Absolum Preview: A Roguelite Beat ’Em Up with Depth

Dotemu and Guard Crush Games have teamed up with animation studio Supamonks to develop Absolum, a “rogue ’em up” that fuses roguelite progression systems with classic side-scrolling brawler action. Ahead of its 2025 launch, a playable demo will be available during Steam Next Fest (June 9–16), letting players tackle branching stages, in-run quests, and at least one major boss encounter. Here’s our deep dive into what makes Absolum stand out—and where it might stumble.

Gameplay Loop

At its core, Absolum overlays repeatable runs and risk-reward mechanics onto a beat ’em up backbone. Each playthrough sends you through a series of connected arenas, with optional detours that unlock new items or story beats. Completing run-specific challenges awards stat boosts, elemental affinities, or combo techniques that persist across future attempts. The demo grants access to three unique fighters—Cider, Vale, and Rook—each specializing in different combat styles, ensuring run variety from the outset.

Characters and Moves

Cider, the demo’s flagship character, wields an extendable arm that can drag enemies in or strike them from afar. Vale employs elemental shards—ice walls to freeze foes and lightning arcs for crowd control—while Rook relies on brute strength, using shoulder tackles and ground-pound attacks to break through defenses. Each hero has a skill tree unlocked via in-mission collectibles: think a flamethrower gauntlet for Cider or an electrified shield for Rook. This layered approach encourages experimentation to discover synergies among abilities.

Visuals and Story

Set in a realm fractured by a cataclysmic magical event, Absolum pits rebel sorcerers against the autocratic Sun King. The narrative unfolds through brief cutscenes and mentor-guided missions, weaving a tale of rebellion and redemption. Supamonks’ animation brings fluidity to each punch and spell effect, with parallaxed backgrounds that evoke both modern lighting and retro-inspired color palettes. The art direction aims to blend slick particle effects with hand-drawn character portraits—straddling nostalgic charm and contemporary polish.

Sound and Atmosphere

Composer Gareth Coker leads audio production, joined by special contributions from Mick Gordon and Yuka Kitamura. Expect a dynamic score that shifts from orchestral swells during boss fights to industrial-tinged rock on mid-level stages. Adaptive layering means music intensifies as combos build, while ambient tracks underscore exploration in hidden areas. Sound effects—crackling spells, bone-crunching punches—are designed to punctuate every hit, reinforcing the visceral feel of the combat system.

Replayability & Challenges

Absolum’s roguelite DNA shines through its branching routes and repeatable objectives. The demo’s quests range from “Defeat five elites without taking damage” to “Collect three rare runestones in under two minutes.” Difficulty modifiers—such as “Hardened Enemies” or “Loot Scarcity”—add layers of challenge for solo or local co-op runs, while optional online matchmaking caters to remote cooperation. Permanent progression comes via a hub area where unlocked talents and store-bought upgrades ease early runs without removing the tension of risk.

Potential Pitfalls

Marrying roguelite randomness with beat ’em up pacing carries notable risks. If stage layouts or enemy placements lean too heavily on repetition, the thrill of discovery could evaporate. Likewise, underwhelming upgrade rewards might render runs hollow. Dotemu’s prior success with Streets of Rage 4 shows their aptitude for modernizing retro fighters, but absolute balance is critical: too much grind threatens to undercut the moment-to-moment satisfaction of combat. Observers will watch whether Supamonks’ varied level designs and in-run quest incentives can stave off fatigue.

Technical Details

Absolum’s Steam Next Fest demo will be the first major test of whether its roguelite framework deepens the brawler experience or adds only surface-level variety. If Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Supamonks nail the balance between thrilling combat and meaningful run progression, Absolum could set a new standard for modern beat ’em ups. For now, fans of both genres have reason to get excited—and to explore every branching path.

Source: Dotemu via GamesPress