Absolum

Try Hard GuidesErik Hodges

10/10

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.

Impulse GamerNathan Misa

The 2020s beat ‘em up resurgence is thriving and I’m all here for it. But any new brawler, especially one appearing after Streets of Rage 4, enters the ring

Pure NintendoRachel Poli

9/10

Absolum is a roguelite beat ‘em up developed by Supamonks and DotEmu and published by DotEmu. With multiple characters to choose from, local and online co-op,

GameBlogGeralt de Reeves

9/10

As an incredibly rich year of excellent games draws to a close, and as the frenetic pace of releases slows down a bit with the approach of the holidays, it's a good time to pay more attention to some gems that may have slipped through the cracks due to our lack of time. This is particularly true of Absolum, an excellent blend of beat 'em up and

GamePressureMatt Buckley

9/10

For years, I’ve thought of the beat ‘em up genre as something meant for arcades. A repetitive action experience meant to be played in short bursts. There are pros and cons to this approach, but it’s on me for thinking that was the only way.

PPEWojciech Gruszczyk

8.5/10

We're reviewing Absolum, a big surprise that combines beat'em up elements with the replayability of a roguelite. Read our review.

EveryeyeAntonello 'SchiacciSempre' Gaeta

8.5/10

A very interesting hybrid between beat 'em up and roguelite: that's Absolum, another centerpiece from Dotemu.

GamereactorKetil Skotte

8/10

As a whole, Absolum is not quite as strong as this year's other big action roguelike, Hades 2. But actually, I've had even more fun beating up the Sun King Azra than taking my father's house back from my grandfather. Perhaps this is because Absolum's genre mix feels incredibly fresh, whereas Hades 2 largely treads familiar ground. And then I love the crunchy combat and the surprisingly well-developed world, which is presented so beautifully and vividly. One of the big positive surprises of the year.

The Punished BacklogDavid Silbert

8/10

In our Absolum review, learn why Dotemu's latest is a sublime beat-em-up wrapped up in a flawed roguelike package.

WayTooManyGamesOliver Shellding

8/10

The resurgence of the beat-em-up in the last few years is so damn refreshing for adolescent me. Even though the graphics, techniques and boss difficulties have improved a lot since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, there’s still the core idea of raging on a group of baddies (or one big bad) with people by your side. I think we all applaud the design and power of Shredder’s Revenge for bringing the genre back into the limelight, and Dotemu was at the helm there as they are now...

Console CreaturesBobby Pashalidis

8/10

Part roguelike and all beat 'em up, Absolum is confident in its skin, and it shows. 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.

Push SquareRobert Ramsey

8/10

Roguelike games are everywhere these days, to the point where you're actually surprised when the latest indie release isn't peddling death as a progression mechanic.