Absolum is a brand-new rogue-lite beat ‘em up from Dotemu. It might have slipped under the radar for many players — myself included — until I had the chance to review it. To my surprise, it turned out to be an impressive and polished title, particularly in terms of visuals and gameplay. The game clearly draws inspiration from genre giants like Dead Cells and Hades, yet takes things in a fresh direction by blending the fast-paced combat of beat ‘em ups with rogue-lite mechanics. On top of that, it features both local and online co-op, which makes it even more appealing.
The story unfolds in the mystical land of Talmah, a vibrant and magical world. Players control four outcasts, each driven by their own reasons to join a rebellion against the tyrannical Sun King Azra. They are aided by Uchawi, an enchantress who seeks to free the magic users enslaved by Azra’s rule. While the narrative offers an interesting premise and a colorful cast of characters, the main focus remains squarely on the gameplay and its dynamic rogue-lite structure.
Absolum feels like a cross between Hades and Streets of Rage. The way it handles power-ups after battles, its stylish presentation, and its scaling progression system all bring to mind the brilliance of Hades. The side-scrolling combat is energetic and satisfying, combining basic and special attacks for fluid, combo-driven action. There are four playable characters in total, though some must be unlocked as the story progresses. Best of all, the game supports full co-op play, both locally and online — a feature that adds replay value and cooperative fun, and one that many modern games in the genre tend to overlook.
The thing that blew me away was how good it looked. Seriously, it’s hard to overstate how beautiful and stunning the game is when fully animated. The attack animations, the way the character moves, the background, the enemies, the art direction—almost everything here deserves praise. It’s a gorgeous game that I’d easily rank among the best-looking releases this year. Each of the four playable characters offers a unique take on combat and has their own special skills. Karl fights with guns and fists, Galandra wields a massive sword and uses necromancy, Cider fights with dual daggers and moves extremely fast, while Brome specializes in magic. The differences between the characters make Absolum a unique experience, especially with its roguelite elements.
Absolum relies on precise dodges and deflects, rewarding players who can pull them off consistently. However, the game still gives less experienced players plenty of options to get by. Regular enemies are easy to take down, but boss battles can be challenging if you just mash attacks. They require strategy and awareness to find weaknesses, though co-op mode makes things much easier. Teaming up with others, whether online or offline, can make the game feel far less punishing. It might have been better if difficulty adjusted to the number of co-op players, but the single-player mode holds up well on its own.
The roguelike mechanics include passive bonuses and active skills, all chosen based on player preference. While the levels are randomized and permadeath is part of the challenge, the game still provides a hub area for recovery and upgrades. The combat system feels tight and responsive, allowing players to chain attacks together smoothly and juggle enemies in the air before they can counter. You can also pick up environmental objects to use in battle or even ride certain creatures into combat, adding more variety to the action.
The world map of Absolum is massive. Even without the main story routes, there are plenty of secret paths to uncover, some of which even hide optional bosses that can easily be missed. The gold currency earned during battles can be used to recruit allies or purchase new gear. When you die, you are sent back to the origin point where Uchawi revives you and sets you off on your quest again. However, permanent upgrades can be unlocked using Radiance, giving each run a sense of progress.
The main story takes around 10 to 20 hours to complete, but the replay value is impressive. There is always something new to discover even after finishing the game once. Some side quests may take multiple runs to complete, and their outcomes can vary depending on player choices. The game also encourages experimenting with different playstyles, which adds to its longevity and makes each playthrough feel a bit different. That said, the game does tend to reuse enemies and bosses quite often, which can make it feel repetitive after extended play. I also found the final battle frustrating due to unnecessary grinding that could have been avoided.
While I played Absolum using a pre-launch copy, it did have a few glitches, including a game-breaking bug on PS5 after a certain amount of playtime. Thankfully, these issues were patched before the official release. If you enjoy roguelite games and beat ’em ups, Absolum is a solid blend of both genres. The art style alone makes it worth checking out, and the price feels fair considering the amount of content packed into the game.
Absolum Game Information
- Price: $$24.99
- Publisher: Dotemu
- Developer: Dotemu
- Platform: PS5, PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
