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Absolum

Absolum is a fun roguelike evolution of the classic beat 'em up; frantic brawling combat meets deep replayability.
Absolum Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, stability
95% User Score Based on 4,001 reviews
Critic Score 86%Based on 29 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStation
Absolum Game Cover

About

Absolum is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Supamonks and was released on October 9, 2025. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Absolum is a thrilling fighting game set in the shattered world of Talamh, where players control outcast heroes battling the tyrannical Sun King Azra’s forces. Featuring perfect gameplay, intriguing story, and ingenious atmosphere, it offers intense co-op and local multiplayer modes, rich roguelite elements, and fantastic replayability despite some bugs. Its masterful music and great visuals heighten an emotional, immersive arcade-style adventure.

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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,001 reviews
gameplay474 positive mentions
grinding27 negative mentions

  • Incredible art style and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Satisfying combat mechanics with a high skill ceiling, allowing for creative combos and builds.
  • Engaging roguelike elements that keep each run fresh and interesting, with branching paths and unique character abilities.
  • The game can feel repetitive after multiple runs, especially with limited character variety and some uninteresting power-ups.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, particularly with certain bosses and elite enemies that disrupt the flow of combat.
  • Multiplayer experience can be chaotic and cluttered, making it hard to track characters and manage combat effectively.
  • gameplay
    990 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Absolum" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, highlighting its blend of traditional beat 'em up mechanics with innovative roguelike elements. Players appreciate the satisfying combat, fluid controls, and depth provided by mechanics like dodging, parrying, and combo systems, which encourage skill mastery and experimentation. However, some critiques point to issues with balance, repetitive elements in runs, and certain mechanics feeling clunky or underdeveloped, suggesting that while the core gameplay is engaging, it may require further refinement to reach its full potential.

    • “A perfect fantasy backdrop with incredibly satisfying combat and roguelike mechanics.”
    • “The combat is refreshing, including essential dodge and parry-like mechanics that add depth outside of the typical button mashing you would normally expect from a beat 'em up.”
    • “The gameplay is well balanced: challenging enough to stay engaging, but never frustrating.”
    • “Crappy controls, unclear mechanics, combat is a mess.”
    • “The combat is just… awful, and the power-ups don’t change the gameplay that much.”
    • “The animations feel clunky and inconsistent, the dash is basically useless, and the parry/deflect/dodge mechanics are very difficult to implement into a smooth playstyle.”
  • story
    721 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters and a fantasy narrative that unfolds through gameplay, with branching paths and side quests that enhance replayability. However, some players feel the story is somewhat generic and lacks depth compared to titles like Hades, with pacing issues that can make it feel rushed. Overall, while the art and music are praised, the story's execution varies, leaving some players wanting more substance and coherence.

    • “The story is engaging, mysterious, and cleverly told, and the gameplay is fire!”
    • “The storytelling here is phenomenal: every quest, character, and choice branches into new paths that feel both personal and unpredictable.”
    • “The progression, side quests, and dripping of story throughout each run leaves wanting to always go for another run.”
    • “The story presentation feels like it's in a massive hurry, even when it shouldn't be.”
    • “The story is very poor and the world, even bringing some great ideas, is too small.”
    • “The story is lacking, heavily.”
  • music
    684 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and the involvement of renowned composers like Mick Gordon and Gareth Coker. The soundtrack is described as immersive, fitting the game's atmosphere perfectly, and elevating the overall experience with a mix of genres that enhance both combat and exploration. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The music, composed with obvious care by Gareth Coker (of Ori fame), is perhaps the game’s strongest asset, giving every encounter real emotional weight.”
    • “The soundtrack is atmospheric without being intrusive, and the sound effects provide precise and satisfying feedback in every important moment.”
    • “The music is incredible - constantly throwing you back to Aladdin, Castlevania, and other games from that era.”
    • “And the music, ugh, the music.”
    • “The music is forgettable.”
    • “I have seen people love the soundtrack but I can't stand it - there is not a single track that remotely fits what is actually happening.”
  • graphics
    610 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Absolum" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, reminiscent of high-quality animated films and classic comic aesthetics. Players appreciate the unique visual identity that enhances the gameplay experience, with many noting that the art and soundtrack work harmoniously to create an immersive atmosphere. While some critiques mention minor issues with visibility during chaotic moments, the overall presentation is considered top-tier, making it a standout in the beat-em-up genre.

    • “Gorgeous hand-drawn art: the visuals are stunning, featuring vibrant, fluid animations that look like a high-budget animated film.”
    • “The art style is unique yet easy to appreciate, the environments are richly detailed, and the character designs are memorable.”
    • “The visuals are incredible, I love the voice acting and everything on it so far.”
    • “The quality animation and decent gameplay were not enough for me to ignore how much I did not enjoy the setting and overall aesthetic.”
    • “Every level has different 'height' you can be on, and the enemies are constantly on the wrong height for me to hit them, but because of the art style and how difficult it is to move up and down, it's genuinely annoying and difficult to realign.”
    • “Absolum is a beat-em-up that was designed exactly the wrong way, with nonsensical design choices and difficult-to-read visuals that are attempting as hard as possible to ape Hades without understanding what made Hades a good game.”
  • replayability
    166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game "Absolum" boasts high replayability due to its branching paths, diverse character options, and roguelike mechanics that ensure each playthrough feels unique. Players appreciate the variety in gameplay, character builds, and the depth of combat, making it a standout in the beat-em-up genre. While some desire additional content and characters, the overall consensus is that the game offers substantial replay value, keeping players engaged for multiple runs.

    • “Each run you do is different, and the replay value is undersold.”
    • “Absolum is a great roguelike beat-em-up with depth of mechanics, the RNG-enabled opportunities to feel as strong as a god, and high replay value with 4 different characters who each have a variety of different playstyles.”
    • “The map constantly expands with new quests, dialogue, and paths, which greatly boosts replayability.”
    • “I'd argue this aspect makes Absolum one of the roguelikes with the least replayability out there.”
    • “Little replay value once you have done everything.”
    • “The only thing holding it back from being a timeless classic is the relatively small amount of content and limited replay value.”
  • atmosphere
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and cohesive artistic vision, creating a vibrant and engaging world that players find rewarding to explore. The soundtrack complements the gameplay without being intrusive, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of atmospheric and dynamic music. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the art style and environment, contributing to a captivating and memorable gaming experience.

    • “It’s clear that the developers paid great attention to atmosphere; every area has its own personality, and exploring the world is consistently rewarding.”
    • “The visuals are marvelous, the soundtrack is top-notch, and the atmosphere perfectly fits every part of your journey.”
    • “The world is tight, atmospheric, and genuinely rewarding to explore.”
    • “Fantastic presentation – beautiful hand-drawn 2D visuals and a sweeping soundtrack give the world of Talamh real personality and atmosphere.”
    • “The animation is fluid and snappy, the effects are beautiful, the environments are detailed and loaded with atmosphere.”
    • “It just nails that exciting somewhat-dark fantasy tone and atmosphere.”
  • character development
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its intriguing story and memorable character designs, which contribute to a rich and immersive experience. Players appreciate the unique art style and voice work, although some express mixed feelings about certain character designs. Overall, the combination of engaging lore, character progression, and visually striking elements enhances the gameplay, making it a standout title in its genre.

    • “Absolum is an incredible work of art that combines unique rogue-like elements, intriguing character development, and a mysterious storyline to create a beautifully entertaining fantasy!”
    • “The story may start simply (mages outlawed, tyrant king to dethrone), but the world-building is rich, and the variety of environments and character designs give it a strong identity.”
    • “At first, I didn’t really like the character designs, but as I spent more time playing and bonding with the characters, I found myself growing fond of them.”
    • “There is a lot of random events that occur through a game, the map design and exploration is actually very unique, but the progression and character design is incredibly poor to me.”
    • “I adore the art style and character design, I know this is all hand drawn but that doesn't really matter when the designs are lacking.”
    • “Character design might hamstring this a bit, some color choices and concepts are questionable.”
  • humor
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the enemy designs, quirky mechanics, and unexpected moments consistently amusing. Many highlight the hilarious interactions during co-op play and the comedic potential of various builds, while some even appreciate the charm in minor bugs. Overall, the game is described as a delightful blend of funny characters, clever writing, and entertaining gameplay that keeps players laughing throughout their experience.

    • “The wild stuff you can get up to is a hilarious good time.”
    • “I'm often laughing so hard I struggle to press buttons.”
    • “The characters are hilarious; there was a run where the chicken followed me in every room, and I couldn't help but laugh at it.”
    • “The game is 8/10, but the humor falls flat, especially when dealing with empowered mobs after defeating one of the final bosses. It's not funny at all.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but the jokes feel forced and often miss the mark.”
    • “The humor in the game is hit or miss, and unfortunately, it misses more often than it hits.”
  • grinding
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, player feedback on grinding in the game is mixed; while some appreciate the progression system for being rewarding without excessive grind, others find it tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the repetitive nature of runs and the slow accumulation of resources for upgrades. Many players enjoy the fast-paced gameplay and unique character mechanics, but express dissatisfaction with the visual clutter and the feeling of being set up to fail during grinding sessions. Ultimately, the game strikes a balance for some, but others feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Big praise to the progression system, it's not too grindy, feels just right!”
    • “It's a roguelite beat-em-up that isn't too grindy, presents challenges that aren't insurmountable, and has super interesting characters - a dwarf, a dragon lady, an automaton, and a magic frog capable of unleashing final flash.”
    • “Absolutely incredible roguelite - not grindy; fun combat mechanics; beautiful art and music; not overly punishing.”
    • “The roguelite mechanics make it so you are more or less set up to fail while you are grinding out currency to get permanent upgrades.”
    • “You spend way too much time grinding for minimal rewards, and when you finally do unlock something new, it rarely feels worth the effort.”
    • “If this game was more like Streets of Rage and less of that whole rogue-like garbage, it would get a 10/10 from me; however, as it is, it just becomes tediously boring to replay the same level 20 times with little to no progress and no visual or level design difference.”
  • stability
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing, soft-locks, and issues with controller compatibility. While some users noted that the game runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, others experienced significant problems, including crashes and frustrating visual glitches. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience for many players.

    • “And effectively bug-free, as far as I can tell.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Very fun, smooth gameplay; runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “Random French developer, you've done it again... my only complaint is that despite extensive troubleshooting, I have to unplug my second monitor when playing to prevent the game from constantly minimizing during fights.”
    • “I really enjoyed this game overall, but I cannot overstate how buggy, visually messy, and how straight-up unfair this game can be sometimes.”
    • “My main issue is the occasional freezes throughout the game.”
  • optimization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly even on low-end hardware like mini-computers and Steam Decks, with no significant performance issues or bugs reported. Players appreciate the polished experience, immersive storytelling, and refined combat mechanics, although some express frustration over the lack of optimization in other games. The voice acting is also highlighted as a strong point, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The game is well optimized; we are playing on a mini-computer set up as an arcade and it does not have a dedicated GPU.”
    • “The game looks fantastic, runs smoothly with no bugs, and has the most refined beat 'em up style combat I have ever experienced in a game.”
    • “It's extremely well optimized for Steam Deck!”
    • “It's 2025, why do games still have terrible optimization like this?”
    • “Shit performance, somehow it improved after downloading the demo.”
    • “Optimization that allows you to run this on a potato with 60 fps (once you turn off bloom).”
  • emotional
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative, stunning art direction, and a powerful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many players found the story engaging and the music deeply impactful, some expressed disappointment with the narrative's complexity and the limitations of combat, which detracted from their emotional connection. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, though some players felt it could have achieved greater emotional depth with a more cohesive story and gameplay experience.

    • “What got me the most though is that it's shockingly heartfelt and earnest.”
    • “The music, composed with obvious care by Gareth Coker (of Ori fame), is perhaps the game’s strongest asset, giving every encounter real emotional weight.”
    • “This game was a very pleasant surprise; I expected to find it being just a pretty good beat 'em up game, and what I got was surprisingly heartfelt.”
    • “The story is mundane and boring, with 90% of players likely just holding 'A' to skip through it.”
    • “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no attachment to the storyline; it failed to evoke any real emotions.”
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86%Critics’ scoreBased on 29 critic reviews
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15h Median play time
18h Average play time
9-28h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Absolum is a role playing game.

Absolum is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 18 hours playing Absolum.

Absolum was released on October 9, 2025.

Absolum was developed by Supamonks.

Absolum has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Absolum is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Astral Ascent, Windblown, Ember Knights, Children of Morta, Ravenswatch and others.