Absolum review (PC) – Dotemu’s First Original IP is Simply Stunning

It’s not the first time that 2D beat ’em ups and roguelikes have crossed paths, but Absolum, from Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks, takes the concept further, feeling like a true evolution of the formula. The gameplay blends the tight, polished combat of Streets of Rage 4 with the chaotic energy of Hades, while echoing classics like Guardian Heroes and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara.

As Dotemu’s first original IP, Absolum stands as a bold, stylish fusion of roguelike unpredictability and classic beat ’em up intensity. But does it truly deliver? Let’s find out in The Outerhaven’s review of Absolum, one of 2025’s most anticipated 2D action games.

Game Name: Absolum
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Developer(s): Guard Crush Games, Supamonks
Publisher(s): Dotemu
Release Date: October 9, 2025

What Exactly Is Going On (No Spoilers)

The premise of Absolum is simple: magic is outlawed in the world of Talamh, and if you’re not the main man in charge or part of his crew, you’ll be hunted down, captured, enslaved, or killed. Of course, not everyone agrees with this, and a resistance has joined forces with the last major magical presence that hasn’t been snuffed out, fighting to make magic free and openly available to everyone.

As far as stories go, it’s fine. It leans heavily on dark fantasy tropes, and I thought it was all too basic. Or so I thought, but the more I played, the more I started to realize that the story is ever-evolving, and you find out bits of not just the ongoing conflict,  but your characters backgrounds and history when they interact with each other, or when specific enemies would conduct dialog with you, the world building, and so much more that would wind up spoiling the game if I started to tread into it.

After I started seeing what the big picture was, I began wondering if I was actually fighting for the right side, or if the “villain” was just a product of necessity. Or more importantly, who was hiding what from me and why.

A Beat ’Em Up at Heart, a Roguelike in Soul

On the surface, Absolum looks like a classic 2D brawler, but underneath it’s a full-fledged roguelike. Every run reshuffles stages, enemies, and rewards, ensuring no two playthroughs feel the same. Each stage features branching paths that may lead to hidden bosses, side quests, or shortcuts for future runs. That sense of choice and discovery gives Absolum incredible replay value. With that, it’s also important to point out that the game isn’t procedurally generated, as I know there are those who aren’t fans of that.

In one run, I was celebrated by a goblin tribe after defeating their champion; in another, they dropped bombs on me instead. Or in another area, an ally can become a boss if you happen to enter her room without permission. It’s that unpredictability that defines the experience, and you never quite know what’s waiting next.

Each attempt gives you perks and Arcana abilities that dramatically shift how you play. Sometimes you’ll feel unstoppable; other times, you’ll scrape by with scraps. Unlike most roguelikes, though, perks aren’t everything. The beat ’em up combat steals the show. It’s fluid, weighty, and satisfying, with wall bounces, aerials, and stylish finishers.

It’s not as linear as Streets of Rage 4 in terms of combat, but it’s more dynamic than expected, think Shinobi: Art of Revenge meets Hades. The mix of real-time combos and magical attacks rewards aggression and precision.

Insert Fist into Face

At the start, you can choose between two characters: a heavy hitter with a massive sword or a fast brawler who relies on fists. However, as you continue through the game and progress the story, you’ll unlock several more characters, such as the blade-wielding acrobat and a magic-using mage. Each character feels distinct, offering a playstyle for everyone. While there’s some overlap, once you kit out a character, they really excel in their own way.

After a few hours, I gravitated toward Karl, the grumpy dwarf, whose boxing-style of combat stood out. His dodges come with quick bobs and weaves, and his deflects, with both arms raised, make him feel scrappy and grounded. Many of his special attacks, called Arcana, involve his blunderbuss, letting him blast near full-screen attacks, pin enemies, or unleash rapid-fire barrages. And if luck’s on your side, you might grab a perk granting unlimited mana, letting you spam Arcana nonstop and decimate everything in sight.

Combat blends standard and special attacks with unlockable skills, fueled by mana you build by attacking or picking up mana shards. Eventually, you’ll unlock ultimate abilities which are devastating moves that can shred enemies or save you from disaster. The mix of real-time combos and magical attacks rewards aggression and precision.

Defensive options add even more depth. A well-timed deflect blocks most attacks, while clash counters reward precision if you use a special attack at the same time an enemy strikes. It sounds like chaos, but nail the timing and you’ll leave foes wide open for punishment. You can even dodge-cancel between lanes to avoid damage and reposition. Together, these tools make success depend as much on timing and awareness as raw aggression.

That said, my only gripe is the deflect being tied to the same button as dashing. It’s functional but occasionally awkward. A separate input would’ve been ideal, though I understand the need to keep controls simple.

You’ve Died, Now Try Again

Like any roguelike, death is inevitable, but in Absolum it’s part of the fun. Each failed run rewards you with Radiance (XP) and crystals used for permanent upgrades: extra health, gold bonuses, or even a single-use resurrection. These improvements apply to all characters, so you’re always progressing, even when you fail.

The loop is incredibly addictive. One run might grant you perfect perks that make you feel invincible, while another forces you to scrape by. Yet no matter what, you’re always improving. The mix of short-term luck and long-term growth keeps the game engaging without ever feeling punishing.

And yes, you’ll die, a lot. Sometimes you’ll get overwhelmed; sometimes you’ll lose a boss fight with a sliver of their health left. But each time I met my demise, I wanted to jump right back in, thanks to the enjoyable and addicting gameplay loop.

Presentation: Sound, Music, and Style

This is where Absolum absolutely shines. Supamonks’ hand-drawn art style is gorgeous—moody, detailed, and alive. The ruined landscapes feel eerie yet vibrant, with enemies and backgrounds bursting with personality. Soldiers cheer when they hit you, goblins laugh when you fall into traps, and little details bring every level to life. In truth, seeing the game in action reminded me of one of those Saturday morning cartoons that I used to watch.

The soundtrack, led by Gareth Coker and joined by Mick Gordon, Yuka Kitamura, and Motoi Sakuraba, just to name a few, is simply phenomenal. From ambient exploration themes to pounding combat tracks, it perfectly balances atmosphere and energy. Even silence is used effectively, letting the world breathe between battles while providing an eerie atmosphere of uneasiness.

The voice acting is another surprise highlight. Performances are raw and emotional, selling every line of dialogue with conviction and heart. It elevates what could have been simple exposition into something truly memorable.

Co-op Chaos

Absolum supports both local and online co-op. Couch play works perfectly, with smooth transitions and shared progression. Online play, however, is hit-or-miss. Since it uses peer-to-peer connections, lag depends on your partner’s distance. Rollback frames are a nice option and help with latency issues, but we still experienced dropped sessions that put a bummer on our co-op fun. When it works, though, tearing through enemies with a friend is pure fun. And there’s no worry about sharing perks found along the way, as each player will be rewarded with their own options.

With co-op, only two players are able to play together and I feel that’s a big miss, since there are four playable characters. Though, at the same time, where there are two characters on screen, with a bunch of enemies, it was pretty easy to lose track of my character. Still, that is the beauty of having four players on screen. Maybe that’s something that will get patched in at a later date.

I also have to commend how easy it is to revive a downed player — just walk over and give them a quick nudge, instead of standing there whacking away trying to bring them back to life while struggling to stay alive yourself.

Performance

I played Absolum primarily on PC, but most of my time was on handhelds—the Steam Deck and ROG Ally X—and it ran beautifully. The game is highly optimized, requiring minimal tweaking and running smoothly even on lower-power devices. It’s also tailor-made for handheld play: easy to pick up, and you’ll lose track while playing the game.

Assist Options

Absolum includes scalable assist settings that let you adjust enemy health and damage. You can make it much easier if you want, though it removes some of the challenge that makes the experience satisfying. It’s a welcome accessibility option that doesn’t compromise the game’s core design.

Absolum | Final Verdict

By fusing 2D beat ’em up fundamentals with roguelike unpredictability, Absolum creates a gameplay loop that’s challenging, rewarding, and hard to put down. Each run feels fresh thanks to branching paths, meaningful upgrades, and distinct characters.

Once you’ve unlocked the full roster, there’s genuine incentive to experiment, as each fighter plays differently enough to make every run feel new. Paired with tight combat, gorgeous visuals, and a killer soundtrack, Absolum cements Dotemu’s debut original IP as a must-play for fans of roguelike action games. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it perfects the blend of two timeless styles. If you love Hades, Streets of Rage 4, or any stylish 2D brawler with lasting replay value, this Absolum review should tell you everything you need to know — it’s one of the best surprises of 2025.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of Absolum was provided to us for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guidelines/Scoring Policy.

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