Steam limited-time free game is a must-play hack and slash RPG

Steam users have a new limited-time free game offer to take advantage of, as well-known indie publisher 11 bit studios has made one of its games free-to-keep ahead of the sequel’s release.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault has been announced to officially release into version 1.0 on September 2nd, and to celebrate it, 11 bit studios is giving players a chance to catch up by giving away free copies of the first game.

Steam users can now grab the original Moonlighter for free on Steam, where you’ll have until August 9 to claim it.

By redeeming Moonlighter on Steam, it’ll be added to your account, where you can play it at any time, even after the free offer has expired.

If you’re not aware of what the game actually is, Moonlighter is a hack-and-slash RPG from 2018 where you play as Will, an adventurous shopkeeper who dreams of becoming a hero.

Played from a top-down point of view, there are two primary modes that you play through: one where you conduct business in the village, putting items on sale and managing your expenses, and another where you go on adventures to defeat various enemies and bosses.

Loot collected on your adventures can be used to upgrade your shop or sell to customers, while money earned from the shop can also be used to give you new equipment to use on these adventures.

As a result, it becomes a game featuring two sides of the same coin, where engaging with one side of Moonlighter affects the other side, and vice versa.

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11 bit studios

The original Moonlighter was well received back in 2018, and got a few post-launch updates as a result

Moonlighter received several updates over the years, ranging from quality-of-life improvements to balance tweaks, which have served to enhance the game over time with new features.

Its sequel, on the other hand, hit Steam Early Access in November 2025 and will come to a full launch on September 2nd.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault changes the game into a 3D roguelite, with action-RPG combat taking over the original’s hack-and-slash style. The game looks to be quite different from the first one in that regard, but still retains the same basic idea.

In this way, it should mean that both Moonlighter and Moonlighter 2 can stand on their own legs, and there’ll still be a reason to play the first one over its sequel.

The early access reviews for Moonlighter 2 are preferring the game over its predecessor as well, with an all-around 84% positive score for ratings.

“Good light game for chillax,” reads one review from a player.

“Enjoying the 2nd Moonlighter far more than the first. The concepts are the same, but the execution of the combat is MUCH improved,” another review reads.

“A genuinely fun, bright and inventive sequel to the original. I have been having a fantastic time playing against the diverse enemies, and the three dungeons to explore are very fun. When I saw the shift from the unique 8-bit design of the original to the new 3D look, I was worried. But it maintains and builds on the vibe of the original excellently,” a third review reads.