Absinthia

About

Absinthia is a single player role playing game with fantasy and romance themes. It was developed by Joshua Keith and was released on March 13, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Absinthia is a single-player Fantasy Turn Based Strategy game with an intriguing story that takes about 15 hours to beat. As the story's protagonist, scorned Knight Freya, and her apprentice Sera fight to protect their home, players will experience a traditional turn-based jRPG battle system, colorful handheld-style pixel art, and an original soundtrack. The game offers difficulty options to cater to various player skill levels, ensuring a challenging yet enjoyable experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Absinthia features a heartfelt story that thoughtfully explores queer themes, particularly around trans experiences and complex relationships.
The gameplay is engaging with a unique combat system that encourages strategic use of skills and abilities, complemented by a charming pixel art style.
The game is relatively short, making it accessible for players who enjoy classic JRPGs without the lengthy time commitment typical of the genre.

Some players found the combat system frustrating due to difficulty spikes and the need for grinding, which detracted from their overall enjoyment.
The story, while touching on important themes, can feel generic at times, with some characters lacking depth and development.
There are reported glitches and performance issues that can disrupt gameplay, along with a soundtrack that some found to be underwhelming.

story
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
73%
3%
The game's story is a heartfelt exploration of personal themes, particularly focusing on queer representation and the experiences of trans characters, which are woven into the narrative with genuine intent. While the main plot follows familiar fantasy tropes, it is enriched by character-driven arcs and unexpected twists that keep players engaged. However, some critiques highlight that certain character developments feel undercooked, and the overall story can sometimes lack depth despite its emotional resonance and interesting themes.
- “A heartfelt story that deals with queer topics very well, particularly focusing on trans people, the trauma inflicted upon them, and how it can affect one's perception and decisions.”
- “Representation is handled with genuine intent: queer protagonists, trans, and aro/ace characters are part of the core story rather than mere side notes.”
- “The plot starts out rather simple, but there are plenty of twists and developments to keep the player engaged, and the writing style has a perfect balance of gravitas and humor, featuring a cast of playable characters who are tight-knit and have strong personalities.”
- “I can't say I found this world or most of the major events all that interesting; the interactions between the main party were the thing keeping me engaged, not so much the story around them.”
- “The story is insipid; most characters are uninteresting.”
- “Despite being important to Freya's backstory, she only shows up a couple of times, which makes the resolution between them feel a bit undercooked.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring solid turn-based combat mechanics that balance regular attacks, skills, and MP regeneration, making encounters engaging even on normal difficulty. While the game offers rewarding exploration and well-constructed puzzles, it lacks significant replayability and options, which may limit its long-term appeal. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre seeking a familiar yet enjoyable RPG experience with a fresh story.
- “The combat mechanics are really solid, having to do a balancing act between regular attacks, skills, and MP regeneration made the combat consistently engaging. I was playing on normal, but even with that, the regular encounters never felt mindless.”
- “I'd recommend it for the gameplay alone; the combat system is pretty interesting and is the reason to play it.”
- “There are not many options gameplay-wise, so there is no replayability value or encouragement.”
- “In terms of gameplay, it is a fairly straightforward turn-based RPG, but the battles can be really tough, and you have a ton of options with just four characters, especially when you start unlocking new combo skills. Even on normal, it was the right balance of challenge.”
- “In the gameplay, it does not have random encounters, so it leans towards a more direct RPG without much grind, although if you need it, you have the option of automatic battles, so it would not be an annoying grind.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
22%
17%
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many tracks being described as enjoyable and memorable. While some users noted that certain themes could be more prominent, the overall soundtrack is considered a strong aspect that complements the vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay. The combination of fitting sound effects and a captivating score contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is lovely and pleasant to listen to even if you leave the game idling in the background.”
- “As for the music, the tracks are beautiful to listen to.”
- “Music helps the world pop even more so than it already does, and a phenomenal battle theme keeps battles from becoming an annoying chore.”
- “If I had to come up with a criticism, I think the OST is sometimes a little weak, but still enjoyable enough.”
- “The sound, including a fitting soundtrack and appropriate effects, adds to the atmosphere without being standout.”
- “Music fits well with the game and has some great 'stick-in-your-head' tunes.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel-art style, which offers a refreshing take on classic turn-based RPG aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the detailed environments and character animations, noting that while the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they effectively enhance the storytelling and overall experience. The combination of vibrant graphics and enjoyable music contributes to an engaging atmosphere that players find delightful.
- “The visuals are well-done, with detailed environments and character animations.”
- “It has a lovely pixel art style and enjoyable music, resulting in vibrant environments that are fun to explore.”
- “Classic RPG with gorgeous visuals, amazing soundtrack, and fun characters.”
- “The pixel-art style is underwhelming and lacks detail.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and do not match the expectations for modern games.”
- “While not revolutionary, the graphics set the stage for the game's story but could use significant improvement.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the likable characters and clever dialogue that enhances the storytelling. While comedic moments are frequent and often effective, some reviewers noted a reliance on reference humor and memes, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor strikes a balance between being entertaining and avoiding stereotypes, contributing positively to the game's tone.
- “The humor was on point with all characters being likable.”
- “The dialogue is funny when it needs to be and knows when to rein it back.”
- “The developers did well avoiding stereotypes and only included certain tropes for humorous effect.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Overall, players find that grinding in this game is minimal and often unnecessary, with many expressing a preference for the absence of tedious grinding mechanics. The battle system is engaging and complex, allowing for progression without the need for extensive grinding, making it suitable for those seeking a more casual gaming experience.
- “The battle system is complex, yet not tedious.”
- “Grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “The progression system makes grinding enjoyable and satisfying.”
- “If this is not intended, I'm going to have to assume I'm meant to spend like 45 minutes here just grinding to level up, and that is not something I put up with in games these days.”
- “This is useful for grinding, but grinding is almost unnecessary in this game (at least on normal).”
- “I played through it relatively slow and got about 95% of all unlocks and half of the secrets in about 15 hours with grinding.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from numerous visual glitches that detract from the overall experience, including unexpected exits from the status screen after item use and unintended walkable areas. These issues indicate a lack of polish and stability in the game's design.
- “There are glitches everywhere.”
- “I did notice a few glitches; sometimes after I used an item, it kicked me out of the status screen altogether before I could use another one. There were also a few locations where I could walk on tiles I'm fairly certain they didn’t intend for me to be able to walk on.”
- “They are just visual glitches.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a heartfelt narrative that sensitively explores queer themes, particularly focusing on the experiences of a transfem main character. It effectively addresses trauma, loss, betrayal, and acceptance, resulting in a deeply emotional experience for players.
- “A heartfelt story that deals with queer topics very well, particularly focusing on trans people, the trauma inflicted upon them, and how it can affect one's perception and decisions.”
- “An excellent and heartbreaking story featuring a transfeminine main character.”
- “Themes of loss, betrayal, and acceptance are integral to the story, creating a profound emotional experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game lacks significant replayability due to limited gameplay options and the absence of features like "new game +." While the story and battle mechanics are praised, the short length and minimal replay value leave players wanting more.
- “The game is kind of short and doesn't have that much replay value, but the story it tells is great and the battle mechanics are decent.”
- “There are not many options gameplay-wise, so there is no replayability value or encouragement.”
- “A pain in the ass without a 'new game +' feature or replayability value.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and appropriate sound effects that complement the game, though they do not stand out prominently.
- “The sound, including a fitting soundtrack and appropriate effects, adds to the atmosphere without being overwhelming.”
- “The game's environment is richly detailed, immersing players in a world that feels alive and vibrant.”
- “The lighting and visual effects create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
- “The sound, including a fitting soundtrack and appropriate effects, adds to the atmosphere without being standout.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed and uninspired.”
- “Despite the visuals, the overall atmosphere feels flat and fails to immerse the player.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Absinthia" is praised for its strong emphasis on storytelling and character development, characteristic of classic JRPGs, which enhances the overall gaming experience through engaging narratives and well-crafted characters.
- “Absinthia is a classic JRPG with turn-based battles that heavily focuses on storytelling and character development.”
- “The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
- “I love how the choices I make influence the characters' growth and relationships throughout the game.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players have reported occasional performance issues during late-game battles, particularly on older hardware; however, these issues can often be resolved by reloading the game, making them manageable overall.
- “I did notice some performance issues during battles in the late game side quests, but my laptop is pretty old, so that might be the reason. The issue was generally resolved by quitting to the title screen and reloading, so it ultimately wasn't that big of a deal.”
- “I did notice some performance issues during battles in the late-game side quests. The laptop I played on is pretty old, so maybe that's the reason. The issue was generally resolved by quitting to the title screen and reloading, so it ultimately wasn't that big of a deal.”