Absolum Review — Streets of Rage Meets Hades in a Gorgeous Roguelite
Absolum is a hand‑drawn, combo‑heavy beat ’em up with roguelite progression. Gorgeous art, a killer soundtrack and tight, high‑skill combat make every run exciting — even if co‑op and a few combat/readability quirks hold it back.
I didn’t expect to fall this hard for a side‑scrolling brawler in 2025, but Absolum hooked me from the first clash. It blends Streets of Rage style physicality with Hades‑like run variance and a soundtrack that punches as hard as the hits. If you love art, music and mastering combo timing, this one’s for you.
Absolum is a fast, combo‑driven 2D beat ’em up wrapped in roguelite progression. You pick one of four distinct heroes (Galandra, Karl, Brome, Cider) and chain light/heavy attacks, unique specials and elemental rituals that twist your kit each run. Rituals feel like Hades boons but for a beat ’em up — they turn moves into wild new tools and reward experimentation. Combat has real fighting‑game moments: clashing, perfect dodges, parries and juggling enemies across the stage. Runs branch through multiple paths, secrets and mid‑bosses, and meta progression unlocks new rituals, inspirations and stat boosts so later runs feel fuller. Local couch co‑op and online matchmade play add a ton of fun, though the game currently favors two players only. Visuals and animation by Supamonks are jaw‑dropping and Gareth Coker’s soundtrack (plus guest composers) gives each boss and zone huge personality. On the downside, readability can suffer when the screen gets busy, some timing windows (perfect dodge/block) feel a touch frame‑tight, and a few UX choices in online coop (lobbies, shared/competing boons) can frustrate. Still, the core loop — hit, adapt, die, learn — is addictive.
Absolum is a love letter to classic beat ’em ups with modern roguelite brains: stunning presentation, rewarding combat and huge replay value. It isn’t perfect — coop UX and a few combat niggles hold it back from flawless — but for most players this is an easy recommend.
Pros
- Gorgeous hand‑drawn art and stellar animations.
- Deep, satisfying combo combat with fighting‑game nuance.
- Roguelite rituals and meta progression keep runs fresh.
Cons
- Screen readability and some defensive timings can feel off in hectic fights.
- Co‑op design choices (2‑player cap, shared/competing boons, lobbies) sometimes frustrate teamwork.
Player Opinion
Players consistently praise the art, music and the combat’s addictiveness — many call it a modern classic for beat ’em ups. Folk love the replay value from rituals and branching paths, and couch co‑op is highlighted as a blast. Common complaints are bugs, occasional readability or timing issues, the lack of 4‑player coop, and some online UX choices (shared boons, lobbies) that can feel unfair. If you like Hades’ run variety and Streets of Rage’s physical combos, Absolum will likely stick with you.