Developer Digital Sun’s debut outing Moonlighter was a smash hit when it released in 2018. Then, in 2025, the developers released Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault into Early Access. Now, less than a year later, we have the full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC!
Have the developers expanded the mechanics and gameplay for the sequel? Or is the transition to 3D the only major upgrade? Let’s take a look!
Moonlighter 2: More Than Just A Dungeon Crawler!
Following on from the plot of the first game, players once again control Will. An interdimensional being known as Moloch banishes Will and the other villagers of Rynoka to a strange new town called Tresna. In order to return home, our white-haired hero will need to delve into the Endless Vault, recover relics, and sell them to buy his freedom!
While the story isn’t front and centre in The Endless Vault, it does provide some incentive to progress further. Despite some witty dialogue, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself attached to any of the characters. The gameplay is the main focus, just like in the original. Which brings us nicely on to…
Gameplay
The Endless Vault is split into two distinct gameplay loops: fight your way through dungeons and make a living selling items in your shop. Focusing on the exploration aspect first, this will feel familiar to any roguelike fans out there. You’ll fight your way across a small, procedurally generated area, then choose your next location via a node-based map. Each node offers various encounters, such as a treasure room, a boss fight, or a random event. Along the way, the main objective is to gather as many relics (sellable items) as your limited inventory space allows.
Combat feels more refined, although still familiar compared to Will’s first adventure. You’ll utilise both melee and ranged attacks, weapon-specific special moves, the ever-faithful dodge, and even your backpack! Yes, despite the assortment of weapons on offer, deal enough damage to an enemy that they enter a “ruptured” state, and a quick whack with Will’s bag can send them flying off the map. Not all of The Endless Vault‘s wide variety of enemies are susceptible to this, but it’s extremely useful in a pinch.
Whilst players can permanently upgrade Will’s weapons, health, potion and inventory capacity, they can also obtain single-run upgrades. Perks such as increased special attack damage or adding elemental damage to a specific weapon shape your run. Again, it feels very familiar if you know the genre, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t addictively fun! The controls are responsive and simple enough to get to grips with. Which, when you face some real tough mobs, makes the challenge much less frustrating.
A Gap In The Market
Of course, dungeon diving is only half of The Endless Vault‘s gameplay. When not fending off hordes of monsters and stuffing your pockets with loot, you’ll be managing your very own shop and improving Tresna’s economy. You can sell any relics you bring back from your adventures to the townsfolk. Not only that, but any civilians you rescue along the way can also help to expand the settlement.
In the end, everything comes down to money. Sell relics for gold, then spend it to improve your shop, which in turn brings in more customers. It’s a pretty simple premise that isn’t overly complicated to get to grips with, but one that remains immensely satisfying. Haggling with villagers or having the exact item a customer is looking for just feels rewarding.
As someone who loves a cosy game now and then, the juxtaposition of the two gameplay mechanics works so, so well together. Not having to dive right back into the fray and instead spending time improving the town leads to a good balance of both systems. It’s challenging, rewarding, and an absolute blast to play!
Graphics & Audio
Moonlighter‘s pixel art was a huge part of what drew me to initially playing it. Now, The Endless Vault sports a 3D, isometric visual style. I was unsure how I felt about the change at first, but after playing, it really grew on me. It’s still incredibly charming and vibrant, just with a more modern look. It also gives Will, the villagers, and enemies a lot more character, with new, higher-quality animations. Some may not be happy with the change, but personally, once I got over the difference, it was a welcome upgrade overall.
As for the audio, The Endless Vault‘s soundtrack is very easy-going and whimsical. It’s not entirely memorable, although at worst I’d call it “serviceable”. It’s chilled during the shopkeeping segments, but can ramp up during tense combat encounters.
Finally, performance overall is pretty stable, though not consistently smooth. Loading isn’t quite as quick as you’ve come to expect from a game on the PS5, either. Thankfully Digital Sun do seem to be doing everything they can to remedy these issues.
Longevity
The main story took me around 15 hours. However, depending on the difficulty you play on, or just your overall luck with runs, it can easily go on longer. Many of these fights are tough and it’s often better to quit whilst you’re ahead! Or push on and risk losing any relics you’ve acquired on that particular run. It’s a classic risk vs. reward system, and it works very well.
Final Thoughts
I was a big fan of the original Moonlighter, and I’m pleased to say that Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault did not disappoint. Although there are some bugs still present, they weren’t enough to take away from the incredible amount of enjoyment I got out of this game. Whether you’ve played the first Moonlighter or not, there’s a good chance that any roguelike fans will really enjoy this one. I’d bet my shop on it!
Therefore, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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