One of 2018’s Best Indie Games Is Completely Free on Steam Right Now

One of the breakout indie hits of 2018 is currently available to claim completely free on Steam for a limited time. Moonlighter—the critically acclaimed action RPG that brilliantly fuses roguelite dungeon crawling with retail management—can be yours at no cost through August 9. This special promotion arrives as developer Digital Sun gears up for the upcoming release of its sequel, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, next month.

Upon its initial release, Moonlighter captured the hearts of players with its wonderfully clever premise: by day, you manage a quaint mercantile shop, and by night, you brave perilous, monster-infested ruins to scavenge for valuable inventory.

Gamers step into the boots of Will, a courageous merchant-in-training who spends his evenings navigating shifting, procedurally generated labyrinths. After packing his rucksack with ancient relics, he returns to the tranquil village of Rynoka to hawk his findings. Every artifact must be priced individually, transforming the daytime gameplay into an engaging balancing act of reading consumer habits, optimizing profit margins, and reinvesting your earnings into superior weaponry, community development, and storefront expansions.

As you progress, upgrading your arsenal allows you to conquer increasingly hostile dungeons and unearth rarer, high-value treasures.

Moreover, the version currently residing on Steam is significantly more robust than the experience fans fell in love with years ago. Over the years, Digital Sun has enriched the title with formidable new bosses, helpful companions, upwards of 100 fresh room layouts, expanded lore, vital quality-of-life enhancements, and a dedicated New Game+ mode that gives veteran merchants plenty of incentives to unlock their doors once more.

This enticing giveaway paves the way for Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, officially debuting on September 2 following a substantial tenure in Early Access. Polygon’s initial preview last year commended the sequel for building upon the foundation of the original through more intricate combat mechanics, a vibrant three-dimensional environment, and deeply rewarding progression loops, while noting its polished readiness for full release.