Absolver

Combining unique and rewarding combat with the freedom to explore its beautiful areas in any order you see fit, Absolver is one of the best adventures of the year.

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Absolver is an online multiplayer combat RPG where players are placed behind the mask of a Prospect under control of the Guides, the new rulers of the fallen Adal Empire, who have placed you here to determine your worth in joining their elite corps of Absolvers.

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Play Modes

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,177 reviews

story209 positive mentions

grinding232 negative mentions

story
1,431 mentions
15 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story in "Absolver" is generally considered minimal and underdeveloped, often described as a brief tutorial rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative. Players can complete the main storyline in approximately 3 to 6 hours, with many expressing a desire for more depth and content. While the game features intriguing lore and atmospheric world-building, it primarily focuses on combat and multiplayer experiences, leaving the story feeling secondary and lacking in engagement.
- “The story is intriguing, but relies largely on the equipment you find, and a few snippets of dialogue.”
- “The story is short, but you can still roam around and kill enemies in the map after completing the story.”
- “The story, while short, does leave you wanting for more.”
- “The story unfortunately holds back the reins, and is quick and not explained well at a first playthrough.”
- “There's basically no dialogue and the story is nearly non-existent.”
- “The story is very brief, and wasn't clearly the focus of the game.”
gameplay
1,427 mentions
40 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Absolver is widely praised for its unique and deep combat mechanics, allowing players to create customizable fighting styles through a "combat deck" system. Many reviewers highlight the satisfaction of mastering the game's intricate mechanics, which require skill and strategy, akin to titles like Dark Souls and For Honor. However, the game suffers from a lack of content, a short campaign, and issues with matchmaking and server stability, leading to frustrations in both PvE and PvP experiences. Overall, while the core gameplay is engaging and innovative, it is hampered by technical shortcomings and a dwindling player base.
- “The gameplay is phenomenal and one of my favorite fighting systems ever created, really giving that 'becoming a master' feeling when you sink in the time to learn moves.”
- “The combat mechanics feel awesome, and every knee or elbow you land is satisfying and heavy.”
- “The gameplay is really in-depth, and you have absolute freedom on how to build your personal deck of moves, leading to a very personal and customizable playstyle and feel.”
- “This game is slow, clunky, with unfair mechanics leaning towards the enemies, instead of fair fighting. By the time you get any more moves, you're entirely sick of the ones you had to repeat 20 million times. The amount of equips that drop with downright bad stats and 0 improvements over and over again is downright sickening.”
- “The dodge mechanic sometimes does not work, counter gets countered, etc. The gameplay felt repetitive and dull, minimal to no story build up from the start, I simply saw no reason or appeal to keep playing.”
- “The gameplay is distinctly lackluster too. The only positives I can list is that it at least tried to have a new combat mechanic (but failed miserably in execution, somehow making For Honor look better) and that the art style is subjective and can't be considered a negative.”
graphics
832 mentions
59 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique art style, which many players describe as beautiful and immersive. The visuals are often compared to a painterly aesthetic, with fluid animations and a cohesive design that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game. However, some users have reported performance issues and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “The visuals are hands down beautiful to admire and enjoy.”
- “The world building and art style are some of the best in any game I've seen to date.”
- “The art style is absolutely stunning, the movements and animations are fluid and the controls feel natural.”
- “Awful, I can run Witcher 3 on max settings but can't run this on low. I had it for not even an hour because I spent more time looking up how to fix it than actually playing it. Reinstalled my drivers and the game multiple times, nothing works, constant FPS drops no matter the graphics settings, and the motion blur is ridiculous and you can't even turn it off.”
- “Weak art with graphics that aged horribly, and character designs like everyone's wearing a feather boa glued to some dinner plates.”
- “The graphics are supposed to be artsy but are trash.”
grinding
235 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily emphasized in player reviews, with many noting that while it can be tedious and repetitive, it also serves as a core mechanic for learning moves and enhancing combat skills. Players often find themselves spending significant time farming for gear and abilities, especially after completing the short main story, leading to a mixed reception where some appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay, while others feel it detracts from overall enjoyment due to its monotonous nature. Overall, the grinding is seen as a defining feature that may appeal to dedicated players but could deter those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Besides that, PvP is what you'll be doing for the majority of your time spent playing if you're not grinding for cosmetics or moves.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The progression is very grindy and tedious with no end game to work for.”
- “After you've completed the game you're left with a niche farming simulator and a poorly made roguelike mode where you run the exact same runs over and over again.”
- “The only things you can do after beating the incredibly short main story are slog through a repetitive procedural dungeon, take part in an endless amount of usually one-sided duels, or spend hours grinding enemies purely for the sake of completion.”
music
172 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it forgettable or lacking in variety. Some players appreciate the soundtrack's calming and immersive nature, particularly during combat, but note that it can be too subtle or minimal at times. Overall, while the music complements the game's aesthetic and mood, there are calls for more variety and presence throughout different gameplay moments.
- “The music, art direction, sound design, and gameplay combine to be surprisingly relaxing and deeply engaging.”
- “A strangely beautiful game with a complex combat system and a breathtaking soundtrack.”
- “The music is subtle, but distinctive enough to give you a sense of tension in combat, and calm during the interludes.”
- “The music is okay but not really memorable, basically just background sounds.”
- “Almost no music at all; it's boring and the world feels more empty than Fallout.”
- “The soundtrack is very uninvolved, forgettable, and has a horrible jump in volume whenever it does decide to play, which is usually in a boss fight or a fight with a marked one.”
stability
150 mentions
2 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many users note that the game feels unfinished and often unplayable, especially in online modes, due to frequent crashes, lag, and game-breaking glitches. While some players still find enjoyment in the core gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's stability is a major concern, with many recommending potential buyers to wait for fixes before diving in.
- “Runs great on my two-year-old PC.”
- “I can't speak for everyone, but so far I'm 100% bug-free and have been playing online most of the time.”
- “But no glitches that break the game aside from an audio bug that makes the background music double over itself, increasing the volume, but can easily be solved by restarting the game.”
- “This game is really buggy and abandoned by its developers (last update was 2019). Am I still going to play it? Yes. Is it going to make me break 5 keyboards, 3 mice, and 4 controllers? Yes.”
- “The game is a buggy mess when you alt-tab.”
- “The online is so buggy none of my hits land and I have people teleporting like Minato doing his yellow flash.”
atmosphere
109 mentions
64 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and art style that enhance the overall experience. While the story may be considered vague or clichéd, the expertly crafted environment and minimalist soundtrack contribute to a unique and contemplative ambiance reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Journey. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating world that complements its deep combat mechanics.
- “The atmosphere is impeccable (sound and visual design).”
- “Beautiful scenery, great atmosphere, and insanely deep combat.”
- “The atmosphere is stunning, the combat is simple yet complex, and aside from the usual opening day problems all games encounter like glitches and server crashes, its core features are effective.”
- “The world is very silent, with only a few bits of dialogue and a quiet atmosphere; it feels very grim and lonely.”
- “As much as I love the combat and the atmosphere, I cannot recommend this game; the servers are so bad that you'll want to kill yourself. In PvP battles, the enemies will spam attacks and you won't be able to dodge because the server doesn't register it.”
- “The quiet, solemn atmosphere of Absolver lends itself well to the somewhat grim task at hand.”
optimization
96 mentions
25 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance on decent hardware, while others experience significant issues such as frequent FPS drops, lag, and poor online connectivity. Many users express a desire for further optimizations, particularly for mouse and keyboard controls, and highlight that the game struggles to maintain stable performance even on capable systems. Overall, while some aspects of the game are well-optimized, there is a consensus that it requires substantial improvements to enhance the overall experience.
- “Generally, this game rarely has any significant performance issues, as long as you're not trying to play it on a thirty-year-old PC.”
- “The game is pretty, it runs smoothly, and the combat features an intuitive and interesting enough system to provide a great PvP experience.”
- “Combat mechanics are great, fighting style customization is good, graphics are good, optimization is solid, but needs more content.”
- “This game is unoptimized and unless they bring out a fix, my suggestion is to stay away from this broken unoptimized sheet.”
- “The game does not feel optimized, and it runs poorly on my computer.”
- “Good base game idea and interesting style and game mechanics, but pre-alpha game state, with zero balance, netplay lags of epic proportions, very little content and non-existent performance optimizations.”
replayability
74 mentions
23 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The replayability of "Absolver" is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth in PvP and the variety of fighting styles, which can lead to hours of enjoyment. However, many criticize the limited PvE content and short campaign, suggesting that once players have mastered the mechanics and unlocked gear, the game loses its appeal. The recent "Downfall" update has introduced new modes and mechanics that enhance replayability, but overall, opinions vary widely on the game's long-term engagement potential.
- “The variety of fighting styles makes the game replayable as wanted.”
- “With the option of PvP and a bunch of different armor to collect, there is a good amount of replayability.”
- “The new Downfall expansion gave the game a much-needed replayability boost, adding new dungeons and combat moves.”
- “Unfortunately, this game's been abandoned by its players due to its lack of content from its base game and its very non-replayable DLC dungeon that they introduced about 2 years ago.”
- “Although the game has absolutely zero replayability for me, once you have beaten the game (about 7 hours if you are progressing naturally), then you are done. You can try and play another class, but you can pretty much just go to all boss areas again and win, again.”
- “The game is good, too short unfortunately, and practically zero replayability.”
humor
41 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often highlighted through funny moments during PvP matches, such as comical gestures and unexpected outcomes, which can lead to both laughter and frustration. Players enjoy the mix of competitiveness and humor, especially in 1v1 and 3v3 scenarios, while also finding amusement in the game's quirks and bugs. Overall, the community's interactions and the game's mechanics contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, despite some players expressing annoyance at certain aspects.
- “Playing PvP with friends is one of those games where you have fun while sweating, but it gets so fun to the point where you are toxic but laughing so hard at the same time because of the mix of funniness, the amount of fun, and the competitiveness between you and your buddy.”
- “The fighting is fun and engaging, the deck system for building your style is fantastic, and the way you learn moves is both hilarious and gives a sense of progression.”
- “Plus, they have the drunken fist style and it's hilariously awesome!”
- “Devs, this is not funny; it's really just too short!”
- “The humor feels forced and falls flat throughout the game.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
monetization
24 mentions
13 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization model of the game is well-received, with players appreciating the absence of egregious microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics. Most in-game currency is earned through gameplay, and while there are some cosmetic microtransactions, they do not detract from the experience. However, some players express concerns about the game's late release and perceived cash grab tactics, particularly regarding the expansion and lack of developer communication.
- “When I saw that this game had an in-game shop, I thought for sure there would be microtransactions, but all the currency you use in the shop can only be obtained from in-game activities. Nowadays, this just doesn't happen.”
- “Devolver Digital could have cheapened this game and added microtransactions for extra cash, but they put the game first. Respect.”
- “There are microtransactions, but they seem mostly cosmetic.”
- “I wouldn't recommend this game for its current asking price because it's fairly clear this was rushed out the door as a cash grab and I'm almost certain there aren't any real intentions to add new combat trial modes (even though the padlocks at the top would imply there are at least 3 other modes coming).”
- “The Xbox release, as much of a final cash grab as it was, was released late, the patch to fix the game is nowhere in sight and not a lick of info from Sloclap.”
- “Edit: my refund request got denied for no reason whatsoever so I'm stuck with this worthless cash grab.”
character development
14 mentions
50 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the fluid combat mechanics and engaging character design, others criticize the lack of depth in character backstories and overall development. The art style is polarizing, with some finding it visually appealing and others deeming it weak and outdated. Overall, the focus seems to be more on combat and gameplay mechanics rather than rich character narratives.
- “Definitely enjoy the character development and combat which is fluid and requires you to develop several different timing systems and then adapt/mix them on the fly (vs button mash while strafing around dodging everything). Fighting multiple foes at once is appropriately lethal.”
- “Truly a beautiful experience, the environment, character design, and combat are built with so much love and passion.”
- “With a simplistic character design which can affect the game massively later on, I would say this game plays simplicity in the most complex and amazing way possible.”
- “There's very little character development.”
- “The bosses have no backstory and there's no character development.”
- “Even though there's not much character development or story, I'm still excited for more and hope that they don't just leave it there.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment from mastering its challenging mechanics. The community's supportive nature adds to the heartwarming experience, while the game's design evokes nostalgia and intense emotional responses, reminiscent of beloved titles like Jade Empire. Despite moments of frustration, the overall sentiment is one of love and appreciation for the emotional journey the game offers.
- “Pulling off the utmost satisfying combo brings nothing less than heartwarming pleasure.”
- “This game is fair, a little enraging at times, but I cannot remember a time when I loved being so emotional towards a game.”
- “[i] This game feels like an online reimagination of Jade Empire, my favorite game that made me cry the day my Xbox original broke.”