Patterns Moonlighter 2 exemplifies

Pattern	How Moonlighter 2 uses it
dual-life-loop	Same character toggles between dungeon-roguelite (day) and shopkeeper-sim (night). The two halves share items but evaluate them differently.
loadout-as-budget	The backpack is a fixed-grid loadout where placement determines value. Adjacency-driven, not footprint-driven.
grid-inventory	Spatial layout of the backpack matters: corners, rows, columns, "pointed" effects.
opportunity-cost-loadout	Placing a relic in one slot precludes the synergies of every other placement.
backpack-puzzle	The lemma. Loot value is a placement problem, not a quantity problem. Likely the most original mechanic in the game.
fusion-economy	"Burn" and "absorb" relics consolidate loot at quality cost — same insight as Sparklite patch fusion, different math.
branching-dag-map	Hades/Spire-style DAG of node types: chest, event, blacksmith, perk, boss, etc.
bonus-with-drawback	Perk node choices on the map (Ice or Thunder, not both) force commitment.
handcrafted-pcg-hybrid	Encounters & arenas hand-authored; map layout procedurally arranged.
meta-as-variety-not-power	Mostly variety unlocks (recipes, perks, decorations). Some permanent power exists (blacksmith stat bumps), unlike Spire's stricter stance.
bounded-roguelite	Three biomes leading to a final-game arc, not infinite escalation. (EA scope; full release will add more.)
enemy-intent-telegraph	Boss wind-ups, ground markers, projectile fan-outs. Standard for the genre but load-bearing — the tight perk-locked builds rely on attacks being legible.