Escape Simulator 2 is a fantastic escape room game developed by Pine Studio. The sequel has new exciting locations, challenging puzzles, and an updated room editor.
Purrrifiers: Cleaning Chaos is a goofy clean-up game that has you battling the forces of dirt, grime, and weird characters asking for some really weird things.
Mistonia's Hope: The Lost Delight is a fantasy based Otome visual novel that dives you into a world of Humans, Fairies and Revenge! This story follows our beautiful protagonist Rose...
Freemind S.A. has extended their building simulation games (another reviewed here) into the country of Egypt where a fellow author and myself would love to visit. Welcome to Egypt Frontiers where you, a master builder...
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a very good brawler that provides a large roster of characters, excellent pixel art visuals and plenty of replayability. It’s a rather short beat-‘em-up...
Hot Wheels Let's Race: Ultimate Speed is a game based on a Netflix cartoon series. I never knew about it until I reviewed this game, so I am unsure whether the game is anything like the show, but I can tell you what I do know, having played it.
It's 2008. I'm halfway through my second college certification which will propel me onto my career path. My PC is getting older, it's not running the software I need. Sacred 2, which I've been waiting on forever to come out after playing the original Sacred and its expansion, is here.
The long awaited sequel to Moonlighter is finally here after many years in development as well as a slight delay from the original release date. Digital Sun launched Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault into early access and I'm loving what I'm seeing so far.
2025 was a year with a number of very strong entries. Our team found themselves talking about many of the titles at length, and it was surprising how many strong candidates there were early in the year. That however, did not preclude great games from getting released throughout 2025.
The
categories are largely the same as the last few years, but with one new inclusion - Favorite Remake/Remaster. There were so many of them this year, done so well, and there are so many more on the horizon that we feel like it's safe to say that remakes and remasters of old favorites are very likely to remain an important part of the gaming conversation going forward, and we want to recognize the ones done right. So here's what we'll be seeing this year:
Biggest Surprise
Guilty Pleasure
Most Memorable
Favorite Remake/Remaster
Second Runner-up
First Runner-up
GOTY 2025
The types of games were varied as always. Whether your genre is RPGs,
Action, Strategy, Adventure or something altogether different? 2025 had
you covered on titles from publishers large, small, and indie.
When each of the categories are posted, you will find them linked here as well.
Again, Thank you for gaming with us this year!
- The CGR Team
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's note: We have all our Games of the Year all the way back to 2012 posted under the GOTY navigation button at the top of the Chalgyr's Game Room website. Enjoy!
Mini Motorways, the award-winning minimalist strategy traffic management sim with over nine million players from developer Dinosaur Polo Club, celebrates more than six years of free post-launch support with today’s “Harbor Lights & Neon Nights” update, launching at 12:30pm PT on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and iOS devices!
Explore Hong Kong with today’s newly added map. Venture into the next frontier of breathtaking city planning with a brand new obstacle unique to this map: ferry terminals!
Experience the city’s soothing palette in day mode or embrace neon-lit nightlife in night mode.
Design Hong Kong your own way and celebrate more than six years of free Mini Motorways content! Hop into the highly-requested Creative Mode added earlier this year to see Mini Motorways’ growth since 2019’s initial post-launch visit to Munich.
Sail through new Daily, Weekly, and City challenges in this new map, earn fresh achievements, and experience the duality of Hong Kong like never before.
Plus, the city planning continues! A packed 2026 roadmap awaits, including:
A new map in February
Another new map in June, alongside additions to Creative Mode, and a BIG community surprise ahead
A new map in September, QoL updates for Creative Mode
And finally, one more new map to close out the year in December
“As we were working towards this update, we were deeply saddened to hear about the high-rise fire that occurred in Tai Po district, which has severely impacted many," said Casey Lucas-Quaid, Dinosaur Polo Club's Community Manager. "As such, we are pairing this update with a donation to the Tai Po Fire Emergency Appeal run by the Hong Kong Red Cross, and encourage you to donate too if you can."
Dinosaur Polo Club is an independent game development studio based in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by brothers Peter and Robert Curry, the studio first made waves with their award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. The second game developed by Dinosaur Polo Club introduces a brand new type of city management with colorful road-building and resource management found in Mini Motorways. Combined, Mini Metro and Mini Motorways make up two parts of an expanding Mini Collection.
With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, the studio has grown and is now home to nearly 30 dinos as it works on new titles with relatable simplicity.
December 8, 2025 – Barcelona, Spain | Unfinished Pixel are proud to announce that Blightstone, a dark fantasy tactical roguelite, will be entering Early Access on Steam on January 20 at a price of 12.99 EUR | 15.99 USD with 20% off during the fist two weeks after launch. Blightstone reimagines turn-based strategy with freeform movement, volatile elemental clashes and a time-twisting structure where every run carves a new scar into a dying world.
Players lead a party of heroes and the living crystal that binds their fate. As corruption devours the land, each run becomes a battle against the inevitable - forging new builds through hard won skills and gear while navigating battlefields reshaped by firestorms, frozen currents and crackling lightning. One flawless moment can turn the tide - one misstep can doom the entire run. Survival demands more than strength - it demands mastery, adaptation and the courage to face the darkness.
In the world of the Blightstone you’ll find deep strategy, blended seamlessly with roguelike progression. Your mission? To protect the Earthglass Crystal, and deliver it to the Infernal Rift. Only by doing this will you be able to destroy the demon overlord Korghul, and shatter the Blightstone itself.
Die, die, and die again. Cunning and keen wit (though looking at our options even a solitary spark of wit will have to suffice) are key to saving this realm.
Use the environment to your advantage with objects, enemies and even the weather itself providing strategic opportunities and challenges. Each failure provides invaluable opportunity to learn and collect new skills to help your next adventure.
A Dynamic Battlefield
Enjoy free movement, without grid-based systems, allowing you to move into strategic cover. Just remember, enemies aren’t restricted by grids either, and there’s always an angle.
The Environment Is Yours to Command: Hide in long grass or burn it to stop enemies using it for cover. Gather enemies in water to amplify electric attacks. Use every advantage you can get to shatter the Blightstone.
Harness the Weather to Your Advantage: Dynamic weather will have an impact on Adventurer’s strategies. Dense fog obscures the battlefield, rain will amplify electric attacks and strong winds will affect accuracy. It can bring as many benefits as it does drawbacks, as long as you pay attention.
Recruit your heroes
Find new heroes and companions to help you along your journey. Chose from Brawler, Hunter, Arcanist, Druid and Priest classes, each with their own unique abilities and companions.
Master a vast skillset: Unlock a wide range of active and passive combat skills for our troop of adventurers and for the Earthglass crystal itself. Mater melee, ranged, area of effect and grappling skills, and combine them for heavy-hitting combos.
Status effects that sting: Bleeding, poison, binding, stun or burn, dozens of combat conditions can swing the course of each battle. Just remember it won’t always swing your way!
Blightstone invites players to step into a world on the brink and shape their legend through unrelenting tactical trials.
The corruption is rising. The cycle is breaking. And only those willing to fight - and fail - can hope to bring the darkness to its end
Join us on 20th January and step into the crucible of Blightstone on Steam, available to wishlist here. For those who dare, the available demo is already waiting to test your skill.
Based in Barcelona, Unfinished Pixel is a passionate indie studio composed of veteran developers who’ve worked on major Ubisoft titles. Blightstone marks their first original IP, one that blends handcrafted 2D visuals with ruthless roguelike strategy.
December 8th, 2025 | Wakefield, UK and Warsaw, Poland | Team17 and Sonka are excited to announce they have signed a worldwide publishing agreement for Holstin, the innovative and highly anticipated indie psychological survival horror.
Announced by Sonka back in early 2023, Holstin has steadily grown in recognition and attention thanks to its innovative visual style and technology, its unique 90’s Poland setting, and the team’s constant release of concept-proving demos. Team17 and Sonka will now be partnering up to amplify and expand on this momentum together to reach new heights.
We have been big fans of Holstin for some time, and are delighted to be able to partner with Sonka to help realise their vision and bring the game to market.
We are proud to partner with such a talented team that have created a game that embodies unique atmospheric storytelling, with innovative gameplay mechanics in a spine-chilling survival horror. We can’t wait to reveal more of the game to new and existing fans in the coming months. - Harley Homewood, General Manager, Team17
We’re beyond excited and proud to partner with Team17, a publisher with a prestigious track record and the foresight to bring some truly innovative horror games to the world - with DREDGE being one of my favourite games ever!
We’ve always had ambitious goals for Holstin, and now we’re confident that together we can meet and maybe even exceed them. Whether it’s expanding and refining gameplay mechanics, securing higher-quality voice acting or just having that extra space to add even more bizarre but poignant Polish Easter eggs into our 90s-drenched horror world, things are lining up nicely for us to release something truly special together. - Rafał Sankowski, CEO at Sonka, Holstin Game Director
Holstin is a psychological survival horror game set in an eerie, isolated 90’s Polish town consumed by an ominous presence. You’ve come looking for answers, but everyone seems possessed by something foul. Explore the festering town, interrogate locals and fight ungodly manifestations to get to the truth.
The game is inspired by the classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill series, while the narrative team is aiming for a darker Twin Peaks feel. Holstin will be coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
GAME FEATURES
Explore a Possessed Town
Something is very wrong in the town of Jeziorne-Kolonia. The streets are overrun by some kind of filthy slime. The people, the buildings, and the wildlife all seem to be slowly deteriorating from the inside.
Fight and Survive Against Unfathomable Monstrosities
Scavenge for scarce supplies and weapons to fight off the twisted monstrosities now roaming the darkest corners of the town.
Speak to Locals Slowly Losing Their Minds
Sanity among the locals seems to be slowly slipping away, but they are the only ones who can get you the answers you need. You will have to play along with their unnerving delusions and try to understand their festering world to get anywhere.
Playing All Sorts of Tricks on Your Eyes
Holstin uses Sonka’s custom 2XD Rendering technology to deliver real-time lighting in detailed hand-drawn pixel art to uniquely combine multiple camera perspectives, including isometric 3D, third-person shooting, first-person driving, top-down exploration, and side-scrolling platforming.
Full Voice Acting in Polish and English
Chillingly manic performances in both English and Polish bring every character in Holstin to life.
The game is inspired by the classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill series, while the narrative team is aiming for a darker Twin Peaks feel. Holstin will be coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
About Sonka
Sonka is a game developer and publisher based in Warsaw, Poland, previously focused on the console market as a publisher and work-for-hire porting company. Worked on over 20 games for Nintendo Switch, best known for Astro Bears development, The Way Remastered release, and Duke Nukem 3D port, now focused solely on Holstin development.
About Team17 Digital
Founded in 1990, Team17 is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of the everplay Group plc with an extensive portfolio of over 140 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Team17’s portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Date Everything, Dredge, and Overcooked! franchise. Visit www.team17.com for more information.
December 2nd, 2025 | Ultimate Zombie Defense launches on PlayStation 5 on December 4. This intense top-down shooter mixes survival horror with tactical action. Players can build advanced bases, use a variety of weapons, and face different types of zombies. The game is also out on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Developed by the independent studio Terror Dog Studio, the game was initially released on PC. On Steam, it currently holds an 86% positive review rating based on approximately 1,400 player reviews. The console versions were developed and published by Ultimate Games S.A.
Zombie Hordes Arrive on PlayStation 5
Ultimate Zombie Defense, developed by Terror Dog Studio, is a top-down shooter that combines the atmosphere of survival horror with tactical action gameplay. A key feature is its advanced base-building system, which enables players to construct fences, barbed wire, sandbags, mines, and defensive turrets.
Players assume the role of an elite soldier deployed to regions overrun by a zombie outbreak. The setting is a European city isolated from the outside world due to the infection. The primary objective is to locate and eliminate the source of the zombie epidemic.
The game includes 12 distinct types of zombies and unique boss encounters. Players can utilize a wide range of weapons, such as a shotgun, flamethrower, grenade launcher, and minigun, to combat the undead.
Key Features:
Hardcore shooter
Survival horror experience
Advanced base-building system
8 playable characters
12 zombie types and unique bosses
Ultimate Zombie Defense is now available on PlayStation 5. The standard price for the console version is $7.99 USD or EUR, depending on the region.
MANILA, Philippines – Fallen Tear: The Ascension, the JRPG-inspired, hand-animated sidescrolling Metroidvania from developer Winter Crew and publisher CMD Studios,
emerges from the shadows in a new demo launching today alongside the
Fated Bonds trailer ahead of launching on PC via Steam and consoles in
Q1 2026.
Experience the prologue to Fallen Tear: The Ascension in this
brand-new demo, offering an immersive introduction to the world of
Raoah. Awaken as Hira, a young boy with a mysterious past, awakening new
powers on a quest to regain his memories. Discover new areas, take on
challenging bosses, and forge Fated Bonds to recruit destined allies.
Meet some of the many friendly faces Hira befriends throughout his
journey. Relationships manifest in the form of Fated Bonds, an
innovative JRPG-inspired party system where special characters provide
useful Talents to help Hira. These accrued abilities give Hira the power
needed to reach new heights and tackle new enemies.
Tap into the wider world of Raoah by delving into the Castle for a
taste of Fallen Tear’s vast open world and explore “the Elden Ring of
Metroidvania in terms of map size.” Unlock new paths and challenges
using Ascension Abilities, a power deeply connected to Hira’s unknown
origins. Wield them to blaze paths to new biomes in Raoah’s living map,
transforming in response to Hira’s actions.
What are these dreams of a powerful Overgrowth form, comparable even
to Raoah’s wild gods? What relation does it have with Hira’s forgotten
past? As he hunts rampaging threats and learns more about the land’s
inhabitants, more of Raoah’s mysteries come to light – and perhaps even
more questions arise.
“The ‘Fated Bonds’ system is a keystone to our vision for Fallen
Tear,” said CMD Studios founder Stephen Manalastas. “For both the
innovation in combat and exploration, and making a deeper and richer
narrative. The prologue demo represents a 95% complete slice of Fallen
Tear. More polishing, full voice acting, cinematics, and further area
development will be seen in the full game!”
Fallen Tear: The Ascension is set for release on PC via Steam and
consoles in Q1 2026. The June 2025 demo offers 1-2 hours of gameplay and
exploration. Visit the website for more information, keep up to date with the game on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and Reddit, follow its conversations on Discord, and wishlist the game on Steam.
About The CMD Studios
Founded in Manila, Philippines, The CMD Studios sets out to recreate
the great memories and experiences of gaming’s past. The studio’s name
is its ethos, highlighting the Creative Minds and Designs as the
foundations upon which truly memorable experiences are built, to build
with greatness, work with kindness, and inspire with purpose.
Istanbul, December 1st, 2025 | Vellichor Games is proud to announce the release of Ticking Together, a Cyberpunk Co-op Platformer Releases on Steam on December 3. Set in a stylized cyberpunk city on the brink of collapse, Ticking Together is a Chaotic Hot Potato Challenge, where teamwork and precise timing are essential to defuse a bomb and survive.
Ticking Together, invites players to survive against the clock in a neon-lit, stylized cyberpunk city. In the 1 - 4 player co-op mode, teamwork and quick reflexes are essential as players overcome obstacles while resetting a bomb every 15 seconds. Physics-based bomb passing and platforming challenges make each playthrough exciting and highly replayable.
In Ticking Together, time is ruthless and every second counts. Each scan grants a second chance, and each pass carries great risk.
Key Features
Ticking Against Time: A live bomb is always by your side. Scan it every 15 seconds or pay the price. Coordination is the key to survival.
1 - 4 Player Co-op Chaos: Play solo or with up to three friends. Synchronize your moves, pass the bomb in time, and survive together.
Stylized Cyberpunk Platforming: Run, jump, and climb through neon-lit cities, each offering unique challenges.
Physics-Based Bomb Passing: Passing the bomb between players isn’t just a feature it’s a necessity.
Skill-Based Challenges: Quick reflexes, perfect timing, and teamwork are the keys to success.
Vellichor Games is a small indie studio focused on creating unique co op experiences that blend creativity and challenge. Ticking Together is the first major project from two interns who turned a small idea into a full-fledged co-op adventure.
A uniquely intense nuclear reactor simulator joins the MicroProse family - available now on Steam.
MicroProse is thrilled to announce that Nucleares is officially joining the MicroProse family. Developed with an unwavering focus on systemic depth, Nucleares invites players to step into one of the most demanding roles in the modern world: operating a nuclear power plant.
The game is already available on Steam, where it has built a passionate community thanks to its uncompromising approach to simulation, rich systems, and thrilling high-stakes gameplay. To celebrate the announcement, Nucleares is now available at a 15% discount.
In Nucleares, players take control of a fully simulated nuclear facility - from ignition to full-power energy production - while managing over 200 parameters, responding to emergencies, and balancing the constant tension between output, safety, and survival. It is as educational as it is intense, and fits perfectly within the legacy of detailed, realistic simulation experiences that MicroProse is known for.
About Nucleares - Key Features
Ultra-Deep Nuclear Reactor Operation
Manage 200+ parameters and 150+ switches across core systems, including the Control Room, Containment Building, Turbine Hall, and Cooling Towers.
Maintain the delicate equilibrium of reactor power, coolant flow, steam generation, and thermal balance.
Face dynamic emergency scenarios like equipment failures, fires, floods, and structural breakdowns.
AI-Powered Operational Assistant (AO)
Your AI companion helps with ignition sequences, alarms, crisis control, and system checks.
Upgrade AO to unlock advanced functionalities and automation options.
Use remote tablet control to supervise reactor operations from anywhere in the plant.
Deeply Rewarding Systems-Based Gameplay
Complete daily production objectives to earn Prestige, XP, and new challenges.
Balance fuel use, maintenance, costs, and community demands.
Progress through an extensive Prestige upgrade system: equipment, fuel blocks, safety gear, and waste management.
Advanced Reactor Mechanics
Operate a modern reactor core with nine fuel blocks, 72 control rods, and sophisticated safety systems.
Explore the chemistry behind reactor operation via boric acid dosing, ion-exchange, pH control, and coolant purity systems.
Immersive Atmosphere
Explore highly detailed facilities, from control rooms to underground maintenance tunnels.
Feel the tension with a reactive, atmospheric soundtrack and authentic industrial ambience.
A Simulator Designed for Learning
No hand-holding: learn through manuals, experimentation, and community collaboration.
Constant updates based on real-world data and player feedback.
MicroProse and the Future of Nucleares
With MicroProse’s support, Nucleares will continue expanding its depth and feature set, maintaining a strong focus on authenticity and educational value. The partnership reinforces MicroProse’s mission to publish rich simulations that challenge, inspire, and reward players who seek mastery.
--
MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking classics and new blockbuster titles such as Falcon, HighFleet, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, Ground Branch, Gunship and many more! Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of new generations of gamers.
This week, we’re looking at the main themes of one of the most acclaimed video
game franchises of all time: Fallout. With the new season of the TV show just
around the corner, now’s as good a time as any to revisit the music, tap into
some nostalgia, and maybe inspire you to explore the wasteland all over
again.
Fallout 1 & 2 | Main Theme
It’s both surprising and oddly fitting that for a series with such memorable
music—both original and licensed—the first two games open with atmospheric,
unsettling ambience rather than a melody.
The isometric titles had a
very distinct aesthetic, and the main theme reflects that: a bleak soundscape
that feels like the wasteland itself humming back at you. The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre fanboy in me approves.
This is where 90% of Fallout fans got their start, myself included. By the
mid-2000s, the franchise had been through a rough patch: Van Buren—the original
Fallout 3—was cancelled in 2003, and the Brotherhood of Steel spin-off tanked
interest even further.
Then Fallout 3 arrived in 2008, and it felt
like a cultural event. Anyone who was gaming at the time remembers that reveal:
the toxic green color grading, the Brotherhood of Steel helmet, that
unmistakable sense of scale.
The theme is militaristic, heroic, and
full of grand adventure—with just enough grit to remind you this is a tough
world.
Considered by many the best entry in the series, New Vegas is impossible not to
love. It trades Fallout 3’s green for dusty browns, hard sci-fi for frontier
grit, and tells a story that’s personal, political, and razor-sharp.
The
opening notes hit like a shot to the head—appropriate—and the rest of the theme
promises revenge, chaos, and a deeply human drama waiting in the Mojave.
This one is a personal favourite. For the first time, the series opened with an
animated main menu, and those soft piano strokes paired beautifully with the
slow-motion shots of the T-51b Power Armor.
The theme is cinematic
and a touch melancholic, yet it never loses its sense of sweeping scale and epic
ambition.
Where previous entries centered on a lone wanderer—with the occasional
companion—Fallout 76 is built around community. The theme reflects that shift:
lighter, breezier, and more optimistic than its predecessors.
There’s
a sense of camaraderie here, a hint of shared rebuilding, and a musical nod to
the idea that this wasteland is best explored together.
28 November 2025 - Warsaw, Poland | Untold Tales and VARSAV Game Studios are happy to announce that Bee Simulator: The Hive is now available on PS4/5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox X/S!
Bee Simulator: The Hive combines the original Bee Simulator game released in November 2019, with a hefty expansion named The Hive.
The Hive adds new content and mechanics into the base game and endgame to create a fresh new experience for those who have never tried the original game. The main highlight of The Hive lets players build and customize their very own sprawling bee hive colony. You’ll be zipping around the map gathering resources, setting up outposts, and unlocking various buildings to start creating and customizing your very own home for you and your colony.
COMPLETE EDITION FEATURES
EMBARK ON BIG ADVENTURES AS A LITTLE BEE
Take flight in a heartwarming single-player story where you must protect your hive from looming danger. As one of the swarm’s most diligent workers, your tiny wings will carry the fate of your entire colony.
EXPLORE A VIBRANT, WORLD-FAMOUS PARK
Fly around and explore every nook and cranny of a vast, semi-open world map inspired by New York’s famous Central Park. From ponds to picnic grounds, funfairs to the zoo, you’ll uncover secrets, mini-games, and resources throughout. Find people, animals, plants, and other insects to interact with along the way.
BUILD YOUR OWN SPRAWLING HIVE
The Hive expansion lets you build and customize your very own beehive from the ground up. Optimize your resource-gathering to collect what you need to create a buzzing home. Use a variety of practical and decorative buildings to bring your hive to life.
MINI-GAMES GALORE
Being a bee means non-stop activity! Race through jet streams, collect pollen, perform bee dances, defend your colony from wasps, and tackle various challenges in an exciting mix of exploration and action-packed gameplay.
SPLIT SCREEN COOP
Team up with up to four friends or family in split-screen co-op. Play through custom-designed multiplayer maps with both cooperative and competitive game modes—fun for everyone, young and old!
A VIBRANT AND PEACEFUL SOUNDTRACK
Soar through the world with a peaceful and immersive soundtrack composed by Mikołaj Stroiński, renowned for his work on The Witcher 3 and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
The long awaited sequel to Moonlighter is finally here after many years in development as well as a slight delay from the original release date. Digital Sun launched Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault into early access and I'm loving what I'm seeing so far. It is a roguelike action adventure game that improved on gameplay from its predecessor with more strategy regarding loot, upgrades, and builds. It has a ton of RNG aspects that make Moonlighter 2 interesting or perhaps frustrating depending on how you look at it. The game has some added quality of life features that allow for a better enjoyment of the game. And overall, this sequel, while it has some shortcomings, is on track to knock it out of the park like the first one did. So, let's go over why that is.
Gameplay
You begin your journey being kicked off a ledge by Ms. Scratch - a business woman who is angry at you because you haven't made a dime since you arrived in the town of Tresna. For Will, the legendary merchant, this is unacceptable. Ms. Scratch tells you to take your broom and fight in the dungeon to get relics that you can sell. After all, this is a capitalist society and money makes the money go money.
This introduction to Moonlighter 2 really sets the tone for the perils you will be facing as you will have to fight your way through the endless vault to make as much money as you can. As the slogan says, loot, sell, sleep, repeat. So off you go with your trusty broom to take on some enemies and hope for relics that will fetch a good price at your shop. You are quickly contacted by a mysterious entity in the center of Tresna who tells you that you have to give it money. At first, the total it wants is 7,000 but each time you complete the monetary goal, the price increases - hence the endless vault. This is part of the reason you need to make a lot of money - to feed the vault as well as your wallet. It all makes sense now, doesn't it?
This leads us to the core gameplay loop which is the adventure in the dungeons. So let's talk about them.
Dungeons and Inventory Management
There are three different dungeons that you can pillage relics from. The first one you get access to is the day realm. When you open the portal, you will see there is another area that has not been activated yet. This would be the night dungeon which is only accessible after you make it to the end of the day realm dungeon. Entering the dungeon will bring up a map that has a couple of different pathways which lead to the final boss. The stages will grant artifacts of a certain type depending on the icon, mini bosses, challenges, and recipes. You will get to choose which path you take before you get to the final boss of the dungeon. Most of the paths will be relatively even in terms of rewards but you can strategize based on the perks you can get from certain stages. The further you get, the better the relics you receive.
The levels that allow you to pick certain perks will always be indicated on the map and in the legend. Certain levels will grant foam perks or wound perks. Other times you will get levels with thunder or burn perks. Each of these levels will give you a batch of relics that have these perks which can be used to your advantage but they might also pose a big problem. See, burn perks will often destroy a relic unless you have put down another relic to give it armor. At the beginning, this can cause you to lose more than gain, but only if you fail at inventory management. (More on this soon.)
Sometimes you will get into mystery levels that offer limited time challenges. These challenges require you to become hindered in some way until you complete it (whether successfully or not). Once the condition has been met, you will gain a reward for succeeding. An example of a challenge you can choose is avoiding damage for the next two encounters and if successful, you gain a higher critical attack chance. On the flipside, if you fail the challenge, you get nothing, but the detriment to your character also subsides.
The further you progress in the dungeon, the harder the creatures become. Sometimes that comes in the form of larger quantities of enemies, and other times they are more frequent attackers or harder hitting. And along the way you will run into mini bosses that will give you more valuable relics to sell in your shop. The longer you go through the dungeon, the more you will need to consider if you should go back to town or risk losing your loot.
If you chose to stay in the dungeon, then you will need to manage your loot as best as possible. You're only given ten slots to begin with and that means you will have to do a lot of 'Tetris-ing' to boost as many of those relics as possible. Sometimes this means you will have to willingly burn relics in order to make space for better ones. There are relics that will increase in value each time you burn relics in your backpack, so you will have to put a lot of thought into how you move them around. The good news is that relic placement is not permanent, meaning you can strategically put a relic where it can't burn anything until the time is right.
Aside from the combat, half the fun of the game IS the inventory management because you never know what you're going to get and each day can net your thousands of coins where other days you will strike out with little to show for it. Appeasing the first monetary goal of 7,000 may seem like a lot until you unlock the next tier... Thankfully, the backpack can be upgraded to give you fifteen slots, so you'll have an easier time holding more relics but a harder time playing Tetris. True story.
Upgrades
Outside of the dungeon levels, there are other considerations to be made like upgrading your shop. You can do so by purchasing furniture pieces with tokens from another merchant in the city, or you can boost your shop by getting upgrades through you robotic chest named K33p3r. It will hold a few relics for you in case you strike out one day and it can decorate your shop with colorful flooring options or furniture pieces. K33p3r also has a skill tree that can give you additional perks related to your shop. How cool is that?
These aren't the only upgrades you can get either. You can go to Eris to get potions and extra health. She also has a perk that will spawn additional healing before a boss fight, which may come in handy. And Andrei the blacksmith handles all things related to your weapons and armor. Additionally, you will be able to unlock another merchant who sells patches. These patches add passive buffs that will make life easier in the long run, so be sure to unlock that merchant as quickly as possible. All of this to say that you will be needing to make as much money as you can!
The Shop
Obviously, one of the core features of the game is learning what price you can sell the relics at. Initially, you simply guess the value based on the quality of the item. Through the clients' reactions, you will be able to adjust accordingly. Ideally, the best practice in Moonlighter 2 is to get the second lowest or third lowest price because you will make more in tips. See, if you manage to find the lowest price then you're selling the item for too little and it's basically a steal for the customer. If you find the highest cost, customers will be displeased and walk away. The highest price gives you a benchmark of the total it should be. Thankfully, you are able to lower the price so that someone will buy it. And ultimately, you want to get higher quality relics to maximize profits because you have to pay the endless vault. Now, one of the quality of life changes that has been made is the ability to see the pricing you've set previously on the sidebar. This means you won't have to consult the grimoire on each item before changing the price!
During your regular hours of operation, you will have special customers or perks that you can use to your advantage as well. There are Known Customers who will pay handsomely for good quality relics so long as you were successful in obtaining some. You want to balance selling more common relics with more rare relics, particularly if there are special customers around. This is also a time where you can stack some special relics in K33p3r for such an occasion.
After selling relics at an ideal price point, you will be able to buy a one day boost from the terminal next to your cash register that can grant more tips from the sale of certain rarities or quality levels of relics. Pairing the tip bonus with the higher quality relics when a Known Customer is in your shop will net you a nice little sum of money. So bare that in mind during gameplay!
Another important element to take note of is the daily calendar in your menu. On some days relics collected from specific dungeons or regions may fetch a higher price, so it is best to plan ahead! There's no shortage of ways to increase your profit margins and it's all beneficial to you by paying the vault and gaining character upgrades. No amount of money will be wasted in Moonlighter 2, and that's a good thing.
Similarities and Differences From the First Game
If you are familiar with the first game, you will notice some of the differences between the two as much as you will notice the similarities. Notably, the gameplay loop of heroically charging into the dungeon to get sellable stock remains the same. You'll be familiar with upgrading your kit at a few merchants within the city. And speaking of the merchants, some of them are the same ones you encountered in the first game like Eris and Andrei.
Some of the differences are just as striking to fans of Moonlighter like the graphics style is much more stylized and feels a lot like the art style used in Wind Walker. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault has a 3D feel to it whereas the first game was a charming pixelated masterpiece.
Another difference between the two games is what happens when you die. Death in the dungeons doesn't automatically rob you of your relics in Moonlighter 2 which is a nice change. Instead, the value of the relics collected get reduced by 50%. Even at that, a relic will only get destroyed if their quality level drops below zero. So while the game may be punishing in some ways, death isn't as heavy of a cost in the sequel. Admittedly, I appreciate this change because of how punishing death was in the original.
Combat
Let's talk about the combat in Moonlighter 2 as it is a main element of the game. Will gets the choice of multiple weapons like the short sword, big sword, gauntlets, and spears. Each weapon has different special abilities that you can use depending on your playstyle, but it is entirely possible to buy each weapon in case you feel like being different.
I chose the short sword because I wanted something that would do a decent level of damage but would be fast enough to engage in combat and then retreat as needed, which is frequent. Though, no matter the weapon chosen, you will also get the ability to use a gun for your ranged option.
Sadly the combat is where the game falls a little short. And I do mean a little short, and not a complete hurling off the cliff like some games. See, the game doesn't restrict your movement abilities by using a stamina bar for dodging. This is not a bad thing, especially for players like me who dodge frequently. However, it means that as you progress further into dungeons, it is really easy to try for one more quick hit which can get you killed. What I mean is, the game devs know that players are going to dodge a ton, and as a result, the difficulty is increased by having large groups of enemies attack at once. This means you are more likely to be hit even if you are being tactical. It also means that it is easier to dodge off ledges because you aren't paying attention. So, all in all, do the best that you can and try not to take too many chances. The game will exploit you. Trust me on this one.
Anyways, as for the gun, it doesn't do a lot of damage, which is to be expected. That said, the primary use of the gun is to knock a flier out of the sky. Unfortunately, the gun's aim is, well, terrible. Honestly, it's the part of combat that is frustrating. The number of times I hit the wrong target or hit one of the plants instead of the enemy is too high of a number to put here. It is also one of the things that I've complained about in other games as well. If there was a way to auto target enemies instead of the plants, that would be fabulous. Or even if it targeted flying enemies first, that'd be even better. I don't know, the gun bugged me at times, even though I used it frequently. I wish I could be more helpful, but honestly I used it to cause burn or foam effects and to knock them out of the sky. Otherwise, they got the blade. *smile*
All in all, the point is you will need a lot of patience to be successful in your runs. You will also want to use the environment to your advantage where possible. That is because there are level features that can block ranged attacks or there are traps you can use to kill your enemies with. But, if you go face first into combat, you will have a higher chance of failing the run.
There is good news though, if you die, you don't lose all of your relics like in the first Moonlighter. In the sequel, relics will take 50% damage and then you can start at the beginning of the dungeon or retreat back to Tresna. Though, if a relic will drop below 0, it will be destroyed. On the other hand, if you have a relic that is at 40, then you will drop to 20 and that is possibly more soul crushing. So, patience young padawans.
Graphics
Okay, so, hot take here. I love the updated graphics of Moonlighter 2. I had no issues whatsoever with the pixelated top down view of the first game, but the visual style is much cleaner and more accessible for a wider audience. Not being restricted to a single area makes the combat a bit more challenging as you can't always see where the attacks are coming from. And along with the updated graphics comes a nice polished look when transitioning between areas.
The characters can exhibit more emotion through their body language which allows you to feel more invested in the characters. They don't simply respond with an emoji, although I do get the appeal of those pixelated reactions.
Although I love the art style of Moonlighter 2, I definitely see where the game can cause a problem for some PCs. If you get the option to drop spike traps after hitting an enemy, then there is potential for there to be a lot of animations happening at the same time. In fact, other players have mentioned that too many traps and overcharged abilities will create a visual smorgasbord which can cause a computer to go on the fritz. Thankfully, I didn't encounter much in the way of visual chaos as I've taken a liking to foaming or burning creatures instead. Though, I'm sure there is potential for the game to get bogged down at some point, I just haven't done anything to cause any issues.
That said, there are times where flying creatures managed to get stuck in the air. It is one of those instances where the gun came in handy. Despite it being weaker than your main weapon, I was still able to kill the enemy and spawn the relic chest. Although, what was strange about the creature being stuck was that it couldn't move at all. It couldn't even attack me back, so it was a free kill. Anyways, this only occurred once, but it was a strange enough instance that I found it worth mentioning.
Final Thoughts
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is a fantastic game even though it is not yet finished. There is some storytelling through the cutscenes and short discussions with other merchants. You will experience plenty of combat to sate the palette and receive more loot than you may know what to do with. It has many levels of strategy from combat tactics to inventory management that will net you the most profit, and ability trees to maximize your gains.
Visually the game is stunning which includes everything from the character movement (which is quite smooth) to scenery of the different dungeons. Each dungeon area has a unique style that is beautiful and aside from some small gripes with combat (which can be worked on before the full release) and a few unimplemented features, Moonlighter 2 is a ton of fun to play! I spent a lot of time running around the town trying to figure out which upgrades I wanted to purchase first before braving another day in the dungeons. Besides, we get a Bloblet whom you can pet at any time. Whatever this cute pet does is unknown to me because he isn't fully included in the game yet, but apparently there will be more of them. He's cute and I love him. (Gief plush of Bloblet please. Kthxbai!)
Anyways, I highly recommend Moonlighter 2 to anyone who enjoys roguelike games. It's fun, it's cute, and it's visually beautiful. There's so much to consider in the early game and it'll get its hooks into you. I promise. And in case it wasn't clear, it's definitely worth your time and money to get, even at this stage of development.
Score: 9 out of 10
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