DotEmu·Released Oct 9, 2025·Single player
Crafted with passion by the dream team that redefined side-scrolling beat 'em ups, Absolum mixes top-of-the-class combat action with modern roguelite elements, bringing all the vibes of the fantasy arcade hits of the past into an immersive adventure set in the original world of Talamh.
An excellent beat ‘em up let down by a roguelite structure that doesn’t serve it.
Infusing a classic beat-'em-up structure with a modern roguelike loop is a match made in heaven.
Following in the bootsteps of Golden Axe and Castle Crashers, Absolum places the beat 'em up in a gorgeous fantasy setting.
Combining classic fantasy brawler mechanics, top-notch art and music, and a roguelite progression loop add up to an incredibly fun cooperative adventure.
This feels like it belongs firmly in 2025 – and it's good enough to have you wondering what other bygone genres would benefit from similarly thoughtful, lavish treatment.
Absolum is both a brilliantly crafted beat-'em-up and a devilishly addictive roguelike. Although the overall experience does feel slightly short-lived, you'll seriously struggle to tear yourself away from the game's striking fantasy world - especially when all of its systems start to click.
Absolum is an on-par experience to Dragon's Crown, but a superior game in terms of its key metrics. Its combat, collectible augmentations, and planning are exceptionally well-formulated, ensuring no run is ever quite the same and its strategic options and play-styles are ever-deepening. It's incredibly impressive in its reconstitution of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, evolving them into something fresh and exciting.To that end, it's one of the best of its kind, whatever that kind may be. If you don't enjoy the idea of repetition and grind, you may not fall in love with its initial five hours, but the momentum for one-more-go becomes so compelling after a while that it's impossible to relinquish the pad.
