Moonlighter, the dungeon crawler where you loot ruins by day and run a shop by night, is currently free to keep on Steam. The giveaway has pushed the six-year-old game to a brand new all-time concurrent player peak, and the window to grab it permanently is short.
Quick answer: Add Moonlighter to your Steam library before August 9 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Once it is in your account before that cutoff, it stays yours forever at no cost.
How to claim Moonlighter before the deadline
The claim process is the same as any Steam free-to-keep offer. You need a Steam account and you need to complete the grab before the cutoff, not just start it.
Note: You do not have to download or install Moonlighter before the deadline. Claiming it to your library is enough to keep it. If you only add it to your wishlist or cart without completing the free claim, it will revert to a paid title after the window closes.
The all-time peak player count, explained
Early on August 6, developer Digital Sun Games marked Moonlighter crossing 10,000 concurrent players on Steam, a record for the game. The number kept climbing from there and has since moved past 12,200 players at once.
That is a large jump for a single-player game that has run a very modest concurrent count for most of its life. The free-to-keep promotion is doing the heavy lifting here, both boosting the live player base and setting a new high-water mark. Whether the count settles around this range or climbs further remains to be seen.
What you actually get with Moonlighter
Moonlighter blends two loops into one game. You play as Will, a shopkeeper who dreams of being a hero. You clear procedurally flavored dungeons, fight enemies, and haul back loot, then return to town to price and sell those items in your store while handling customers.
It sits in that dungeon crawler, management, and roguelike-adjacent space. The pixel-art presentation and the pull between risky dungeon runs and steady shop profits are its signature. It has always been a solid pick for players who like that mix, even if it was never a mass-audience title.
Why the giveaway is timed this way
For Digital Sun, this works as a two-for-one moment. Alongside the free Moonlighter offer, the studio confirmed that the sequel, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, will leave Early Access with its 1.0 launch on September 2.
The sequel moves the same gameplay loop from top-down pixel art into 3D, and the 1.0 release is set to add a large amount of content. If you enjoy the first game and want the follow-up, note that it is priced at $29.99 rather than a full $70.
| Detail | Moonlighter | Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Cost right now | Free to keep until Aug 9 | $29.99 |
| Style | Top-down pixel art | 3D |
| Status | Released | 1.0 launch on September 2 |
What is next on Steam’s free-to-keep promotion
One more title is confirmed for the promotion this month, the hand-drawn comedy adventure Deponia. These two are unlikely to be the only games added during August, but Deponia is the only other confirmed addition known right now. No further dates or titles beyond that have been officially confirmed.
If Moonlighter has been on your list, the safest move is simple. Claim it now, confirm it shows in your library, and you keep it regardless of when you get around to playing.
