Absolum Review—A Must-Play Roguelite

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Sometimes a game comes along that captures the pure joy of playing video games, and Absolum is one of them. It looks like a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up with elements like replayable runs, choices that matter, and upgrades you can earn. But it quickly becomes clear that this game is special. Absolum is beautifully designed and expertly crafted, offering a genuinely rewarding experience that breathes new life into a familiar style of gameplay.

Absolum Review

A Visual World In Chaos

Absolum immediately captivates you with its stunning art style. The vibrant colors – from lush forests to haunting castles – make every scene visually striking. It’s the kind of game where any paused moment could be a beautiful piece of concept art. The artwork feels both confident and inviting, and it’s easily one of the best-looking games released this year, especially considering it’s an indie title.

Honestly, the story really grabbed me. It’s not just fluff – the world of Talamh has been through something awful, a magical catastrophe that’s left everyone scared of magic. Then this Sun King Azra shows up, enslaving anyone with magical abilities and ruling through fear. It immediately makes all the combat feel meaningful. You’re not just mindlessly fighting enemies; you’re actively trying to rebuild a broken world and, as you play, you start to understand *why* those enemies are fighting too. It didn’t take long – maybe 20 or 30 minutes – before I really felt like I was fighting for something important.

Combat That Hooks You

Absolum is a game focused on timing and precise movements. You begin with two characters, Karl and Galandra, and unlock two more – Cider and Brome – as you progress. Each character offers a unique playstyle. Karl, a powerful dwarf, uses a combination of his blunderbuss and close-combat attacks. Galandra, the agile elf, defeats enemies with swift and elegant strikes. However, Cider is particularly memorable, with an extendable arm that lets her quickly pull herself towards opponents – similar to Scorpion from Mortal Kombat – and it’s incredibly enjoyable. All that’s missing is the iconic catchphrase, “Get over here!”

The further you progress in your runs, the more powerful abilities you’ll gain, like waves that push back enemies or fire attacks that cause lasting damage. What’s really great is how well these abilities work together in combat. Successfully chaining attacks refills your mana, letting you use your strongest moves more frequently. This creates a thrilling and satisfying cycle where every battle feels challenging and worthwhile.

When you encounter enemies, you’ll sometimes find them already battling each other. Take advantage of these situations to distract them and move past them more quickly.

Absolum, like other roguelites, has you revisiting levels, but it avoids feeling repetitive. Each run feels different thanks to branching paths, randomized upgrades, and abilities that change how you play. You’ll constantly be faced with meaningful choices – small decisions that might involve trading health for strength or altering your route. These choices are simple to make, but they have a real impact, especially since health can be scarce. There’s a real risk involved, and it’s frustrating to enter a boss battle when you’re almost defeated.

The boss fights are definitely a highlight. They’re challenging without being frustrating, requiring either careful timing and patience or all-out attacks. It’s a great balance – difficult enough to make winning feel rewarding, but not so hard that it stops you from enjoying the game. They remind me of the boss fights in Dark Souls, but without the overwhelming difficulty that can be so frustrating.

The game becomes more rewarding the more you play it. While your initial attempts might seem incredibly difficult, gradually making progress creates that classic, satisfying feeling of improvement you get in roguelite games. If you’re struggling, you can recruit helpers to ease the challenge, or even play with a friend in co-op and fight enemies side-by-side.

Absolum Review Verdict

Absolum feels very similar to Guard Crush Games’ Streets of Rage 4 in terms of gameplay and visual style. However, while Streets of Rage 4 successfully modernized a classic, Absolum takes things a step further and feels like a true evolution of the genre. It’s visually appealing, offers a good level of challenge without being overly difficult, and has plenty of variety to keep players engaged.

Absolum doesn’t try to be overly original, and it doesn’t have to. It excels at the core elements that make this type of game enjoyable, with responsive fighting, a rewarding sense of improvement, and stunning visuals that make every action feel impactful. It’s a quick, visually impressive game with a lot of charm – everything you’d hope for. Ultimately, Absolum is a game that deserves to be experienced by everyone.

5 – Masterpiece

Just so you know, the developers sent me a copy of Absolum for PC to check out and write this review. You can read more about how we handle reviews if you’re curious!

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2025-10-09 16:20