REVIEW: ‘Absolum’ Shines In The Roguelite Genre

Absolum, a roguelite brawler from developers Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks, and published by Dotemu, introduces the world of Talamh after a magical cataclysm. Now under the rule of the oppressive Azra, a band of resistance fighters led by the magical Root Sisters seeks to dethrone him and free the world, and magic as well. No matter how many tries it takes.

There are genres where their greatest strength can become their most frustrating element. This can be the case with roguelites. As developers have found more creative ways to incorporate narrative and character arcs into the endlessly replayable journeys of their protagonists, the core element of the concept — its randomly generated paths — can hinder the experience. The developers of Absolum have found an elegant solution that allows players to direct their adventure while still having an expansive and replayable experience. 

The central element that allows this game to inject a clearer and more manageable narrative into its adventure is a map. As players explore the world of Talamh, they will connect paths on their map, allowing them to search out specific engagements. 

The playtime is one of the strongest aspects in Absolum. 

Enemies still change between playthroughs, and elements of these areas can change as well. Runs deliver the variety that players are used to. If you’ve been given a task to complete or need to talk to an NPC somewhere, you can direct your character to the location, rather than relying on luck to make them appear. 

Oftentimes, with these story meetings, Absolum will also empower its players. Rewards are plentiful, and being able to hunt down where to unlock things enables the game to deliver an extremely satisfying power curve. Which leads to another core thing that makes the game stand out: its playtime. 

This provides a quicker-than-usual runtime than other games of the genre. Many will be able to reach the core narrative conclusion in a dedicated weekend, even if there are still a couple of secrets on the map for them to discover, but the adventure is likely to be wrapped up.

This may be disappointing to some, but for others, it will be a fantastic experience.  As someone who rarely manages to reach the true ending of more traditional roguelites, being able to gain power smoothly and get to the end within a reasonable amount of time was refreshing. Endless runs are great if you have the time, but sometimes you want something more concise. 

The power structure offers satisfying results. 

Absolum brings a lot of fun and engaging content that begs to be explored, even after the story is done. With four strikingly different protagonists to choose from and a bevy of upgrade paths to mix and match, the game always has one more thing to try out and discover. The game also generously helps you test your builds to the fullest.

One of the best aspects of the game’s upgrade system is how effectively it reinforces what you are trying to achieve. In some rooms along the path, players will be granted the option of taking one of a selection of power-ups. In subsequent offerings, the player will frequently find one of their choices to be a duplicate of a previously chosen perk. If selected, the abilities will stack, enhancing the result. 

By embracing a bit less randomness, the power structure of the game brings a more satisfying result. Getting to see a strategy come together smoothly is always a treat. Different power-up paths can come together in surprising ways, making strategies endless, which compensates for how quickly each can sometimes be explored. 

The sky is the limit in this roguelite brawler. 

While a lot of what’s great about Absolum is how it reigns in elements, the developers show that they know when to let loose as well. This is seen through how they approach the open-endedness of move enhancement combinations. 

Frequently, roguelites will limit a player to one enhancement for each element of their kit. Attack gets one, secondary attack gets one, and ultimate, dash, and throw all would get a singular power attached to it. Here, no such limiter exists.

For example, in one run, my chosen character’s attacks would charge up chain lighting, create tornadoes, and every time I finished a combo, it would sprout throwing daggers for me to use. The sky is the limit. With several different elemental paths to explore and combine, the game gives the player the full canvas to explore and break as they see fit. 

While magical abilities are the most eye-catching tool in the arsenal, it is far from the only path to power here. On each run, players collect gems they can bring back to gain passive buffs. Bonuses to attack, dodge, drop rates, as well as mounts and minions, can all be gained over the course of the game. And yes, I said mounts and minions.

Explore the world Absolum through it’s creatures and character-specific upgrades.

At points across Talamh, players will encounter beasts that can be temporarily tamed and ridden for enhanced attacks. Likewise, when in towns, players can spend some gold to hire minions to fight alongside them as long as their health lasts. These aids come in various shapes and sizes, with one late-game option in particular being incredibly powerful. 

Another power-up type players can access is trinkets. These simple tools can be purchased at various locations, further fine-tuning a build. Again, like powers themselves, these boons can be purchased multiple times, allowing their benefits to grow in power.

The final upgrades that Absolum offers are character-specific ones. After certain boss encounters, the player will be offered one of two choices tailored specifically for their current character. These can replace attacks with new versions or augment elements of their kit. The singularly most impactful choices are made when selecting these. Some are so great, you won’t know what to do when you no longer have them. At least, until you unlock a new one.

Experience fantastic combat. 

All of these systems come together to empower a fantastic, moment-to-moment combat experience. Each area of the map is presented in a side-scrolling style, providing space for 3D movement as players fight their way through waves of enemies. Skill is needed to time powerful combo attacks with deflects and dodges, to strike down their foes, and move on to the next area. 

The best element of the dodge and deflect system is that they both work through dashing. A dash down or up allows the player to dodge, while dashing directly into an enemy will deflect their attack. Succeeding at either will give the player the chance to inflict a punishing attack. This streamlined button selection enables the player to focus on their movement instead of which button to press for each action. 

There are also more powerful abilities that cannot be dodged or deflected, and instead must be clashed. Clashing occurs with a well-timed secondary attack that will rock an enemy onto their heels, also leaving them vulnerable to a punishing follow-up. 

Face off against a number of eclectic enemies. 

Along with these situational elements, combat is a combo-fueled barrage of attacks, throws, and special elements. A lot of unique ways to interact with enemies can be enhanced or exploited. Aerial attacks can be focused on, while impact attacks that see foes bouncing off walls and objects can also be used to great effect. Certain attacks, called tech attacks, can even land hits on temporarily downed foes, allowing combos to continue. Any character can use each of these concepts, although each has its specialty to lean into. 

Challenging the player’s immense arsenal is an equally sizable selection of foes. A wide range of enemies inhabit the world, and some even evolve as the player progresses through stories. From standard grunts with spears to undead knights who teleport around the screen, to giant maggots that can suck a character into their gaping maw and spit them out, each area provides different challenges to overcome. 

The only way that combat struggles on occasion will be a familiar one to brawler fans. There are times when it is difficult to discern whether an attack is imminent or not. The hit detection on the Y-axis sometimes feels off, making it difficult to size up whether a projectile will land or go sailing by. 

The world of Talamh is fully realized. 

All of this frenetic action and world exploration is brought to life by a charming art style. Harkening back to classic fantasy animation, the developers give the world of Talamh a look that is equal parts welcoming and harrowing. The true villains of the story are designed wonderfully, with dark, faceless visages that deliver an intimidating presence. While others range from wild goblins to spooky specters. 

The visual design also does a great job of keeping the on-screen action as well-managed as one could ask for. Clear indicators stand out when special attacks are coming or a clash has occurred, keeping the player in the know as to what is going on. 

The only time the clarity of combat can become hazy is with certain character builds. If the player leans into minion-centric themes, the screen can become cluttered to the point of illegibility. However, if a player finds this to be a problem, they can always steer clear of such builds. 

Absolum delivers a truly special roguelite experience. By reining in some of the random elements, it’s able to create a smooth-running story that allows those with less than infinite time an experience they can enjoy. Its generous power-up system promises tons of fun, with plenty to explore and test out, long after the world of Talamh has been saved. 

Absolum is available on October 9th, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 4/5, and Nintendo Switch.