Ever since Hades whipped up that perfect storm of myth and mayhem back in 2020, roguelikes have been flexing harder—blending punishing runs with personality that keeps you clicking “retry” like it’s a lifeline. Enter Absolum, Guard Crush Games and Supamonks’ Dotemu-backed gem, dropping October 10, 2025, and flipping the script with a side-scrolling beat-em-up twist. After 35 hours across PC and PS5 (review build from Dotemu, full clear with all wizards by October 11), I’m hooked—this ain’t just another loop; it’s a living grimoire of surprises, where every punch pulls a plot thread. Clocking a mesmerized 9/10, Absolum dances on Hades’ grave without stepping on toes, delivering combo-crunching chaos in a world that fights back. If Dead Cells’ fluidity met roguelike heart, this is the lovechild—grab it for PC, PS5, Switch, or Xbox now.
Absolum Review
Talamh’s Tangled Tapestry: A Realm That Reacts and Rebels
At its fractured core, Absolum Talamh world choices paint a powder-keg fantasy where wizard hubris cracked the skies, birthing Azra’s iron-fisted empire. As one of Uchawi’s ragtag mages—fugitives with forbidden sparks—you’re both savior and scapegoat, dodging pitchforks from folks blaming your kind for the cataclysm. The narrative hums through sparse cinematics and Uchawi’s lore drops, but shines in emergent drama: Raid a chest? Turn a villager’s grin to growl. Shatter a vase mid-brawl? Forfeit that hidden heal. It’s a reactive realm that punishes whimsy, rewarding cunning—Absolum Uchawi as your hearthside oracle, dishing quests and upgrades that ripple across runs.
No two jaunts mirror: Paths fork into fog-shrouded wilds or pirate-plagued ports, spawning fresh foes, bosses, and branches based on prior blunders. Fail a defense? Next loop, reinforcements swarm harder. It’s roguelike poetry—failure fuels discovery, turning “game over” into “gotcha.” Compared to Hades’ underworld jaunts, Absolum’s world feels more malleable, less scripted—every choice a spell that reshapes the scroll.
Absolum Review
Brawler’s Ballet: Combat That Cracks Like a Whip
Absolum beat-em-up mechanics hit like a thunderclap—side-scrolling savagery where waves crash in 2D fury, demanding X-Y mastery to juggle goons without getting swarmed. Light attacks chain into aerial raves; heavies cleave crowds with arcane flair. Positioning’s king: Dash-deflect into faces for parry sparks, but mistime and you’re paste. It’s Dead Cells fluid, but with beat-em-up heft—enemies telegraph sweeps across lanes, training your eye for the dodge-dance.
Bosses? Symphonies of spite—one pirate galleon siege had me leaping rigging while cannonballs cratered decks. Absolum vs Hades roguelike? Hades gifts boons; Absolum earns ’em through grit, with chaos spikes that test builds mid-flow. Accessibility shines: Crank damage sliders (0-500% output) for casual casts or masochist modes—pure player-first polish.
Absolum Review
Wizard Wielders: Four Flavors of Arcane Fury
Wizard
Style
Signature Moves
Best For
Karl
Hybrid Bruiser
Melee slams + ranged blasts
Balanced brawlers
Galandra
Sword Sweeper
Wide arcs, close-quarters spins
Crowd-clear kings
Cider
Agile Acrobat
Aerial combos, nimble dodges
Speed demons (voiced by BG3’s Beart!)
Brome
Spell Slinger
Staff whacks + mana nukes
Ranged rulers
Each packs six Absolum arcana abilities guide—mana-fueled finishers like fire lances or shadow clones—unlocked via primordial seeds from radiance grinds. Mix with rituals (elemental boons), inspirations (post-boss actives), and trinkets (passives like health buffs), and builds bloom wild.
Absolum Review
Roguelike Rhythm: Runs That Reshape and Reward
Absolum roguelike loop pulses with purpose: Harvest radiance (damage meter highs) for levels granting fruits/seeds—imbue rituals for fire affinity amps, seed new arcana like poison thorns. Crystals fuel the Soul Tree back at Uchawi’s Hearth: Stack revives (“Mother’s Grace”), throwable tweaks, or rarity pulls. Hearth’s the heartbeat—chat NPCs for side quests (Cider’s thievery tale tugged strings), recruit allies for run buffs.
Variety’s the venom: Dozens of routes snake through biomes, spawning gazorg lairs or lizard lord lairs. 100% took me 35 hours—personal arcs, hidden hubs—but surprises lingered: A “failed” choice unlocked a rebel alliance, flipping a boss to buddy. Pacing peaks early, dips in mid-run slumps (wave overloads blur screens), but failure’s a teacher—each death dissects patterns, honing precision.
Absolum Review
Absolum Review
Art & Audio: A Storybook Spell That Stays Cast
Absolum’s hand-inked visuals pop like a living graphic novel—crisp outlines, vibrant palettes that keep chaos legible amid the scrum. Animations flow buttery; a wizard’s dash trails ethereal wisps. Sound? A sonic spellbook—diverse OST swells from orchestral swells to punk riffs, syncing boss cues like a heartbeat. Effects crackle satisfyingly—flesh yields to fists, spells whoosh with weight. Absolum release PC PS5 Switch Xbox runs flawless: Zero hitches, buttery 60fps even in frenzy—load times? Blink-and-miss.
Pros
Cons
Reactive world with meaningful choices
Mid-run enemy swarms overwhelm screens
Fluid beat-em-up combat with deep builds
Some paths feel grindy for 100%
Four distinct wizards and arcana variety
Cryptic lore needs multiple runs to click
Stunning art, killer soundtrack, zero bugs
Verdict: 9/10 – Absolum isn’t flawless—overloads jar, grinds linger—but it’s a roguelike revelation, weaving beat-em-up brawn with wizardly whimsy in a world that whispers “one more run.” Dotemu’s drop nails the genre’s soul: Punishing yet playful, surprising yet structured. For Hades holdouts or Dead Cells devotees, it’s essential—Absolum review whispers: The genre just leveled up.
Reviewed on PC/PS5, October 12, 2025—Dotemu code. Craving builds? Peek our arcana guide.
Cider or Brome—your wizard pick? Wildest run surprise? Spill the spells below!
