The Steam Next Fest is currently the best opportunity to test upcoming games. When MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen saw a name, she already knew before trying it out that she would get the game. And that, despite hating the genre.
For several years now, roguelikes and roguelites have been unmissable. Games like Hades and its sequel have skyrocketed. However, I didn’t understand what was so fun about experiencing the same content over and over again, just with different combinations of enemies and rooms. I usually need more variety to keep me engaged with a game.
The first game from the genre that caught my interest was Moonlighter. In this game, the developers mix roguelite gameplay with a shop simulation. Since I’m a big fan of café and store simulations, I wanted to give the otherwise monotonous genre a chance.
And what can I say: It was love at first sight! Moonlighter captivated me with its endless grind to the point where I couldn’t put it down for weeks. At the Steam Next Fest, the second part of the roguelite is currently available for testing. Therefore, I couldn’t resist taking a sneak peek here – and falling back into an endless grind spiral.
Moonlighter 2 fittingly takes place in the endless Vault
In Moonlighter 2, we once again lead a double life. First, we must venture into the Endless Vault. This consists of a series of dungeons filled with numerous rooms that we must battle through in an action-RPG manner. We collect different items in our backpack and take them back to the village.
Once in the village, we can sell the items in our own store. We can utilize various bonuses and must ensure that the store remains intact through minor repairs. After serving some customers, one can choose between different bonuses that provide additional effects. This adds a bit of strategy to the game, as we want to sell our acquired items for the best possible price.
With the money earned, we can then beautify the store, buy new weapons, or invest in upgrades. Unlike brutally difficult roguelikes, we become stronger through upgrades. This allows us to progress deeper into the dungeon and experience new enemies, loot, and environments.
Furthermore, Moonlighter 2 is not simply about this dull I pick a weapon/character and then head into the dungeon
. The shop simulation and investing in upgrades create a great, varied loop that I find hard to step away from after hours.
Wonderful game for newcomers and veterans alike
For me as a roguelike newcomer, the first part was perfect for entering the genre. The visuals of the first part were cheerier than one might expect from the rather dark offshoots, which allowed me to develop more sympathy for the game. The same applies to the second part.
The difficulty level is not as harsh as in other titles. Moonlighter 2 forgives me when I don’t dodge properly. As a newcomer to the genre, I still make many beginner mistakes, thankfully they don’t immediately set me back. Additionally, the shop simulation brings some variety to the game. I usually end up in a spiral of grind and selling, where I don’t want to let go of the controller.
I can also imagine that veterans of the genre would enjoy this game. There is a coherent story and missions to follow. Thus, you don’t just grind aimlessly, providing me with a reason for long-term motivation.
Furthermore, there are different weapons you can take into the Endless Vault. You might already know the principle from Hades, a celebrated game in the genre. This makes runs feel different, even if you end up facing the same types of enemies. As a result, I haven’t gotten bored even after numerous hours of gameplay.
As a fan of Moonlighter, I also appreciate that many characters from the first part are back. The jump to 3D graphics has done the game good, making it visually even more appealing. I’m not a big fan of pixel graphics, which is why the second part looks much more attractive to me than the first installment.
Perfect for handheld but not yet for the Steam Deck
I played the first part of the series back on the Nintendo Switch. Since you can jump in and out of the game any time after a dungeon run, it is perfect for handheld gaming. The gameplay is not so complex that you need to be entirely focused at the PC.
But there was a significant downside that I experienced in the demo: Moonlighter 2 currently crashes on the Steam Deck. Especially in the area where the entrances to the store and the Endless Vault are located, crashes occur more frequently.
This is nothing that couldn’t be resolved with a patch. However, currently, Moonlighter 2 crashes about once an hour. This somewhat diminishes my enjoyment of the game. Yet, I am hopeful that the development team will resolve the issue by the time of release.
Those who want to check out Moonlighter 2 themselves in the demo can do so during the Steam Next Fest in June 2025. The festival runs until June 16 at 19:00 CEST. Depending on feedback, Moonlighter 2 could still be released in 2025.
Another game from the Steam Next Fest has completely captivated my colleague Nikolas Hernes. He loves cartoon series with superheroes, which is why Dispatch especially caught his interest: A new game on Steam reminds me of the best superhero series, developed by creators known for good storytelling
