On the Radar with Moonlighter 2 – delving beyond the early access launch of this roguelike RPG with exclusive developer access

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On the Radar with Moonlighter 2 – delving beyond the early access launch of this roguelike RPG with exclusive developer access Features By Oscar Taylor-Kent published 21 November 2025

On the Radar | Chatting with developer Digital Sun about targeting early access for Moonlighter 2, and the impact of this shopkeeper roguelike on the genre

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(Image credit: 11 bit studios) Jump to:

• The review
• The interview
• Impact

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is here, but it's only the start. Launching in early access means this roguelike RPG is still growing as developer Digital Sun engages with the community on improving the game. Hero Will's quest isn't only to snag loot from dungeons accessed portals, but to make enough money selling them in order to unlock the titular Endless Vault.

It's a unique mix of genres, juggling run-based combat synergies with tweaking the prices of your own stock. As well as our own early access review, we've also spoken with Digital Sun about putting together this sequel and what it's like to approach an early access launch. We've also dug into the systems that have impressed us the most, what could still use tightening, and the impact of shop-based adventures like Moonlighter and Moonlighter 2 on the indie sphere.

Keep reading to discover our Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault On the Radar, the best place to get more out of one of the most interesting new games of 2025.

You may like

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

Moonlighter 2: On the Radar

01 | Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault review

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)Review

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": So far, the early access launch has been strong, but there's plenty of room to grow as more updates are added alongside community feedback.

The interview

02 | Bringing it all together

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)Dev access

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: It's been several years since the original Moonlighter, but Digital Sun has been busy on other projects in between. The developer tells us how working on other games has informed this sequel and made it better than ever.

03 | It takes a village

(Image credit: Digital Sun)Interview

"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: Digital Sun tells us how they're aiming to build this roguelike through community feedback. That includes discussing how a demo release earlier in the year has already informed the current release of the game.

Impact

04 | Old Will, new tricks

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)Feature rich

After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features: This sequel carries forward a lot of what we loved about the original, but there's loads of changes we've been digging as well. From a fresh art style that looks gorgeous, to obsessing over how we manage our backpack, there's a lot to love already.

05 | Show me the money

(Image credit: 11 bit studios)Shopping spree

Moonlighter 2’s shop system solves the age-old RPG issue of your bag being filled with useless tat: We take a look at why managing shops in games can be so compelling. Beyond Moonlighter, we consider full-on management like Supermarket Simulator, to shops as backdrops to narrative hooks such as in Strange Antiquities.

Check out our best roguelike games list for more you shouldn't miss!

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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.

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Logout Read more After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features    "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    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"    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    "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    After games like Hades, players expect more from Steam early access games than they did even 5 years ago, Dead Cells creators say: "But that's fair, because, in a way, they are buying the game"    Latest in Roguelike Games Moonlighter 2’s shop system solves the age-old RPG issue of your bag being filled with useless tat    New card-based Vampire Survivors game is "hopefully the first in a series of spinoffs," but the roguelike's dev is also "working on something" related to a proper sequel    Vampire Survivors studio reveals a roguelike deckbuilder spin-off threatening all my free time in 2026: "We're milking this bunch of pixels like there's no tomorrow"    After five hours, Moonlighter 2 already has me hooked thanks to these five features    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    Latest in Features On the Radar with Moonlighter 2 – delving beyond the early access launch of this roguelike RPG with exclusive developer access    The run-up to Marathon's release has been such a train wreck that it's easy to forget that the game might still be really good    Leave your expectations for Alexander Skarsgård's new movie Pillion at the door: it's steamy and sexy, but it's so much more than a rom-com    Rue Valley is a time looping RPG that's best off leaning away from Disco Elysium comparisons, and getting Monkey Island with it instead    The best SSD for PS5 in 2025: Why Samsung is the brand to beat    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-high nominations at The Game Awards proves what I've been saying for the past 8 months    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

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