One of 2018’s most surprising indie titles was Digital Sun’sMoonlighter, a game that blends the cozy elements of shopkeeping with the more engaging, hardcore elements of a roguelike. Now, in response to the success of its predecessor,Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vaultis on its way soon, and it’s already shaping up to be a major evolution of the beloved shopkeeping,dungeon-crawling RPG.
Game Rant recently had the privilege of speaking with Digital Sun aboutMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, where some interesting details about its intensified roguelike mechanics and refined inventory system were divulged. During the interview, Digital Sun outlinedMoonlighter 2’s increased emphasis on roguelike gameplay, as well as some changes coming to the first game’s inventory system that sound like they aim to surprise at every turn.
Moonlighter 2’s Roguelike and Inventory Changes Aim to Surprise at Every Turn
Moonlighter 2 Is Leaning More Heavily Into the First Game’s Roguelike Elements
WhileMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vaultis set to impress in a variety of ways, one of its biggest improvements comes in how it more actively embraces its roguelike elements. While the firstMoonlighterhad roguelike elements,Moonlighter 2is leaning even harder into the unpredictability of the genre in an effort to ensure that players are constantly kept on their toes.
According to the developers, every run will introduce new variables that keep gameplay fresh, ensuring no two dungeon crawls play out the same way. When asked aboutMoonlighter 2’s potential replayability, Digital Sun replied,
The goal is to make a game you can come back to again and again, no matter how much time has passed, and a place to constantly experiment with new strategies. This time, we’ve fully leaned into the roguelike experience. There’s a reason “Endless” is in the title!
By fully embracing spontaneity and variety in each new dungeon crawl, even more than its predecessor did,Moonlighter 2pulls out all the stops to ensure that players won’t be able to rely on the same formulaic strategies they might have been able to use in previous runs. Instead, they’ll need to adapt and experiment, both of which are hallmark qualities of agreat roguelike RPG.
Moonlighter 2’s Inventory Changes Add Strategic Depth and Planning
Moonlighter 2’s enhanced roguelike elementsaren’t the only improvements it’s making to the original game’s iconic formula either, as some changes impact its inventory system as well. The inventory system in the firstMoonlighterwas a core mechanic of its gameplay, forcing players to make difficult decisions about what loot to keep and what to sell. While Digital Sun didn’t reveal explicit details about how the system has changed inMoonlighter 2, it did hint that the system overall would be a tough one to master when it stated,
Moonlighter 2 is all about keeping things fresh and unpredictable. Every run brings new dungeon upgrades, shop and gear customization, and a revamped inventory system that keeps you on your toes.
Despite the cryptic information Digital Sun chose to offer aboutMoonlighter 2’s inventory system, another detail it revealed about the game’s dungeon mechanics might disclose more about its inventory. “Now, during your runs, you’ll unlock different upgrades that tweak your build on the fly, letting you experiment with playstyles,” the developer explained. Given this new upgrade system, there’s a strong possibility that the inventory will play a greater role in shaping each run than it did in the original game. This could mean new ways to optimize loot, or even inventory perks that change depending on the dungeon.
Digital Sun has also reworked the shopkeeping mechanics to feel more strategic and rewarding, thereby adding yet another layer of unpredictability and depth to the overall experience. Instead of constantly adjusting prices, players will now focus on maximizing profits through shop perks and decorations. When asked about how shopkeeping gameplay has evolved inMoonlighter 2, Digital Sun stated,
Every time you open your shop, new perks will kick in. Instead of figuring out the right price for every item, relics now have set values—so the challenge is maximizing your profit with perks and decoration bonuses. As a result, customization is also a bigger deal. You can decorate your shop with items that boost profits for relics from specific biomes. We’re keeping the cozy, accessible feel but adding more strategy for those who want it.
This change to one of the firstMoonlighter’s most defining systems ultimately streamlines the economic side of the sequel while prioritizing planning and investment even more than its predecessor. In other words, players will need to think carefully about how they shepherd their shop space, which perks they want to take advantage of, and how to best utilizeMoonlighter 2’sunique biomesfor the most monetary return on their investments.
By deepening its roguelike elements, introducing an enhanced inventory system, and evolving itsshopkeeping mechanicsinto something more strategic and rewarding,Moonligher 2: The Endless Vaultseems like it may be a sequel that bridges the gap between familiarity and innovation. In any case,Moonlighter 2appears ready to be both challenging and surprising, doing everything in its power to keep players on their toes and prevent a static, straightforward experience from defining its gameplay.
