Absolum Review – A Dark World That Pulls You In

You might have caught MP1st’s preview of Absolum about a month ago, and since then we’ve had the chance to go hands-on with the full version of the game. What started as an intriguing roguelite from Guard Crush, Supamonks, and Dotemu has shaped into something much more refined, polished, and punishing in the best possible way.

Restarting after every run can sometimes feel cruel, but roguelite veterans will feel right at home, and newcomers will find a rewarding, if demanding, experience. After spending dozens of hours diving into Absolum’s dark, dangerous world, here’s how it all held up. Let’s take a look, shall we?

A Strong First Impression

Absolum doesn’t waste time pulling you in. The game opens with a striking cinematic that sets the stage for the grim world you’re about to explore. From the start, you can choose between two heroes: Karl or Galandra. Whichever one you don’t pick tags along as an NPC companion during the prologue. This opening section is more of an onboarding tutorial than a serious challenge, but it introduces core mechanics and lets you experiment with either character’s playstyle (which you can do later for the other character you did not select). It may feel slow at first, but rest assured, things escalate quickly.

Once you leave the prologue behind, Absolum wastes no time reminding you of what genre it belongs to. This is a roguelite, which means death is a teacher, and you’ll adventure alone unless you bring a co-op partner with you. That design choice immediately raises the stakes. Every encounter feels tense, every resource becomes precious, and every decision carries weight. Whether you’re venturing cautiously or taking risks, Absolum makes sure you’re constantly aware of what’s at stake.

The Flow of Combat

The Absolum combat system is straightforward. Fights feel fluid and responsive, with clear feedback on your inputs. Attacks, dashes, and abilities all carry weight, and the lane-based positioning system keeps things from becoming button-mashing chaos.

One unique wrinkle is that both you and your enemies can miss attacks if you’re not aligned in the same lane. At first, this feels frustrating, especially when a powerful ability whiffs entirely, but over time, it becomes a layer of tactical depth. Positioning matters, and staying mindful of where you’re standing in relation to enemies is key to surviving. However, be aware that AOE will be the majority of the lanes.

Charging up mana during fights is another core mechanic. Certain skills require it, and properly timing these abilities can shift the tide of battle. Meanwhile, your dash isn’t just for mobility, it also doubles as a deflect. This dual-purpose design takes practice to master, but once it clicks, it becomes a life-saving tool that adds rhythm to combat encounters. Though executing it is not always smooth, and timing can be a bit off even when you think you press it at the right time, so more practice is good, it can help on some boss fights.

The developers have refined inputs from earlier builds, and the results show. Controls are more refined, combos chain cleanly, and the overall pacing feels smoother than before. On top of that, performance is rock-solid. Across multiple sessions, the game held steady at 55-60 FPS with no noticeable frame drops, even when battles filled the screen with enemies, effects, and destructible objects.

And yes you can even ride into battle on the back of a boar. That little surprise was both hilarious and useful, giving combat an extra layer of chaotic fun. There is a lot of depth to the overall combat and it takes so try different things to help you progress.

Exploration, Rewards, and Choices

Stages in Absolum are built with replayability Every completed area rewards you with rituals, inspiration, or gear that enhance your run. Because health recovery is rare, you’ll find yourself smashing every crate, barrel, and destructible object in sight. It’s worth it sometimes, you’ll find a sliver of healing or a throwable item that can turn a near-death scenario into a narrow victory.

The game also introduces branching paths at certain checkpoints. Some are obvious, while others are hidden and require careful map-checking or keen observation. Choosing your route becomes part of the strategy as you may not know what lies ahead unless you unlock it in the previous run. These decisions keep each run fresh, adding a level of unpredictability that makes exploration rewarding beyond just loot.

Camps offer a small reprieve. Resting restores a portion of your health, not much, but enough to matter. As you progress, these camps can be upgraded, offering a sense of continuity across runs. It’s a smart way of giving players a safety net while still keeping the overall experience challenging.

Then there are special encounters like the “moneybag” mini-enemy. These foes drop large amounts of gold when defeated, but flee quickly if ignored, and sometimes they even steal healing food in the process. They create moments of urgency that break up the rhythm of exploration and force you to adapt on the fly.

Progression Systems With Every Death

One of Absolum’s biggest strengths is how it balances the roguelite loop of failure and progression. Every death sends you back to the starting hub, but not empty-handed. Throughout your runs, you’ll gather shards and crystals that can be traded at the Soul Tree for permanent upgrades like increased health, boosted critical damage, or stronger abilities.

Leveling up also increases your “Radiance Level,” further enhancing your character’s potential. Meanwhile, NPCs you rescue during runs return to the hub, unlocking new vendors, resources, and even additional playable heroes. These long-term rewards make repeated runs feel purposeful, even when you die early. But make sure not to die too soon, before reaching the stage to rescue or find those NPCs.

The hub is also where you’ll find Ederig the Stalwart, who teaches new arcane abilities. These add variety to your toolkit and give you more ways to experiment with different builds. Combined with gear drops and perks earned mid-run, Absolum offers a satisfying sense of customization without drowning players in overly complex systems.

Another welcome feature is the ability to hire mercenaries. Using gold, you can recruit up to four companions to fight alongside you (at least in my playthrough). They provide useful support in tougher encounters, though they never completely overshadow the need for skillful play.

For players struggling with the challenge, an assist option exists but only in solo mode. This adjustment doesn’t trivialize the experience, but it does make the game more accessible for those new to roguelites, and those who would like to enjoy a story-based progression.

The Little Details That Stand Out

What surprised me most wasn’t just the polished combat or the layered progression it was the small touches sprinkled throughout the entire game. Beyond its core systems, Absolum shines in its attention to detail. Enemy factions will sometimes fight each other before turning on you, making the battlefield feel alive. Being able to grab enemies and toss them into others is never less fun, and it adds a layer of improvisation to combat.

The tension between scarcity and reward is finely tuned. Every shard, coin, or healing item feels valuable, and every choice feels impactful, especially when choosing your ritual. That said, I did find myself wishing for a glossary or codex to better explain some of the resources I was collecting. The mystery adds intrigue, but a little more clarity wouldn’t hurt.

Visually, the game is striking. Animations are fluid, the art direction nails its grim fantasy aesthetic, and environments are varied enough to keep each stage interesting. The soundtrack complements this perfectly, adding atmosphere without overpowering the action. Together, they create a world that begs to be explored, even as it repeatedly punishes you.

Verdict

Absolum is a roguelite that understands what makes the genre compelling. It’s challenging without feeling cheap, rewarding without being overwhelming, and polished without losing its rough edges. Guard Crush, Supamonks, and Dotemu have crafted a game that respects players’ time while still asking them to commit, learn, and adapt.

If you’re a fan of roguelites, Absolum offers everything you’d want: tight combat, meaningful progression, and a world that invites you back for “just one more run.” Even if you’re new to the genre, its assist options and steady difficulty curve make it approachable without stripping away its core identity.

Simply put, Absolum is a game worth looking forward to. It comes out on October 9, 2025, for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and PS4/PS5.

Score: 9.5/10

Pros:

• Fluid and Responsive Combat
• Replayable Stage Design
• Varied Combat Options
• Assist Options for Accessibility
• Unique Enemy Encounters

Cons:

• Limited Health Recovery
• Occasional RNG Frustration
• Companions Are Underutilized

Absolum Game review code was provided by the publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.

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