Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 82 | 37 |
| Creator reviews (4 tracked) | – | 87 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 81% | 75 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 15, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 4156 total reviews in window · weighted 52.9 up / 10.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (107)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Who would have thought that the classic action-RPG would be revitalized by the typically boring prospect of running a small business? Diving into procedurally generated dungeons and slaying beasts with every manner of weapon answers the question, “What would a 2D version of Breath of the Wild look and play like?” Well, sort of like Moonlighter.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“Moonlighter is a fun game, but only when it works. The mix of shopkeeping and dungeon crawling elements was excellently done and the upgrades are cool, but the crippling bugs ruin the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 90
“Being a shopkeeper is not as boring as it seems. It's equally fun to slay tons of monsters and to price tons of trophies you get by killing them. One of the best indie games of this year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Moonlighter is a charming pixel art game that offers a very unconventional take on the RPG genre. Sure, it’s great to run through procedurally generated dungeons or sell materials. The game has its ups and downs. Unfortunately, though, you’ll soon get tired of it all, and you’ll be left with nothing but tears in your eyes, because Moonlighter gets old just as quickly as it excites you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Moonlighter is a genre-mixing delight, however its steep learning curve may turn some away.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With slick store simulation and solid, albeit somewhat flawed, combat, Moonlighter is a game worth checking out if you're in the mood for something different. It's not perfect, but there's hours of enjoyment to be had leading the double life of a storekeeper and adventurer in the village of Rynoka.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you want to play a top-down Legend of Zelda game as a rogue-lite while also taking shifts as a shopkeeper then, hey, Moonlighter is about to scratch a distinctive itch for you. It hits a sweet spot somewhere between satisfying swordplay and nitty-gritty economic sim, although some players may feel it gets 'grindy' after a while in its mechanics. Nonetheless, Digital Sun Games has produced a lush work it can be proud of; one that even touches on our humanity in an optimistic way.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Moonlighter might have shallow store management mechanics, but more than makes up for it with its amazing gameplay loop of dungeon exploring / looting. One of those games you can’t stop once you pick it up.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Together with the superb visual style and enjoyable music, Moonlighter provides an experience that is much more than the sum of its individual parts”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Moonlighter is a fun and challenging game that will entertain you for a considerable amount of hours. Its visuals, melodic charm and addicting gameplay are the label of a good indie game. If you enjoy the genre, don't miss this.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In conclusion, Moonlighter is a spectacular compromise between procedural roguelike elements and progression mechanics, leading to a wonderful mix which is satisfying on so many levels. It’s a great chance to indulge your inner looter whilst also giving the opportunity to puzzle out prices, and it’s perfectly at home on the Switch. It’s also proof that having a distinct length and a definite end-point isn’t always a bad thing. Yes, you won’t get hundreds of hours from this, but it’s high-quality and I love it.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
cublikefoot
Fintendo
3DNews
Gaming Professors
Jump Dash Roll
Gadgets 360
Nintendo Life
Hu3br
RPGamer
Fun Factor
Invision Community…and 95 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- BUGFIX - Mods are back!Apr 12, 2024
- Introducing the newsfeed! Follow us and receive this adorable birdieMar 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter BUGFIX - JulyJul 2, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - BUGFIX Update - June 2021Jun 9, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- SpoOOoky Rynoka is back! | Halloween UpdateOct 29, 2019
- Moonlighter | Major Update 1.11Oct 11, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Between Dimensions DLC | HOTFIXJul 31, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter – Free Content | Community UpdateJul 29, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Between Dimensions DLC | OUT NOW!Jul 23, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter | Friends and Foes (Update 1.9)Feb 13, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Winter Holiday update!Dec 21, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter | Update 1.8 - hotfixes!Oct 29, 2018
- Moonlighter - Update 1.8 | Adventure UpdateOct 11, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Update 1.7 | More Stock UpdateJul 30, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Update 1.6 | Time is MoneyJul 17, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter | Development Roadmap 2018 UpdateJul 5, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Update 1.5 | Assistants Assemble!Jun 8, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter - Update 1.4 | The Binding of WillJun 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Shop till you drop! Moonlighter got "content lock"! [UPDATE]Feb 22, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Shop till you drop! Moonlighter got "content lock"! [UPDATE]Feb 22, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Moonlighter Christmas Update: Music reveal!Dec 25, 2017
- Moonlighter Christmas Update: Music reveal!Dec 25, 2017
- Update! Backer beta: So far so good!Aug 7, 2017
- Update! Backer beta: So far so good!Aug 7, 2017
- Kickstarter Update #22!May 12, 2017
- Kickstarter Update #22!May 12, 2017