Absolum Review: Roguelite Beat 'Em Up Shines on Nintendo Switch and Beyond

The indie gaming world has witnessed a unique fusion of genres with Absolum, a beat ‘em up game blending roguelite elements, now available across platforms including the Nintendo Switch.

Developed by Dotemu and Guard Crush—studios renowned for their hit Streets of Rage 4—and featuring animation from Supamonks, Absolum stands out with its handcrafted levels, diverse characters, and a critically-acclaimed soundtrack contributed by renowned composers such as Yuka Kitamura and Gareth Coker. Set in the magical, war-torn world of Talamh, Absolum places players in the midst of a post-cataclysmic struggle, where wizards are distrusted and the Sun King Azra’s Crimson Order rules with an iron fist.

Players choose from an initial roster of two warriors, with four unlockable in total, as they embark on a quest to topple the tyrannical Sun King.

Each run offers not only escalating combat challenges, but also unique dialogues, branching narrative choices, and character-specific lore—ensuring high replay value well beyond the typical arcade beat ‘em up structure. A distinctive feature of Absolum is its reliance on hand-crafted levels instead of procedural generation, a rarity in roguelite design.

This audacious approach pays off, as each playthrough feels fresh, with varied enemy placements and story beats influenced by the selected character.

The tightly-designed levels enrich the experience, as echoed by early players who noted, "The variety across each run—from dialogue to enemy types—kept the experience engaging and far from repetitive." Combat in Absolum is dynamic and layered.

Each character plays uniquely, offering a breadth of attacks including basic combos, dodging, punish mechanics, special arcana skills, and ultimate abilities.

The gameplay loop aims to satisfy both roguelite enthusiasts and classic beat ‘em up fans with run-specific upgrades, secret-filled maps, boss encounters, and diverse in-game currency systems.

The game’s structure encourages players to perfect their approach over multiple sessions, much like genre favorites Streets of Rage 4 or Hades, though Absolum stands apart with its replayability and deep narrative integration. The soundtrack is another definitive highlight.

While composer Yuka Kitamura's involvement attracted significant attention, Gareth Coker delivers the majority of the score, presenting a suite of tracks that adapt to the game’s varied biomes and dramatic boss encounters.

Each guest composer brings their signature style, creating a musical landscape that feels organic to the world of Absolum while offering enough variety to enhance every battle and cutscene. On Nintendo Switch, Absolum offers a visually arresting experience, particularly when played on the OLED model where colors pop.

Performance, however, varies; the original Switch version may encounter slowdowns during intense combat or heavy effects, whereas running the game on the newer Switch 2 hardware via backward compatibility delivers smoother gameplay.

Reviewers also recommend third-party controllers like the Hori Split Pad for a more comfortable handheld experience, noting that some players may find the standard Joy-Con less ideal for extended sessions. Multiplayer fans can join forces for local or online co-op (up to two players), though at launch, cross-play functionality is absent—a notable gap for those with friends on other platforms.

Despite this, online gameplay performed reliably in reviewer tests on PC via Steam. In summary, Absolum excels as a genre hybrid, skillfully integrating narrative, artistic design, and a nuanced combat system into a beat ‘em up with remarkable replay value.

Its handcrafted approach, compelling soundtrack, and seasoned development pedigree make it one of the standout releases of 2025 thus far.

While a few tweaks in performance and user interface would further polish the experience, Absolum is a must-play for fans of action and roguelite games alike.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Dotemu Switch Absolum Beyond Beat Guard Crush Supamonks Yuka Kitamura Gareth Coker Streets of Rage 4