Absolum: A Roguelike Beat ’em Up TBA Soon!

Coming soon, the studios Guard Crush, known for Streets of Rage 4, together with Supamonks and Dotemu, will bring us a new 2D roguelike beat ‘em up that looks simply amazing. Its cinematics remind us of animated series from a few years ago, like Avatar The Last Airbender, just to name one. And let’s be clear, this is 100% positive, because when we get to enjoy the gameplay, those same animated characters seem to come to life and continue their movement, now under our control.

From my point of view, Absolum is a triumphant return to the roots, reminding us just how fun games of this style have always been. We could start listing many iconic titles, but honestly, we’d never finish, and that’s not the point either. This game’s impressive presentation clearly speaks for itself, showing that it was made with love and passion. That being said, take a look for yourself at Absolum’s Official Animated Reveal Trailer, brought to you by IGN:

“Created with passion by a dream team that redefined side-scrolling beat ’em ups, Absolum blends top-tier combat action with modern roguelike elements and brings the energy of classic fantasy arcade hits into an immersive adventure set in the world of Talamh.”

Absolum on Steam

The Story Behind Absolum

The destruction of Talamh, caused by a magical cataclysm at the hands of ambitious wizards, made ordinary people distrust magic. Azra, the Sun King, took advantage of this panic, enslaved the wizards through his Crimson Order, and left the governance of the conquered kingdoms in the hands of his loyal princes. As Azra’s forces claim more and more land, the great sorceress Uchawi and a small group of rebels rise from the shadows, wielding forbidden magic to challenge his oppressive rule and absolute magical power.

In Absolum, we will play as two outcast heroes of Talamh, each with a unique fighting style. On one side, Galandra, the mighty necromancer from the shadows of Yeldrim, who wields the unstoppable force of nature, expressed through relentless colossus-like sword strikes and chilling, destructive powers. And on the other, Karl, the last free dwarf of Talamh. This grumpy old warrior, possessing brute strength and a sharp mind, combines his fists with his powerful ancestral blunderbuss to unleash devastating short-range attacks while explosively moving across the battlefield. These two heroes will become steadfast allies in the uprising against Azra’s oppression.

But Galandra and Karl won’t be alone. Throughout their journey, two more mysterious heroes will join them, sharing common goals. The prodigy mage Brome, concerned with preserving the future generations of his people, and the enigmatic Cider, an agile skirmisher searching for answers among the scattered fragments of his own soul.

A Brilliant Combination

Absolum brings together the gameplay expertise of Dotemu and Guard Crush in beat ’em up mechanics with the best art and animation from Supamonks. With its fast-paced action and infinite replayability, Absolum presents a challenge filled with multiple paths to explore and unpredictable encounters, ensuring a fresh experience every time we play. Plus, along each of those paths, we’ll be able to test different combat combinations, taking on Azra’s forces through rapid strike combos mixed with powerful spellcasting, or by using magical counterattacks and rare items that allow us to turn the tide of battle in our favor.

The world of Talamh is an intricate tapestry full of secrets, stories, and betrayals. From the majestic mines of Grandery to the lush forests of Jaroba, every step of your odyssey will be accompanied by a magnificent soundtrack composed by Gareth Coker (Ori, Halo Infinite, Prince of Persia), with contributions from Yuka Kitamura (Dark Souls, Elden Ring), Mick Gordon (Doom Eternal, Atomic Heart), and many more!

With nothing more to add, I think the only thing left is to add Absolum to our Steam Wishlist and keep an eye out for upcoming news. In the meantime, you can already check out its technical requirements on its Steam page, which, as always, we leave at the end of this article. And since we have to wait, why not drop by the comments and let us know what you think about this fresh new take? You know, gamer, we’ll be reading you! 😉

Images Source: IGN Official YouTube Channel, Absolum on Steam