Skip to main content

Moonscars

Moonscars is a standout example of what a 2D souls-like should be. From its beautifully atmospheric world, exceptional animations, to its fluid and gratifying combat, makes Moonscars an absolute pleasure to play. A best in class 2D souls-like.
78%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
85% User Score Based on 585 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 24 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox
Buy Nowfrom $12.36
Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

About

"Moonscars is a single-player Hack and Slash game with exceptional mechanics, masterful graphics, and delightful music, but has lots of grinding and is very buggy. As the clayborne warrior Grey Irma, players battle relentless darkness in a painterly 2D world, mastering new abilities to progress and uncovering truths about their existence. Explore shadows, sharpen combat skills, and unearth a dark fantasy tale in this atmospheric adventure."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot
Moonscars screenshot

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 609 reviews
story108 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Stunning art style and visuals that create a dark and immersive atmosphere.
  • Fluid and satisfying combat mechanics, with a rewarding parry system.
  • Engaging story and lore that keeps players intrigued throughout the game.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like the Moonhunger system, can feel overly punishing and frustrating.
  • Limited enemy variety and repetitive encounters in the later stages of the game.
  • The story can be confusing and poorly communicated, making it hard to follow.
  • story
    311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players finding it intriguing yet convoluted, often requiring careful attention to piece together its themes of identity, sacrifice, and power. While some appreciate the dark and philosophical elements, others criticize the vague storytelling and poorly executed dialogue, leading to confusion and a lack of emotional connection with the characters. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary aspect to the gameplay, with many players feeling that it doesn't hold up to the game's artistic and combat strengths.

    • “The story is a labyrinth of its own, a narrative steeped in themes of identity, sacrifice, and the cost of power.”
    • “Art direction and story are solemn and melancholic to relay the game's themes of loss of self, struggle against a world whose machinations are far beyond one's ability to overcome them, and of desperate connection to those in said world that one loves in spite of the world's attempt to destroy them.”
    • “The story is interesting and keeps you wanting more.”
    • “However, in my opinion, the game miserably failed to tell its story.”
    • “The storytelling relies heavily on 'lore through items,' a method that, while effective in some games, feels overly convoluted here.”
    • “The story is confusing, not interesting, and you quickly want to dismiss it because it's not clear and you don't understand what NPCs are talking about most of the time.”
  • gameplay
    246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Moonscars is characterized by a blend of metroidvania and souls-like mechanics, offering fluid controls and satisfying combat, though it is often marred by unbalanced hitboxes and confusing mechanics. Players appreciate the unique elements, such as the blood moon and ichor systems, but many find the punishing death mechanics and steep learning curve detract from the overall experience. While the game features engaging combat and beautiful visuals, some mechanics feel poorly implemented or overly complex, leading to a mixed reception regarding its gameplay depth and enjoyment.

    • “Smooth and satisfying gameplay in what is possibly the best looking 2D game I have ever seen.”
    • “The gameplay is a mishmash of genres like some Darksiders game.”
    • “Great visual style and music, really satisfying gameplay.”
    • “The enemy placements can feel unfair, the mechanics opaque, and the learning curve steep enough to make even the most seasoned warriors falter.”
    • “The bone dust and gland mechanics, while interesting, are not explained with the clarity they deserve.”
    • “The parry mechanic is garbage; it seems to work the way it should only 30% of the time.”
  • graphics
    193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique and stunning art style, described as a blend of gothic horror and painterly aesthetics. While the pixel art and animations are often highlighted as beautiful and immersive, some players noted a lack of color variety and monotonous palettes that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to the game's dark atmosphere, though technical issues and repetitive designs were also mentioned.

    • “Moonscars is visually stunning, with breathtaking pixel art and an intriguing concept.”
    • “The art style is a beautiful blend of gothic horror and claymation nightmares.”
    • “The visuals, animations, and music are great.”
    • “The game's aesthetics are really, really grimdark, but in a bad way; everything is so colorless, gloomy, crumbled, bloody, and depressed.”
    • “The aesthetics, worldbuilding, and atmosphere are terrible; they undermine everything else: the combat is okay, but the enemies look bad; the world looks the same in every area; and the story is dull, as I couldn't care about any character or their motives.”
    • “There's no reason for it to run this badly when it's only giving mediocre 2D graphics.”
  • music
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and fitting qualities that enhance the overall mood, particularly during boss fights. However, some players noted a lack of variety and memorable tracks, leading to moments where the music felt muted or forgettable. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the game's dark aesthetic, it may not stand out as a highlight for all players.

    • “The music is very atmospheric and fits each area very well.”
    • “The music is fantastic and the art style and combat are extremely smooth and fluid.”
    • “The soundtrack is a dirge, a mournful melody that lingers in the air like a ghost.”
    • “However, the art, design, and music is where Moonscars truly excels - effectively setting the tone and immersing the player into its universe.”
    • “The music is so muted and ambient you'll never notice any of it.”
  • atmosphere
    75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a unique art style and a haunting soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of color palettes and environmental design to create a melancholic and gritty ambiance, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous. However, some critiques mention a lack of variety in the music and world design, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere and art style is dark and gritty, the action feels heavy and impactful, the enemies are punishing but fair, exploring the map is rewarding... honestly, I can't say enough about this game.”
    • “The ambiance of the game together with its art, focusing on a three-color palette (black, white, and blood), creates a very interesting atmosphere that matches the lore of the game's region - a desolated land where the fierce but gentle gaze of the moon lies eternal, a result of hunger, war, and death.”
    • “The atmosphere is insane; it actually creeps you out in certain moments with its use of sounds and silences.”
    • “The aesthetics, worldbuilding, and atmosphere are terrible; they undermine everything else: the combat is okay, but the enemies look bad; the world looks the same in every area; and the story is dull, as I couldn't care about any character or their motives.”
    • “It is gloomy, it is dark, and it intentionally looks ambiguous and low quality to create an atmosphere where the beings in the game have recognizable shapes but are… off in a creepy way.”
    • “The grim atmosphere; deep lore elements; game mechanics reminiscent of the vastly superior Blasphemous; large map to explore; all sorts of things I should like.”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it tedious and time-consuming, others appreciate the lack of excessive grinding due to the roguelike elements. Many express frustration with repetitive tasks and backtracking, particularly in relation to boss fights and achievement farming, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and sense of progression. However, some players also note that the game allows for strategic farming to enhance combat without feeling overly grindy.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “As a result, I never felt like I was truly progressing or becoming stronger, making combat feel more tedious than rewarding.”
    • “I think the word 'tedious' sums up this game quite nicely as this game actively wastes your time.”
    • “Not only is it annoying and tedious, but it dramatically slows things down for basically no reason.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as parry issues and quest-related problems. However, others report a smoother experience, particularly after recent updates, with minimal glitches encountered. Overall, while some users enjoy a stable experience, many still face frustrating technical issues that detract from the game's enjoyment.

    • “Steam Deck users report that the game runs great on the device.”
    • “The game's stability is impressive, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a very stable gameplay experience.”
    • “I was really looking forward to this... unfortunately the game is still buggy from the start, at least for me.”
    • “Game is great but buggy as hell.”
    • “Random tearing or screen freezes made me fail difficult jumps and I had to backtrack.”
  • optimization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance with minimal issues, others experience frequent stuttering and freezing, particularly during combat. Many hope for future patches to address these technical problems and improve overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly.”
    • “Performance was great apart from the odd stutter here and there.”
    • “Outside of a few seconds after loading in, I had 0 performance issues.”
    • “The game has performance issues; every time I started the game, after walking around a bit, the game suddenly stopped, the screen became frozen, and after 3 seconds it crashed (this happened often in the same gameplay and at other times).”
    • “Constant stuttering in a game where you have to parry enemy attacks.”
    • “The technical issues also hamper the experience; it's not so much bugs as it is frequent stuttering, which can happen at any time but most often during combat.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its dark atmosphere and well-crafted narrative, with players noting the impactful writing and touching dialogues that evoke strong feelings. The character of Grey Irma serves as an effective player surrogate, enhancing the sense of discovery within the complex world. Despite some criticisms regarding the dialogue and navigation challenges, the overall storytelling has left a lasting emotional impression on players.

    • “The world of this game is a dark atmospheric experience with old Slavic visuals and is trying to convey an emotionally bleak narrative.”
    • “The writing of the brief dialogues with NPCs felt very well written and even surprisingly touching at times.”
    • “This game was jaw-dropping; it's been a while since I cried while playing a game. The story is truly spectacular, and while the dialogue has been criticized before, I loved it—it felt so alive and real.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is perceived as having low replayability, with many users noting that despite its numerical appeal and potential for extended playtime, there are minimal changes in gameplay that diminish the incentive to replay. While some players find value in a single playthrough, the consensus is that the game lacks significant replay value, making it feel short and ultimately non-replayable.

    • “Makes it look replayable on the numbers and increases the hours, but the truth is - this is very non-replayable (nothing changes, so no point, unless you want to do it again or achieve 100% completion) and short.”
    • “Overall a great experience despite the fact that its replayability value is almost null.”
    • “I bought this on sale and I'd say it's worth that money, solid 6.7/10 game that has no replayability.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find humor in the game's itemization, particularly with the early unlock of overpowered amulets that render the hunt for better items unnecessary. Additionally, the contrast between the game's perceived difficulty and the actual ease of the final bosses adds a comedic element, especially as some negative reviews stem from players struggling with the game's mechanics.

    • “Hilariously, the bad reviews seem to be a 'get good' issue.”
    • “Funny enough, the last few bosses are actually pretty easy.”
    • “A few of the amulets here are strictly overpowered compared to other amulets, and the funny thing is that you unlock them pretty much straight off the bat, which makes amulet hunting pretty much redundant.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game excels in visual aesthetics and character design, it lacks a musical score to enhance the overall experience, which may detract from the depth of character development.

    • “The game sets the right mood with the visuals and character designs, creating an immersive experience.”
    • “The color palette, the backgrounds, the character designs, and the visual effects; all of them are really good and pleasant to my eyes.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game includes the presence of ads, which some users find excessive or unnecessary.

    • “Spawn ads because why not?”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could be enjoyable without them.”

71%Critics’ scoreBased on 24 critic reviews

Buy Moonscars

9h Median play time
12h Average play time
3-24h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Moonscars

The Last Faith Image
This game contains adult content
79%1.4kreviews

The Last Faith

2023Hack and Slash
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+7
9 Years of Shadows Image
76%1.5kreviews

9 Years of Shadows

2023Action Adventure
PCPCWindowsWindows
Afterimage Image
80%1.6kreviews

Afterimage

2023Platformer
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7
ENDER LILIES Quietus of the Knights Image
89%9.6kreviews

ENDER LILIES Quietus of the Knights

2021Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPhonePhone+8
Blasphemous 2 Image
This game contains adult content
89%6.7kreviews

Blasphemous 2

2023Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+9
Ghost Song Image
83%598reviews

Ghost Song

2022Open World Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7
Vernal Edge Image
82%372reviews

Vernal Edge

2023Platformer
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+6
Vigil: The Longest Night Image
This game contains adult content
83%1.3kreviews

Vigil: The Longest Night

2020Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCSteam DeckSteam Deck+2
Blasphemous Image
This game contains adult content
84%27.2kreviews

Blasphemous

2019Hack and Slash
iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch+16
Souldiers Image
74%1.4kreviews

Souldiers

2022Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7