Absolum

"Those are big boots to fill. And while Absolum might not quite reach the godly level of Supergiant’s roguelite classic, it’s attempted stab at coming incredibly close is both deadly and effective."

"If I could have Absolum without the roguelite elements – and admittedly, a few less glitches – then I would have my ideal 2D side-scrolling beat &s;em up, the best I&s;ve ever played. As it is, the roguelite structure and …"

"Absolum is my favorite roguelite of 2025, and it&s;s also one of the most satisfying genre mash-ups I&s;ve seen in some time. With time, I hope that Absolum will evolve even further and take Guard Crush Games&s; take on a …"

"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 &s;90s, refreshing the formula and significantly increasing its longevity. We …"

"Quote not yet available"

"This feels like it belongs firmly in 2025 – and it&s;s good enough to have you wondering what other bygone genres would benefit from similarly thoughtful, lavish treatment."

"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."

"So Absolum is ultimately a beat &s;em up with a bit more depth and progression than we&s;ve seen before in this style of game that has been so resistant to change since it was born in the arcades. Absolum lacks …"

"An absolute treat that kept me coming back for more. Absolum does a lot right, and it&s;s all due to the hard work of DotEmu and Guard Crush&s;s previous efforts. With incredible combat, stunning visuals, and a soundtrack that packs …"

"Even when the Lizard King laughed off my attacks for the fourth time in a row and had me inventing new swear words, the stacked challenge was never enough to stop me from sinking even more time into Talamh. Absolum’s …"

"Absolum aims to be a modern beat&s;em up with roguelite elements in its gameplay."

"A fast-paced blend of beat &s;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."

"One of the best beat &s;em ups on the market, though the genre is still held back by its inherent limitations."

"Absolum transforms the roguelike formula through its beat-em-up combat, branching choices, and hand-drawn world that rewards mastery and curiosity."

"Absolum blends the best of 2D beat &s;em ups and roguelike design into a loop that&s;s challenging, unpredictable, and downright addictive. It doesn&s;t reinvent either genre, but its tight combat, branching paths, and stunning presentation make it a must-play for …"

"Absolum is a gorgeous build-crafting roguelite beat &s;em up."

"Absolum enters the crowded roguelike space with a refreshing and appealing art style and classic-feeling beat-em-up mechanics. Playable solo or in 2-person co-op, each of Absolum’s characters caters to a very specific playstyle, and it’s fun to switch between them. …"

"Absolum is a game I’ve wanted to play since I was a kid. We get simple, approachable brawling battles, high production values in art and music, and a richly imagined fantasy world, all wrapped around a narrative that makes replay …"

"Quote not yet available"

"I can&s;t stop playing this game! Great as a beat&s;em up, great as a roguelite, Absolum is just wonderful as a combination of the two genres. The cherry on top – but maybe is the foundation below – is a …"

"Absolum is a strong roguelite with enough content to keep you busy for hours and fun characters to try out. If you&s;re a fan of beat &s;em up games with challenging bosses, then certainly pick this game up."

"Absolum is absolutely recommended for beat &s;em up fans thanks to the pedigree of its developers. It&s;s also a surprisingly deep rogue-lite with a well-developed world, bolstered all the more by its incredible presentation."

"Absolum is the work of developer Guard Crush Games, one of the studios behind Streets of Rage 4. Like that game, Absolum is a side-scrolling brawler..."

"Absolum is both a brilliantly crafted beat-&s;em-up and a devilishly addictive roguelike. Although the overall experience does feel slightly short-lived, you&s;ll seriously struggle to tear yourself away from the game&s;s striking fantasy world - especially when all of its systems …"

"Infusing a classic beat-&s;em-up structure with a modern roguelike loop is a match made in heaven."

"Absolum is an on-par experience to Dragon&s;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 …"

"Absolum is an excellent beat ‘em up let down by a roguelite structure that doesn’t serve it."

"Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Supamonks have knocked it out of the park with Absolum. Its combat is satisfyingly stylish, encapsulating traditional side-scrolling beat &s;em up combat with the variability of endlessly fun roguelike gameplay. Punishing difficulty aside, it&s;s worth taking …"

"Absolum features a medieval fantasy setting that Guard Crush and DotEmu have lovingly brought to life"