Moonlighter 2 is presented as a more ambitious sequel to an incredible indie game.
Digital Sun Games has recently revealed the various ways in which Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault enhances the experience of its predecessor, a standout indie title from 2018.
Moonlighter, recognized as one of the best indie games of 2018, surprised the world with its simple yet effective concept: exploring dungeons to collect loot to sell in a player-controlled shop. This title continues to be highly recommended for fans of 2D action dungeon crawlers, roguelikes, and shop management games, and its sequel is eagerly anticipated.
Developer Digital Sun Games, after spending part of their time creating The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story and Cataclysm, announced in December that they are working on a 3D sequel to Moonlighter. This new installment, titled Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, was recently showcased in an ID@Xbox roundtable, where development progress was shared and some questions were posed to the developers.
Moonlighter 2 maintains the same gameplay cycle as its predecessor: exploring dungeons, obtaining loot, selling it, and using the money to upgrade equipment, repeating the process. However, protagonist Will is transported to Tresna, a city in a different dimension, and players must help him return while restoring Tresna into a thriving settlement.
Regarding gameplay, the Digital Sun team aims to improve many aspects. Israel Mallen, communications manager, mentioned that while the first game focused more on being an action RPG with roguelike elements, Moonlighter 2 intends to take a more pronounced direction towards the roguelike genre. “This time, we are creating a completely roguelike game, which means that every weapon, every upgrade in the dungeons and in the shop should feel different,” Mallen explained.
This evolution is particularly noticeable in combat, which has been significantly developed. While Moonlighter evoked 2D The Legend of Zelda, the sequel seems to align more with Hades or Furi. Players will now be able to create character builds that fit archetypes such as tanks or ranged attackers, facing enemies in different rooms. At the end of each room, they will have the opportunity to enhance their skills amid the adventure.
In addition, there will be formidable boss fights, including one referred to as the Herald, who constantly attacks the player with projectiles while shielding behind a sound barrier. Will will need to find a strategy to avoid the projectiles and disable the shield before attacking the boss.
In terms of shop management, players will need to optimize the handling of their inventory during expeditions to maximize what they acquire. When opening the shop, factors like item placement and synergy are crucial for success.
The jump to 3D is the most evident novelty of this sequel, but Moonlighter 2 aims to elevate multiple aspects, reflecting the growth of the Digital Sun team, which has more experience compared to when they developed the first game. “We were a small team back then and wanted to do a lot of things that we couldn’t achieve,” Mallen stated. “Now, with more resources, time, and experience, we are aiming to add much more replayability.”
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year and will be available on day one in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate catalog.