A fresh trailer for the sequel to the beloved 2018 indie game “Moonlighter” has just been unveiled, revealing some exciting details for fans to anticipate later this year. Additionally, it’s been confirmed that the game, titled “Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault,” will be available on Xbox Game Pass right from launch day. This new chapter in the indie shopkeeping simulator and action roguelike series introduces a host of challenges and a striking new graphic style.
In “Moonlighter,” we followed the tale of a young orphan named Will who balanced his roles as a humble shopkeeper in the quaint village of Rynoka and a daring dungeon explorer by night, searching for treasures to stock his shop. Despite his modest beginnings, Will embarked on a hero’s journey, uncovering secrets hidden within the city’s dungeons.
Will’s saga is set to continue in “Moonlighter 2,” where he finds himself trapped in another dimension. The distant city of Tresna offers Will new prospects to enhance his weapons and gear, explore diverse biomes, gather captivating treasures for his shop, and face a fresh batch of adversaries.
While familiar characters like Will will make a return, players will immediately notice a significant shift in the art direction for “Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault.” While the original game, developed by Digital Sun and published by 11 bit studios, was known for its pixel art in a top-down adventure, the sequel takes a bold step into 3D, casting Will as a castaway in an intriguing new world.
Similar to the original, building up the surrounding city is crucial to succeeding as a shopkeeper in Moonlighter 2. Players will guide Will through ever-evolving dimensions to uncover mysterious relics and then navigate the economics of Tresna, investing profits back into the community by purchasing new gear and upgrades.
The game continues to focus on the balance between shopkeeping and adventuring, with Will’s expeditions into the Endless Vault being a central part of the experience. The developers at Digital Sun have expanded upon both aspects, introducing new perks and upgrades to enhance each new venture into the vault.
Having been in development for five years, the team at Digital Sun has incorporated player feedback and lessons from the first Moonlighter, promising a refined experience. “We’ve fully embraced the roguelike possibilities of Moonlighter and are eager to see how players engage with these fresh elements,” they shared in a Steam blog update.
Scheduled for release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, Moonlighter 2 will be accessible at no extra cost to Xbox Game Pass subscribers. As of now, the development team hasn’t specified an exact release date for “Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault,” but anticipation is certainly building.
