Absolum Reviews
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An absolute treat that kept me coming back for more. Absolum does a lot right, and it's all due to the hard work of DotEmu and Guard Crush's previous efforts. With incredible combat, stunning visuals, and a soundtrack that packs so much variety, it's hard to imagine how DotEmu can top themselves after Absolum.
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.
A fast-paced blend of beat 'em up and rogue-like mechanics, Absolum starts off simple but evolves to reveal surprising depth and experience that will keep you come back for just one more run.
Absolum is my favorite roguelite of 2025, and it's also one of the most satisfying genre mash-ups I've seen in some time. With time, I hope that Absolum will evolve even further and take Guard Crush Games' take on a roguelite beat-em-up to the next level.
Thanks to a spectacular gameplay system with tried-and-tested ideas and brilliantly executed new concepts, a perfect understanding of the genres it represents, and of course, a truly stunning audiovisual presentation, we can say that Absolum is one of the greatest games of 2025. It arrives with a relatively low profile, even though those behind it have already proven their immense talent. Needless to say, regardless of your current circumstances, you should definitely make time for Dotemu 's new release ; you truly won't regret it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Our hope is that Absolum represents the first in a long series of hybridizations that could breathe new life into a genre that shaped the history of arcades and the '90s, refreshing the formula and significantly increasing its longevity. We also believe that this promising title hasn't yet exhausted its resources: an expansion with new playable characters and a refinement of an already enjoyable gameplay formula could raise the bar for a game that absolutely deserves the attention of both arcade-style beat 'em up lovers and roguelite fans
Review in Italian | Read full review
Absolum aims for immortality with its roguelike systems and progression systems. While its attempts at eternal life shine in its world map and strong combat design, its attempts to force you to keep coming back fall flat.
Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Supamonks have knocked it out of the park with Absolum. Its combat is satisfyingly stylish, encapsulating traditional side-scrolling beat 'em up combat with the variability of endlessly fun roguelike gameplay. Punishing difficulty aside, it's worth taking the time to explore the depths of its world and creatively defeat enemies in more ways than one. Absolum pushes the envelope of beat 'em up game design to new heights, worthy of your consideration as we enter this holiday season.
Absolum is absolutely recommended for beat 'em up fans thanks to the pedigree of its developers. It's also a surprisingly deep rogue-lite with a well-developed world, bolstered all the more by its incredible presentation.
One of the best beat 'em ups on the market, though the genre is still held back by its inherent limitations.
Absolum features a medieval fantasy setting that Guard Crush and DotEmu have lovingly brought to life
Absolum blends the best of 2D beat 'em ups and roguelike design into a loop that's challenging, unpredictable, and downright addictive. It doesn't reinvent either genre, but its tight combat, branching paths, and stunning presentation make it a must-play for fans of both. Despite being Dotemu's first original IP, you'd never know it. This is a masterclass in design that kept me hooked, even as it repeatedly kicked my teeth in.
Absolum is one of those roguelikes that tells not so much the story it contains, but the one it evokes through its beautiful aesthetic style. A story made of difficult choices, of ambitions that challenge caution, of an authentic desire to leave a mark, however small, however fragile. And in a world where everything seems to rush forward without ever looking back, a side-scrolling beat 'em up that chooses to slow down and force you to think is a small miracle.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Absolum is a fun roguelike evolution of the classic beat 'em up; frantic brawling combat meets deep replayability.
Absolum was developed by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, Supamonks, and published by Dotemu and Gamirror Games. Our review is based on the PC version. It is also available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
With its brilliant blend of beat ’em up and roguelite mechanics, a carefully crafted atmosphere that clearly comes from skilled hands, a well-thought-out progression system, and satisfying combat, this is one of the year’s biggest surprises. If not for a few minor issues, it could’ve been a Game of the Year contender. Definitely worth checking out.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
With so many Rogue-Lite games releasing, it's rare to find one that feels as unique and surprising as Absolum
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Overall, Absolum is a masterfully crafted beat ‘em up that takes an already addicting and fun gameplay formula and adds new elements of intrigue to it. All of this is packed into a beautiful world with nooks and crannies to explore to your hearts content and a story that makes it all make sense in an intelligent manner. The coat of paint over the whole package wraps a beautiful little bow over the whole thing, creating a game that is fun to play, satisfying to look at, and makes you want to keep exploring and coming back to.
The fantasy story is decent but not on par with the combat mechanics, and the rogue-like elements are not as inventive as they could be. But, especially when playing with a friend, Absolum creates exciting and fun battles.