Momodora: Moonlit Farewell vs Earlier Momodora Games: Which Should You Play First?

Quick answer

Play Momodora: Moonlit Farewell first if you want the smoothest, most modern entry point into the series. Start with an earlier Momodora game instead if you prefer a shorter, harder, more old-school challenge and don't mind rougher edges. Moonlit Farewell is the easiest to recommend to a newcomer, but it isn't the only valid starting point.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is the newest mainline entry in the series, and it's the one most people encounter first. That raises a practical question: should you actually start there, or go back to the earlier games to see how the series evolved?

The honest answer depends on what you want from a play session. Moonlit Farewell is the most polished and forgiving game in the lineup, while the earlier titles are shorter, tougher, and more old-school in their design. This comparison breaks down the trade-offs so you can pick a starting point and move through the series in an order that makes sense for you.

The core differences between Moonlit Farewell and earlier Momodora games

Moonlit Farewell is the most recent mainline Momodora game, and it's generally the most approachable. It builds on the series' side-scrolling, exploration-focused formula with smoother movement and a friendlier difficulty curve. Earlier Momodora games, by contrast, are shorter and more demanding, with less hand-holding and a stiffer feel that reflects their older design.

That difference matters most in your first hour. Moonlit Farewell eases you into its systems and gives you more room to recover from mistakes. Older entries expect you to learn their rhythms quickly and punish sloppy play more often. Neither approach is wrong; they simply suit different players and different moods.

• If you bounce off hard, punishing games, Moonlit Farewell is the safer first pick.
• If you enjoy mastering short, tough challenges, an earlier game can be a better entry point.

How to choose a play order that fits you

There's no single correct Momodora series order. The games are largely self-contained, so you can jump in wherever you like without missing a crucial plot thread. That means your play order should be driven by difficulty and polish rather than story continuity.

A practical approach: start with Moonlit Farewell if you want the most refined experience, then go back to the earlier games to see where the series came from. If you'd rather build up to the best-feeling entry, play an earlier title first and save Moonlit Farewell for last. Both routes work, and neither locks you into a bad experience.

• Newcomers: Moonlit Farewell first, earlier games second.
• Veterans of tough action games: an earlier Momodora first, Moonlit Farewell as the payoff.

What you give up with each starting point

Starting with Moonlit Farewell means you get the most comfortable controls and the most forgiving difficulty, but you may find the earlier games harder to go back to afterward. The older entries can feel stiff by comparison, and that adjustment is real.

Starting with an earlier game means you'll appreciate the refinements in Moonlit Farewell more, but you'll also hit more frustration early on. If a rough first impression tends to make you drop a series, that's a meaningful risk. Weigh which trade-off bothers you less before you commit.

• Polished first: Moonlit Farewell, then earlier games if you want more.
• Challenge first: an earlier Momodora, then Moonlit Farewell as the reward.

Where physical copies fit in

If you prefer owning physical versions, Limited Run Games has carried Momodora titles, and availability varies by release. Physical runs of smaller games can sell through, so checking current stock before you plan a full series playthrough is worth the extra minute.

For most players, the platform matters less than the order. Pick the entry that matches your tolerance for difficulty, then expand from there. If a specific physical edition is what you're after, confirm it's still available before building your plan around it.

• Check current stock for physical Momodora releases before committing to a full set.
• Digital availability may differ from physical, so verify both if you want options.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Moonlit Farewell as your first Momodora: You get the most polished, most forgiving entry in the series, which makes it easy to finish and easy to recommend. Best if you want a smooth introduction and don't mind that older games may feel rougher afterward.
• An earlier Momodora game as your first: You get a shorter, tougher, more old-school challenge that makes the later refinements stand out. Best if you enjoy hard action games and want to see the series evolve.
• Playing both in either order: The games are largely self-contained, so order affects difficulty and polish more than story. Pick based on how much frustration you'll tolerate early, not on continuity.

Product facts

• Switch Limited Run #270: 9 Years of Shadows: 9 Years of Shadows is a side-scrolling Metroidvania on a region-free physical cart for the Nintendo Switch, with an open pre-order window that closed January 26, 2024. If you like the exploration-driven side of Momodora, this is a comparable Metroidvania to look at next, though the pre-order window has passed.
• Berserk Boy Standard Edition (Switch, PS5): Berserk Boy is region-free and was an open pre-order for a limited time, with pre-orders closing August 24, 2025. It's a fast-paced action platformer about a rookie hero transformed by mysterious Orb energy. A useful reference point if you want another modern action-platformer with a similar energy, and a reminder that limited pre-order windows don't stay open.

Which should you play first?

Best for

• Players new to the series who want the smoothest, most modern entry point.
• Anyone who prefers a friendlier difficulty curve and more forgiving controls.

Not for

• Players who specifically want a short, punishing, old-school challenge and don't mind stiffer controls.
• Completionists who insist on playing in release order regardless of difficulty.

Moonlit Farewell is the easiest Momodora to start with, but it isn't the only right answer. If you want polish first, start there. If you want the challenge first, begin with an earlier game. Either way, you'll get more out of the series by picking the entry that matches how you like to play.