Is Moonlighter 2 Worth It? What 3,195 Steam Reviews Say
We do not score games we cannot test hands-on, so this page reports what other people's numbers say. One day after the 1.0 launch, Steam sat at Very Positive with 85% of 3,195 reviews positive, up from the 71% low of Early Access week and the 86% the developers reported in December 2025. Critics land between 6.5 and 8.5 out of 10: the loot-and-sell loop and the deeper shop systems are praised, while the loss of the original's pixel art, a grindier mid-game and some launch bugs are the recurring complaints.
Scores from other people
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| Steam (all reviews) | Very Positive, 85% |
| Metacritic | 76 on the Steam store card, 77 from 7 reviews on Metacritic's own page on 3 Sep 2026 |
| PlayStation Store | 4.22 stars from 310 ratings |
| NintendoWorldReport | 8.5/10 |
| COGconnected | 84/100 |
| Nintendo Life | 8/10 |
| GamingTrend | 8/10 |
| Finger Guns | 7/10 |
| Gamereactor UK | 7/10 |
| CGMagazine | 6.5/10 |
What gets praised
- The dungeon-to-shop loop is still addictive, now with backpack relic chains that change what a haul is worth
- Every critic notes how much Early Access feedback shaped the game (four content drops before 1.0)
- Deep permanent progression: eight Tresna vendors, weapon aspects, patches, research, shop levels
- Steam Deck Verified and a $29.99 price that includes the whole Early Access roadmap
What gets criticised
- The 3D isometric art replaces the beloved pixel art; CGMagazine calls it a downgrade
- Inventory sorting slows the pace for players who just want to fight
- Builds depend on perk offers; some late fights feel spongy
- Launch-week performance complaints on PC (DX11 systems) and Steam Deck
- Early Access buyers were unhappy that 1.0 launched at a 30% discount with paid cosmetic DLC on day one
Review questions
Is Moonlighter 2 better than the first game?
Critics split. NintendoWorldReport (8.5) says the sequel grabbed them more than the original; CGMagazine (6.5) says it does what the original did, slower and less crisp, and misses the pixel art. Players who wanted more systems are happier than players who loved the 2D look.
Should I buy it or play it on Game Pass?
It is on Xbox Game Pass day one, so console and PC Game Pass subscribers can try it at no extra cost. On Steam the 30% launch discount ran through the first week of September 2026.
Was Early Access worth it?
Finger Guns (7/10) notes that players who were in Early Access will find that 1.0 does not add a lot beyond the story ending, the Endless set and Hardcore; newcomers get the whole ten-month roadmap at once.