PC Critic Reviews

Absolum blends the best of 2D beat ’em ups and roguelike design into a loop that’s challenging, unpredictable, and downright addictive. It doesn’t reinvent either genre, but its tight combat, branching paths, and stunning presentation make it a must-play for fans of both. Despite being Dotemu’s first original IP, you’d never know it. This is a masterclass in design that kept me hooked, even as it repeatedly kicked my teeth in.

Absolum is a game that convinces you of its quality right from the start, only to reveal new strengths with every run and every new ability. Do yourselves a favor.

Absolum blew me away with its mastery of the side-scrolling beat-’em-up and roguelike genres, seamlessly combining the two in a game that is exceptional on a technical level and a blast to play. Paired with the excellent combat and roguelike loop are phenomenal characters, great worldbuilding, and gorgeous art, making for a game that is an absolute steal at just $25.

Absolum is a standout melding of genres and one of the best roguelikes of the year, making it a multiplayer must-play.

Absolum is a game that will be remembered not only for its incredible scenery but also for its fantastic gameplay. From the very first moments, it's clear that Absolum is something special and unique. A mix of powerful mechanics and expert game design will make players leave every session wanting more. Absolum will undoubtedly make a name for itself as one of the greatest games of the year. Whether it's with a friend or solo, beating up hordes of enemies has never been so much fun.

In a 2025 marked by the excellence of independent games, Absolum arrives to set a new standard of quality for the beat 'em up genre. The game takes the best of the roguelike genre to give a new face to modern beat 'em ups. With extremely varied gameplay and a combat system that encourages a high-risk, high-reward approach to overcoming enemies from common foes to bosses, Absolum presents a progression that requires a strategic approach to each fight, but always offers the player all the tools necessary to overcome these challenges. If beat 'em ups, even in their best recent games, have always been characterized by subtle innovations, Absolum emerges as a true beacon of creativity for the genre.

I can't stop playing this game! Great as a beat’em up, great as a roguelite, Absolum is just wonderful as a combination of the two genres. The cherry on top – but maybe is the foundation below – is a glorious lore and a brilliant narration that will keep you wanting more.

Absolum blends nostalgic, arcade beat 'em up gameplay with addictive progression, a charming Saturday morning cartoon-like aesthetic, and a cool storyline and setting to create the latest and greatest triumphant evolution of the roguelike genre.

In an already crowded 2025, Absolum still manages to climb onto the podium as an obvious standout. Guard Crush Games, Dotemu, and Supamonks deliver a masterful experience where missteps are few and far between. From the sublime soundtrack to the perfectly handled visuals, from the finely tuned roguelite loop to the premium quality of the combat mechanics, only the narrative feels somewhat left aside — which, in the end, is hardly an issue in a beat ’em up. Suffice to say, we really had to struggle to find flaws worth mentioning. After Streets of Rage 4, Dotemu raises the bar even higher, pulling off with rare brilliance the launch of its very first in-house franchise. Will this spark a new resurgence for the genre? If so, the next five years are going to be absolutely wild — in the best possible way.

Absolum does a fantastic job of expanding what we would usually expect of a beat ‘em up, keeping it fresh and interesting to play over dozens of runs. It looks, sounds, and runs great, and it plays phenomenally. It may not quite have the kinetic impact of my very favorite brawlers, but this is a game that dares to push beyond what fans expect from its genre and succeeds on all counts.