Game intel
Absolum
Crafted with passion by the dream team that redefined side-scrolling beat 'em ups, Absolum mixes top-of-the-class combat action with modern roguelite elements,…
Every now and then, the beat’em up genre gets a shot in the arm from developers who actually know how to make a fist-fight feel fantastic. When the team behind Streets of Rage 4-one of the best modern brawlers-announces a brand new IP, it’s hard not to pay attention. That’s exactly why Dotemu and Guard Crush Games’ fresh reveal, Absolum, landed on my must-watch list, even in the middle of a brutally crowded release schedule.
If you’ve played Streets of Rage 4, you know Guard Crush Games absolutely nailed the classic beat’em up formula and modernized it in all the right ways. But Absolum is their first real attempt at crafting not just a game, but a whole new universe—with none of the crutches (or constraints) of a legacy license. That’s an exciting, and honestly risky, move in today’s nostalgia-heavy market where sequels and remakes reign supreme. Absolum ditches the familiar cityscapes and takes us instead to a grim fantastical world ruled by an unhinged king, putting players in the muddy boots of rebels fighting for freedom. If you’re tired of yet another pixel-art rehash of the ‘80s, this is a welcome breath of fresh air.
It’s easy for new characters in these games to blend together—yet the reveal of Brome, an anthropomorphic frog, actually grabbed my attention. Instead of a generic bruiser, Brome mixes staff combat with tongue-based maneuvers that give him unique reach and a certain playful menace. Dotemu’s trailer shows him flipping and swinging in ways you just don’t see in human fighters. The risk here: mascot-style characters can be a turn-off if they feel out of place tonally. But if anyone can make goofy-amphibian-meets-grimdark work, it’s a team that proved how flexible brawler storytelling can be with Streets of Rage 4. On the other hand, if Brome ends up as little more than a marketing gimmick rather than a genuinely inventive playstyle, that’ll be a missed opportunity. I’m rooting for the former.
If you’re like me, your October calendar is already bursting at the seams. Big games, late-year releases, and indie darlings all pile on at once. Why should anyone care about Absolum amid that chaos? For starters, Dotemu has a rare track record of reviving or reimagining the retro genres I grew up on. Guard Crush Games understands what makes co-op brawlers sing—tight mechanics, deep combat systems, and that magic feeling of clearing a room with a friend. Throw in Supamonks for a bit of creative flair, and Absolum could be the surprise of the month if it’s even half as good as their earlier work.
Where some studios chase the “live service” trend or FOMO-driven content, Absolum is aiming squarely at polished, replayable action. That’s reason enough to circle the date, even if you’re flooded with options.
For beat’em up veterans, the shift to an original world is a bold swing. What gets me hyped isn’t just the art style—though it looks distinct and moody—but the fact that Dotemu is putting its reputation on the line for something that isn’t just coasting on nostalgia. With multiplatform release from day one (PC, PlayStation, and Switch), Absolum isn’t hiding behind exclusivity or retro purism. Will the new setting and offbeat characters draw in newcomers, or do we end up with another curiosity lost in a sea of October releases?
Absolum is the Streets of Rage 4 team’s shot at original storytelling in the beat’em up genre. It’s risky, ambitious, and weird enough to stand out—assuming the gameplay holds up. For genre diehards and anyone tired of safe sequels, Absolum might be the October underdog worth watching.
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