REVIEW | ABSOLUM

Absolum is a side-scrolling, roguelike beat-‘em-up that channels the spirit of classic arcade brawlers while layering in modern progression systems and stunning hand-drawn visuals. Set in the shattered world of Talamh, magic has become feared following a devastating cataclysm caused by reckless wizards. Rising from this chaos, Sun King Azra has seized control, enslaving magic users through his Crimson Order and spreading his rule across the land. Opposing him is a small rebellion led by the enchantress Uchawi, who wields forbidden magic in a desperate attempt to overthrow his regime.

You take on the role of one of the chosen heroes, fighting back against Azra’s forces. True to roguelike form, each run resets your progress, but you continuously unlock new abilities, paths, and upgrades that expand the experience far beyond a typical run-based formula. Developed by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks, Absolum looks to be a gorgeous adventure through a troubled land. But how does it hold up?

Things I liked!

• A Living, Fully Voiced World | Every character in Absolum is voiced, and not just passably, but extremely well. The voice acting adds personality and charm, often delivering witty lines that genuinely enhance the experience. It helps the world feel alive and immersive in a way many indie titles struggle to achieve. Characters interact with each other and take note of what the other is doing; even when an incoming attack comes their way, the other character will shout concern. It’s incredible work and adds a lot to the game.

• Deep, Meaningful Progression | Rather than simple branching paths, Absolum features a sprawling map filled with secrets, unlockable routes, and environmental interactions. You might activate a furnace in one run, only to unlock an elevator in the next. These interconnected systems make progression feel tangible and rewarding, encouraging you to replay certain paths after you restart.
  
  
• Natural Skill Evolution | Unlocking abilities never feels overwhelming. Instead of overloading the player, the game subtly shifts your playstyle by altering button inputs in intuitive ways. Adapting to new skills becomes second nature almost immediately. Before you start each run, you also get to choose what skill you want to bring with you. For example, Aaron chose to bring his repeater quick shot skill with him, which fired four quick bursts from his gun at enemies. Not only this, as we progressed through the game, he unlocked the ability to reload his energy, meaning he could fire his weapon infinitely and made us unstoppable at one point.
  
  
• Stunning Visual Design | The hand-drawn art style is consistently impressive. Each area introduces new enemies and visual themes, and even repeat runs remix encounters to keep environments feeling like it’s the first time experiencing them. This is largely down to the fact that even the backgrounds are animated. Trees sway in the wind, rocks tumble down the hillside, and even battles way out in the distance are being waged. There were many times that we just stood there watching it all play out. It really is quite amazing to see this level of creativity.
  
  
• Smart Roguelike Systems | The shared progression system uses crystals to unlock upgrades across runs, but avoids letting players over-specialise. Its structured upgrade path ensures balanced progression while encouraging experimentation. This is done by selecting the sister tree in the main staging area. From here, you can select passive abilities like additional health, extra starting money, additional damage etc.
  
  There are also other NPCs to talk to such as the knight, who will allow you to upgrade your special abilities and choose new ones before going into battle. Finally, you can also upgrade your magic items through the spectral frog; these equippable trinkets give additional defensive stat boosts that help negate damage on each run. You can also keep track of the trinkets you have unlocked by visiting the treasure area, and for a small fee, you can equip your favourite before you go into battle, or just find them out in the wild for free.
  
  
• Expanding Lore with Every Run | Nearly every area in Absolum offers snippets of lore. They are usually quite short, digestible pieces that slowly build out the world, but sometimes they can take the form of side missions that will add quite significant time onto your run. However, this isn’t a bad thing as you are usually rewarded for your troubles. Whether it’s a burning town or a weary NPC, each detail adds depth and context, making exploration rewarding beyond just gameplay.
  
  
• Dynamic World Changes | As you progress, the world evolves. Enemy behaviours shift, dialogue changes, and new encounters appear, reinforcing the sense that your actions matter. As I mentioned above, we started a furnace in one section, which allowed us to use an elevator, unlocking a new area. This in turn allowed us to experience a new boss and unlock new treasures that made us stronger. In another instance, we befriended some locals who helped fix a damaged bridge that was previously impassable. On our next run, we were able to take that newly fixed bridge and fight through a completely new area.
  
  
• Music & Sound Effects | The soundtrack complements the action perfectly, delivering energetic tracks that match the intensity of each fight without ever becoming distracting. Sound design is equally strong, with impactful hits, satisfying combat feedback, and clear audio cues that help you stay in control during chaotic encounters. Combined with the excellent voice acting, the audio work as a whole adds a strong layer of immersion that keeps you engaged throughout every run.

Mixed & disliked!

• Co-op Limitations & minor bugs | The game appears to be limited to two players. While this works well, clearer communication on player limits would have been helpful. Although there is very little to criticise overall, a few minor bugs appeared during play, but nothing game-breaking. The most notable issue was a single instance of missing voice work, hardly a major concern given the overall quality.

• Challenging Difficulty | Absolum is not easy. With guard mechanics, dodging, and varied enemy behaviours, it demands attention and skill. There was one instance where the game seemed to become significantly easier after an early failure. This could suggest some form of hidden balancing system, though it wasn’t consistent enough to confirm. Another instance had us completely obliterated quite early on after a lot of progress was made, again hinting at some dynamic difficulty scaling. Either way, prepare for failure, a lot!

How long did I play the review before publishing? 20 hours
How long to beat the story? 20 hours
How long to Complete the game 100%? 40 hours+
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 11/37
You’ll love this game if you like these | Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Turtles Splintered Fate.

CONCLUSION

Score: 90/100

Absolum is an easy recommendation.

If you enjoy roguelikes, roguelites, or classic side-scrolling beat-‘em-ups, this is a game that will hook you quickly and keep you coming back. Its blend of tight combat, evolving gameplay systems, and meaningful progression makes every run feel worthwhile. It’s the kind of game you won’t want to put down, and one you’ll likely revisit with friends just to experience it all over again.