Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D, Action, Beat-em-Up, Roguelite, Fantasy

When you think about it, the 90s side-scrolling beat-em-up model (think Final Fight or Double Dragon) does gel well with the roguelite. A single playthrough is usually an hour or less. Run out of lives and it’s back to the start with you. You get a high score which means more bonuses if you past certain milestones. Enemies come in droves and bumrush you unless you use ALL your tools at your disposal from your crowd control to your abusable normal attacks/combo chains. And throw/grab invincibilities; can’t forget that.

In Absolum’s case, the new 2D beat-em-up hybrid from Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and SupaMonks, you are required to die over and over just to get better and more overpowered, and even plan new avenues for brawling and the rewards therein.

Spellbinder

Absolum pits you as one of the four outcast heroes as you liberate the land of Talamh from the anti-magic rule of the Sun King Azra. So you go through stage after stage filled with lovely fantasy backdrops, necropolis-like spots, swamps, and underground caverns as you beat up all sorts of monsters 2D side-scrolling style. All lovingly-animated and drawn for the record; the artists over at Guard Crush Games and SupaMonk took inspiration from Hellboy’s Mike Mignola (particularly with the inks and detailing) and made their own fantasy world take out of that template. This results in a lovely and grim magic-despondent worldscape, standing out even from similar roguelite peers like this year’s Hades 2.

While you start the game with Galandra the elf and Karl the dwarf, you can unlock two more characters as you play through the game as far as possible. There will be safe zones and resting spots after a slew of stages, much like any roguelite, and you can accumulate permanent currency and upgrades -crystals, roots, and so forth- to buff up your characters in the starting haven.

You’ll get the hang of the controls in a few minutes, but as you progress through each stage, you realize you can forge your own path and can alter them for future runs. For instance, if you complete a simple bridge-building quest for the humans in one area at one pathway you chose, you may end up pissing off the goblin village in the alternate path where they can sabotage you in their resting spot.

You’ll also face different enemies and bosses depending on the path you take, be it a giant shield-bearing human knight or a giant goblin who has wide swings. Heck, you can even choose to rob a pirate queen’s treasure just for a chance to duel her. Just keep in mind that healing options are limited, so pick your battles carefully. This is apparent as the Sun King’s area and the eventual confrontation with him is no breeze and can take a toll on you depending on how your run went.

Fortunately, you’re not ill-equipped from the start. Each of the four fighters have a normal combo, a special attack (sword slash for Galandra, charging headbutt for Karl), and their own Super move that uses mana. They can also dodge and evade attacks, as well as use their special attacks to clash against enemy attacks, stunning them longer when successful.

You gain mana by beating up enemies and breakables. After defeating bosses, you gain extra skills for your character and even elemental rituals that let you add bonuses and helpful passives to your arsenal. While randomized per run, they definitely help even the odds, from regular attacks inflicting burn damage to even generating tidal waves that stuns and pushes back enemies whenever you land from a jump. There’s even elemental rituals that summon bramble daggers you can toss, and even one that freezes enemies if you land a critical hit.

The more runs you play through, the more powerful your four fighters become, though some power-ups and their respective combinations can make the game bearable. And if you complete the game once, you gain access to an even better elemental that helps with your combo-juggling tenfold. The developers know the beat-em-up genre and its propensity for its players to cheese through, so they built Absolum to be as challenging as possible while also making sure you attempt as many runs as you can to power-up your characters and their best rituals.

We’re looking at about 20 or less hours to get through the game’s normal and special playthrough; my first victorious attempt happened after the 8th hour after getting the upgrades I needed and unlocking Galadriel’s Spinning Lariat-esque super move that really helped with crowd control and hitting bosses multiple times. Getting frog mage Brome’s Proton Cannon Super also helped me secure my second victory in a single run, just because I’m good at lining up enemies in a row for maximum damage.

Fantasy Star

Yes, roguelites and roguelites are common in PC gaming and the indie scene these days, but it takes talent to make a fun beat-em-up side-scrolling experience using that structure. Absolum combines two familiar tropes to make one fun replayable fantasy experience that you alone (or your choice pals) can enjoy. It’s the 2025 equivalent of a new Golden Axe title, or even a Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows over Mystara throwback. Or even Dragon’s Crown minus the tiddies.

With awesome controls and simple-yet-tough-to-master gameplay, a challenging bout of levels and bosses that require you to make use of the perma-upgrades option given, and tons of replayability coupled with a beautiful aesthetic, Absolum is one side-scrolling trip you don’t want to skip. Just get ready to eat dirt over and over again, and get a reliable friend over to help you out.

Pros

• Lovely art style & music.
• Enchanting setting.
• Simple-yet-addictive action and beat-em-up gameplay.
• Meaningful progression system with multiple branches.

Cons

• Can get incredibly tough in latter half of a run; requires co-op

Final Score: 90/100

Review copy provided by publisher.