Moon Hunters

Choose your own path in this interesting yet flawed co-op-focused action RPG.

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Moon Hunters is a 1-4 player action RPG set in a procedurally generated world filled with hand-painted pixel art and ancient myths. Players must work together to survive dangerous creatures and environments, while their decisions shape their character's reputation and place in the game's mythology. With non-linear stories, memorable characters, and a focus on cooperation, Moon Hunters offers a unique and challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,286 reviews

story454 positive mentions

stability106 negative mentions

The music is atmospheric, ethereal, and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience.
The art style is charming, with beautiful pixel graphics and hand-drawn character portraits.
The game offers high replayability with different character classes, unlockable abilities, and varied encounters.

The combat feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it less engaging over time.
There are numerous bugs and connectivity issues, especially in multiplayer mode, which can disrupt gameplay.
The story can feel shallow and cryptic, with choices often having minimal impact on the overall narrative.

story
1,324 mentions
34 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Moon Hunters" is a blend of myth and personal narrative, revolving around the mysterious disappearance of the moon goddess and the player's choices that shape their character's journey. While some players appreciate the depth and replayability offered through different character perspectives and evolving storylines, others find the narrative repetitive and lacking clarity, often feeling disconnected from the overarching plot. Overall, the game is praised for its charming art and music, but critiques highlight a need for more substantial storytelling and character development.
- “Moon Hunters is an enjoyable story about the mysterious disappearance of the moon goddess, leading to a state of decay in the world.”
- “The story is written in a really interesting way, where it drip feeds you info, making you more curious each run.”
- “Being able to look at your previous characters and read the story that became of your choices is so cool, and I've found that one of my main motivations to keep playing is to keep unlocking more constellations and characters!”
- “The story is very typical; the moon goddess has disappeared, and the sun cult is responsible.”
- “The characters have one paragraph of backstory, and you build up their personal story/journey through your actions in each part of the roguelike; everything else concerning the story was mired in clichés or empty.”
- “There are a few mechanics about this game that are pretty cool, but unfortunately it's all buried under a story that seems pointless in the end and a game that's too short to understand what's really going on.”
music
864 mentions
67 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and beautiful qualities, often described as ethereal and emotionally engaging, enhancing the overall experience. Many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, with some even purchasing it separately, although a few note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics.
- “The music is atmospheric, ethereal, and enjoyable even just as music by itself.”
- “Music that manages to pull on your emotions and draw you into this broken world.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous soundtrack.”
- “The game feels repetitive, controls are kinda stiff and the music/sound gets annoying with the short loop it has.”
- “The music balance is completely wrong.”
- “When you start the game the music shouts at your face, and during cinematic, the voice acting sounds like a far echoed whisper that you won't understand without subtitles.”
gameplay
722 mentions
34 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Moon Hunters" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simple and repetitive, particularly after a few playthroughs. While the game features charming visuals and a unique narrative mechanic that encourages replayability, the combat and mechanics are often described as bland and lacking depth. Multiplayer experiences can be fun, but issues like desynchronization and bugs detract from the overall enjoyment, leading some to recommend it primarily for its artistic and narrative elements rather than its gameplay.
- “The gameplay loop is fun and especially with two players (at least in local co-op) it feels varied and dynamic.”
- “Fun little gameplay loop, local co-op and 'what-if?'-style mystery storylines make this a fun and moody little ditty.”
- “The gameplay is excellent - fluid 8-bit action RPG, with an in-game merchant that sells upgrades to all three of your abilities, a small but thematically distinct set of classes, and a large number of varied interactions to shape your character.”
- “After finally being able to play the game, I was faced with a pathetic battle system and mechanics that got old after 15 minutes.”
- “The moment-to-moment gameplay of exploring the levels is boring; the maps are small to medium-sized and generally filled with 1 to 2 NPCs/interactable objects.”
- “You replay through the same areas with a gameplay loop that never changes.”
graphics
474 mentions
59 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly pixel art, which many players find charming and well-executed, contributing to a unique and immersive atmosphere. The art style is frequently praised for its beauty and attention to detail, with hand-drawn elements enhancing the overall aesthetic experience. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, overshadowing the impressive graphics.
- “The art style is incredible and you can feel how much heart there is behind the game the entire time you're playing it.”
- “Moon Hunters is a beautiful game with a gorgeous art style, a fantastic score, and a good storyline.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the story captures your attention from the second you open the game, and the music is awesome.”
- “The biomes you explore are nothing except the background graphics and the type of enemy you face, and the game overall feels like you do very little and you explore very little.”
- “In addition, it is quite unacceptable that a game that uses simple 2D graphics works as poorly as this, with high lag and long loading times.”
- “Graphics look bland and controls feel clunky.”
replayability
360 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game exhibits high replayability, with numerous unlockable characters, abilities, and varied playthroughs that encourage exploration and experimentation. While many players appreciate the diverse experiences and co-op potential, some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth after multiple runs. Overall, it offers a charming and engaging experience, particularly for those who enjoy short, replayable sessions.
- “Absolutely beautiful, absolutely obsessed, will play for many, many more hours, the replayability is absurd, and the completionist side of myself is losing it with this game, the music, the art, the voice acting, it's all too good, cannot recommend this game more.”
- “The game has a lot of replay value as every time you play the story can unfold differently based on your actions.”
- “There is so much to unlock and learn as well as having so much replayability with different legacies and storylines.”
- “Overall, for a game whose selling point is to be replayable, I forced three runs and was bored from the beginning of the second.”
- “Extremely basic gameplay and very little incentive for replayability in a game designed to be replayed up to a dozen times.”
- “But this game lacks substance; there is absolutely 0 challenge, you will find yourself playing a random adventure each time filled with artificial intelligence issues, mobs walk into walls and get stuck, bosses randomly stop attacking. For me, this game has 0 replayability because there is no point in playing.”
atmosphere
118 mentions
75 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ethereal quality, immersive sound design, and beautiful artwork, creating a unique and relaxing experience that enhances storytelling. Many players find the music particularly captivating, often describing it as a key element that elevates the overall ambiance. While some critiques mention gameplay shortcomings, the enchanting atmosphere remains a standout feature that keeps players engaged and coming back for more.
- “The atmosphere created in the game is fantastic.”
- “Simple at the core, but incredibly atmospheric and immersive, with beautiful sound design and artwork, interesting and intriguing setting, a lot of small details, and hidden secrets.”
- “The music is atmospheric and perfect, but never imposing; it weaves itself perfectly into the background.”
- “Evocative atmosphere and elegant storytelling somehow overcome lackluster gameplay to make a beautiful experience.”
- “The atmosphere provided by the art style, the soundtrack, and the lore gives the game so much potential to be something more.”
- “Otherwise, the gameplay was not really what kept me playing, but rather the atmosphere.”
stability
106 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing, stuttering, and desynchronization in multiplayer. Many players describe the experience as unreliable and reminiscent of an unfinished early-access title, leading to frustration despite some enjoyment in gameplay. Overall, the technical shortcomings significantly detract from the overall experience, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of developer support to address these issues.
- “Was okay fun for a while but it's way too janky, buggy, and overall an unreliable mess.”
- “The amount of glitches, soft locks, stutters, crashes, etc.”
- “I don't think a game that's four years old should be this buggy; I'm going to request a refund.”
grinding
66 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and unengaging, with repetitive combat and limited content leading to a sense of frustration rather than reward. While some players appreciate the potential for unlocking new skins and characters, many feel that the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience, making replayability feel like a chore. The game is described as having beautiful art and a compelling story, but these elements are frequently overshadowed by the grindy nature of gameplay and poorly designed systems that stretch limited content over excessive playtime.
- “It's not grindy, which I appreciate.”
- “The combat is mostly grindy and unengaging and mostly seems like a distraction from the story and exploration.”
- “However, after playing it through a few times, it's clear there is only about 5 hours of unique content... gated behind badly designed grinding systems, trying to stretch that out to about 50 hours.”
- “The problem is that the game is bogged down by tediously repetitive combat, uninspired level design, and barely any recognition of your choices.”
optimization
46 mentions
7 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
74 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting frequent stuttering, lag spikes, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly in online multiplayer. Many users note that these performance issues are not hardware-related and have persisted since launch, leading to a frustrating experience. While some acknowledge that the developers are aware of the problems and are working on fixes, the current state of optimization is deemed inadequate, especially for anything less than high-end systems.
- “I don't have an extremely high-end machine, but it has been able to handle most AAA games at max performance.”
- “I can't speak for the performance of online multiplayer, but the single player is very enjoyable.”
- “But (and for once in this review, a good 'but') the devs know and are working to get optimization going over the next few weeks.”
- “Constant stuttering in online multiplayer makes this unplayable in its current state.”
- “That being said, do not expect this to work in co-op; de-syncing and stuttering issues that make the game unplayable have been around since day one according to the community, and they still aren't fixed.”
- “The game is not optimized, so it will crash and have minor glitches that just keep going on.”
emotional
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its poignant writing, beautiful art, and touching music that evoke strong feelings and create a memorable experience. Many describe the game as wholesome and heartwarming, making them feel special and connected to the story and characters. Overall, it is regarded as a relaxing and atmospheric journey that resonates long after playing.
- “The writing is poignant and emotional, and sticks with you long after you finish playing.”
- “Honestly speaking, this game is too cheap for its quality and mesmerizing story - it is beautiful, touching, fun, and gosh darn it, I'm in love with its art style.”
- “One of the best games I have ever played. 10/10 would recommend. Can't put into words how this game made me feel and how well it is made; it really makes you appreciate the little things.”
humor
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, featuring funny character interactions, amusing endings, and hilarious gameplay moments, especially when played with friends. Players enjoy the lighthearted charm and comedic elements woven throughout the experience, despite some criticism of the combat design. Overall, it offers a fun and entertaining adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously.
- “The legacies are funny, the puzzle nature of the overarching game is interesting to figure out, and it doesn't try to be more than it is.”
- “There's some great humor, lots of subtle interactions that you learn to optimize as you replay the game, and the actual gameplay is easy to learn but with a bit more depth than appears on the surface.”
- “Fun, adventurous, cool, and occasionally hilarious, it is a truly beautiful indie from four probably beautiful people.”
character development
22 mentions
55 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by impressive and unique character designs that captivate players and encourage exploration of their backstories. However, some reviewers note that the depth of character development can feel shallow after multiple playthroughs, leading to a sense of staleness despite the engaging art and gameplay. Overall, while the visual and narrative elements are strong, the character development may not fully satisfy those seeking deeper emotional connections.
- “A stunning art style with much attention to detail, amazing character designs that make you want to learn more about everyone you meet, and very satisfying and interesting gameplay.”
- “The constantly changing maps satisfy my need to perpetually seek out all treasure, people, and secrets, and the diverse character designs and representation of different styles of relationships and ways of being throughout the game make it a truly perfect find.”
- “First off, the characters are awesome; all of them have very unique and memorable character designs.”
- “Gets a bit stale after a few playthroughs because the character development is pretty shallow.”
- “This is an issue where I think the gameplay is at odds with the game's ideas of character development.”
- “Neat character designs.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is straightforward, with players clearly understanding how their choices impact character outcomes. However, there seems to be confusion regarding the emphasis placed on this feature in advertising, as it appears self-evident to users.
- “I'm not sure why they are advertising this point because it is very clear what your choice will do and how your character's summary will be affected.”