If you want better voice acting
Choose SPRAWL zero. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for voice acting, with a 4.0 overall score.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for an addictive loot-sell-upgrade loop, responsive combat, and standout backpack puzzles. Skip it if repetitive gold grinding, a thin story payoff, or uneven Switch 2 performance would outweigh those systems.
Best for
Players who enjoy action roguelites, optimization puzzles, and management systems that constantly feed back into progression will get the most from it, especially if a strong gameplay loop matters more than a deep story.
Not for
Players who want freeform dungeon exploration, a story-driven RPG, or minimal repetition may struggle with the node-based structure, repeated gold targets, and light narrative payoff.
Verdict
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault succeeds most when its systems feed one another. Dungeon combat is faster and more responsive, relic placement turns loot into a smart spatial puzzle, and the expanded shop loop gives every successful run a satisfying economic payoff. The 3D presentation is widely liked, even if some returning players miss the original pixel-art charm. Its weaknesses emerge over time: repeated gold targets can become grindy, three biomes do not always sustain the full campaign, and the story—especially its ending—lands softly for several players. Technical quality also varies by platform, with loading, frame-rate drops, and crashes reported most often on Switch 2, though later patches improved some of those issues. Overall, the mechanical loop is strong enough to carry the experience well beyond the narrative.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
73 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.029 (40%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.421 (29%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.413 (18%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.49 (12%)
-
Very negative below 1.51 (1%)
Pros highlights
-
The dungeon-run, loot, sell, and upgrade cycle is the game's biggest success. It repeatedly produces a strong 'one more run' pull even for players who notice grind or story weaknesses.
-
Challenge is highly context-dependent: some find normal mode punishing, others find later runs too easy, and several praise the risk-reward once they learn the systems. The wide difficulty selection helps smooth those differences.
-
Combat is one of the sequel's clearest strengths: fast, responsive, and satisfying, with stronger build variety and combo flow. A few players still find it either overly brutal or somewhat shallow compared with specialist roguelites.
-
Across formats, the game is repeatedly described as fun, addictive, and difficult to put down, even by players who have clear complaints about repetition or story.
-
The cel-shaded 3D makeover is widely praised as colorful, charming, and a natural evolution, though a minority still miss the first game's whimsical pixel art.
-
Backpack management is a standout feature, turning every chest into a spatial puzzle about curses, quality, and value. It is deeply satisfying when mastered, though some players find later combinations too convoluted.
Cons highlights
-
The story works as a light framework for the systems and has some strong opening ideas, but several players find it thin or secondary. The ending receives especially sharp criticism for losing momentum and payoff.
-
Loading is one of the most consistent complaints, particularly on Switch 2. Stage transitions and repeated shop entries can feel long enough to interrupt the game's otherwise strong rhythm.
-
Frame-rate stability is one of the main technical concerns, especially on Switch 2 and Steam Deck. Docked Switch 2 can be stable, and a later patch reportedly brought dungeon combat much closer to a consistent 60fps.
-
Music reception is mixed: some praise energetic dungeon tracks and cozy town themes, while others find the score forgettable or noticeably weaker than the original.
-
Late progression is a recurring concern: repeated gold targets and revisiting the same dungeons can make the second half feel grindy even when smaller upgrades keep progress moving.
-
There are many meaningful ways to improve Will, the shop, inventory, and weapons, but the volume of upgrade paths can cause choice paralysis and some expensive upgrades feel too subtle.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in camera behavior, HUD clarity, user interface design, near average in difficulty balance, fun factor, below average in emotional impact, exploration quality, voice acting.
Comparison summary
73 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher38 (52%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts14 (19%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower21 (29%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| emotional impact | 1.0 | 4.2 | -3.2 |
| camera behavior | 5.0 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| exploration quality | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| voice acting | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| HUD clarity | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| user interface design | 5.0 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| skill tree depth | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| crafting system | 2.0 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better crash stability
Choose Onimusha: Way of the Sword. It scores 5.0 vs 2.8 for crash stability, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better emotional impact
Choose Ghost of Yōtei. It scores 4.9 vs 1.0 for emotional impact, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better character development
Choose CONTROL Resonant. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for character development, with a 4.0 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Bastion
- Similar: visual style The chunky isometric environments and cute models visually recall Bastion.
Expedition 33
- Better: story and character depth The story is explicitly framed as much lighter and less character-driven than Expedition 33.
Final Fantasy
- Better: story and character depth The game is not positioned as matching Final Fantasy for narrative or character complexity.
FAQ
Do I need to play the first Moonlighter first?
No. Several newcomers enjoyed Moonlighter 2 without prior experience, although one found the brief recap light on character relationships and background.
How good is the combat?
Combat is one of the most consistently praised parts: fast, responsive, and built around distinct weapons, a ranged gun, dodging, perks, and environmental knockbacks.
Is Moonlighter 2 difficult?
Difficulty impressions vary widely. Some found normal mode punishing while others thought later runs became too easy, but multiple difficulty settings make the challenge easier to tailor.
Is the shopkeeping as important as the dungeon crawling?
Yes, but opinions on its depth differ. Pricing, perks, furniture, and relic quality can be very satisfying, while some players found selling less engaging than the expanded combat side.
How long is the game?
Reported main-story times range from roughly 15 hours to just under 30, while deeper completion, collectibles, challenge modes, and endless content can extend play substantially.
How is Switch 2 performance?
Switch 2 drew repeated complaints about frame-rate drops, loading, and crashes. A later patch report found dungeon performance much improved and a progression-blocking crash fixed, though loading remained slow.
How strong is the story?
The story is generally treated as secondary to the systems. Some liked its setup and writing, but several found the narrative thin and the ending especially disappointing.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - JayWalker Gaming
- Review score
- 4.4
YouTube - QuickSwitch
- Review score
- 3.8
YouTube - DM Gaming
- Review score
- 3.8
YouTube - Nindie Spotlight
- Review score
- 3.0
Article Reviews
nintendoworldreport.com
Summary Pros Fun, challenging gameplay Multifaceted progression Neat systems for making more money in your shop Cons Music isn't very...
- Review score
- 3.4
thumbculture.co.uk
The sequel to the wildly popular Moonlighter is here! Check out our review of Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault to see what we thought!
- Review score
- 3.9
thebiglead.com
I’ve long been shouting to anyone who will listen about what a gem Moonlighter is. The dual gameplay loop of dungeon crawling and...
- Review score
- 4.5
pockettactics.com
Despite a complete aesthetic change, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is a swish follow-up to the shop sim-turned-roguelike.
- Review score
- 2.9
bonus-action.com
Moonlighter 2's shop loop is genuinely addictive, but its story and world barely show up. Here's our full verdict.
- Review score
- 3.8
Top Video Games to Consider
Best for fluid traversal, rewarding exploration, striking art, and forgiving quality-of-life features. Skip it if you want deep combat, radical genre innovation, or consistently demanding bosses.
Pros: difficulty balance, boss design
Cons: innovation, sandbox freedom
Best for superb combat, inventive builds, and richly voiced characters. Skip it if repeated runs, resource gathering, or visually busy battles outweigh the appeal of steady progress.
Pros: overall quality, combat system
Cons: pacing, grind level
Good if you want a beautiful, demanding survival sandbox built around exploration, building, progression, and memorable co-op. Skip it if long resource runs, harsh death recovery, and deliberate pacing sound...
Pros: town-building system, exploration quality
Cons: grind level, fast travel convenience
Choose Clair Obscur if you want a story-rich RPG with thrilling timed combat, gorgeous art, and standout music. Skip it if poor maps, tight parry timing, or occasional bugs and...
Pros: narrative quality, combat system
Cons: map and navigation design, menu usability