Absolum Reviews
With so many chefs involved (Supramonks, Dotemu, Guard Crush Games) I am pleasantly surprised by how tight and succinct the gameplay is. You can absolutely get lost in a delight of combos, spellwork, and tossable things, and you get better each and every time. The production is top notch, the characters are unique and the lore – as difficult as it can be to glean – is fascinating. Dotemu has made themselves known for their beat-em-ups, and Absolum takes the formula to a new, fantastic level.
Relatively minuscule nitpicks aside, consider Absolum a must-play for any fan of not only beat ‘em ups but action games in general. Its build system is masterful, offering near infinite replayability, and if 2025 is the year of fantastic parry systems in video games, Absolum stands tall with the best parries of them all. This is the follow-up to Streets of Rage 4 that I’ve been waiting half a decade for, and it just so happens to have arrived in the form of a roguelite; arcade-styled games don’t get much better than this.
Absolum is a pleasant surprise within the modern beat 'em up genre, showing how it's possible to combine intense action, deep combat mechanics, and roguelike elements in a cohesive and intelligent way. Despite some limitations — such as the limited number of blessings and abilities, and a certain imbalance between builds — the game makes up for it with outstanding art direction, a masterful soundtrack, and a combat system that, while easy to learn, demands dedication to truly master.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An addictive and meticulously crafted beat 'em up/roguelite that keeps you hooked.
Absolum is a little gem at a relatively low price. DotEmu's product is one of the best fighting games on the market and further confirms DotEmu's position as one of the leading studios in the industry. While it doesn't completely escape some of the genre's essential limitations, with its stunning aesthetic and rewarding gameplay, Absolum will surely delight fighting game enthusiasts.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Absolum is absolutely brilliant, with its adventure offering a stunning blend of exciting combat, rewarding roguelite progression, and gorgeous visuals. Every run through the adventure feels fresh thanks to its evolving world that genuinely brings big changes between each run, whilst its four heroes keep the action varied and endlessly engaging with their diverse playstyles and developing capabilities. And best of all? It’s an absolute blast in co-op, where the co-ordinated chaos turns every battle into pure exhilaration. Absolum isn’t just a modern classic, but sets a new standard for beat ‘em ups. It’s incredibly stylish, offers an absorbing gameplay loop, and will keep you coming back for ‘one more go’ over and over again… it’s simply a masterpiece that deserves the attention of all fans of the genre.
Absolum blew me away with its mastery of the side-scrolling beat-’em-up and roguelike genres, seamlessly combining the two in a game that is exceptional on a technical level and a blast to play. Paired with the excellent combat and roguelike loop are phenomenal characters, great worldbuilding, and gorgeous art, making for a game that is an absolute steal at just $25.
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Review in Italian | Read full review
After getting a taste of Absolum with its Steam demo, which is now unavailable, I was curious to see how much longevity it would have. After putting in over 20 hours, I still have a lot to see and do in the world of Talamh, and I will never tire of taking on the bosses over and over again. I love it when games end up surprising me like this, and Absolum is easily one of the best of 2025 so far.
Absolum, the latest work from Dotemu, is not only a beautifully polished side-scrolling beat 'em up, but also adds an extremely fun roguelike component to the classic beat 'em up, especially in co-op mode. The animations and character designs are meticulously crafted, as is the excellent soundtrack. Are you ready to get your hands dirty in a fantasy setting?
Review in Italian | Read full review
Absolum mostly wins you over with its strong mix of variation, challenge, and aesthetics. The roguelite builds a mysterious world with intriguing characters, and the gameplay constantly pushes you to improve. You do start to notice some repetition after a few runs, especially in the early stages. Still, the drive to optimize and progress remains strong, overall, it’s a solid and very enjoyable experience.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
Absolum is not just another roguelike lost in the sea of game stores, it is a game with great potential to become one of the best beat'n'ups in history.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Absolum is one of the most fun games of the year, if not the most fun. The fusion of beat'em up with roguelite worked exceptionally well, boosted by excellent animations and striking characters.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Absolum is an ode to the history of beat-'em-ups and also modern in its own way, with roguelike progression. The high difficulty and strategic depth make you have that "just one more run" feeling that defined arcades in the "ancient" times.
Absolum shows what can happen when a company known for making precise combat games tries something new. The core of Guard Crush is a beat ’em up game mixed with the replayability and risk-reward systems of a roguelite game. The result is an exciting experience that rewards skill, trying new things, and sticking with it.
Rarely does a roguelite truly surprise me after the violence of Hades. This game comes out of nowhere and shatters those expectations. Guard Crush and Dotemu simply do it again. I haven't even mentioned the art style yet, but it's fantastic. The animations look incredibly good, and the whole game has an immersive, somewhat black-paint-like atmosphere. This game hits all the right nerves. Hades II just came out of Early Access, and as far as I'm concerned, Absolum can join them.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the team of veteran beat ‘em up developers made another great beat ‘em up game. Absolum evolves the best parts of classic beat ‘em up action and weaves it with an original story, a compelling world, and roguelike elements. This doesn’t seem like a game that should work as well as it does, but it’s some of the most fun I’ve had with a co-op game this year.
Absolum combines the intensity of classic beat 'em ups with the strategic depth of a modern roguelite, offering highly satisfying combat and replayability that keeps you coming back for more. The narrative progresses with each attempt, the characters and builds offer great variety, and the audiovisual presentation is beautiful and exquisitely crafted, making Absolum a highly recommended experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The world of Talamh was created with thoughtfulness and feels like a character of its own volition. You've got an interesting premise that lets you explore a pretty incredible place, and it's filled with dangers, treasures, and a whole lot of enemies to defeat. Without a doubt, if there's one beat 'em up this year that's got the rizz, it's Absolum.