incredibly charming band of misfits"

1. 1Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
2. 2The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
3. 3Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
4. 4Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
5. 5Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"

1. 1Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
2. 2The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
3. 3IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
4. 4Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
5. 5Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"