Absolum (v2026.08.07)

Talamh is a fantasy realm broken by catastrophe, where fear of sorcery gives the tyrannical Sun King Azra room to rule through his Crimson Order. Absolum turns that rebellion into a fast, forceful side-scrolling brawler with roguelite structure, mixing arcade-style crowd control with the uncertainty of changing runs. The mood is colorful and mythic rather than relentlessly grim, but its conflict carries weight as rebel heroes fight to free imprisoned magic users. Hand-drawn environments, elaborate character animation, and a score from notable game composers give every forest, mine, and war-torn route a strong sense of place.

Combat centers on chaining quick strikes, launches, evasions, counters, spells, and special attacks while managing groups of enemies that demand positioning as much as reflexes. Players choose fighters with sharply different tools: Galandra brings necromancy and an enormous blade, Karl thrives up close with dwarf-sized brute force and a blunderbuss, while Brome and Cider offer their own magical and agile approaches. Each attempt through the campaign presents branching routes, unexpected encounters, and powerful equipment or upgrades, encouraging experimentation instead of memorizing one perfect sequence. Runs are playable alone, but local and online co-op lets partners combine elemental effects and coordinate extended combo strings; local multiplayer requires controllers.

What separates Absolum from a straightforward Streets of Rage-style campaign is its willingness to make every uprising feel slightly different without abandoning satisfying, readable beat ’em up fundamentals. The developers’ pedigree shows in the emphasis on responsive impact, enemy juggling, and cooperative chaos, while Supamonks’ stylized visual work keeps the world distinct from generic medieval fantasy. Replay value comes from character choice, build variety, alternative paths, and the simple appeal of mastering increasingly wild combat situations. Fans of Streets of Rage 4, Hades-style run progression, or classic arcade brawlers should find plenty to like, and its accessible action makes it a solid entry point for newcomers who still want room to improve.