By Leigh Williamson 
This is one of those games my childhood self would have been talking my friends’ ears off about on the playground until they physically walked away from me. It’s the same kind of excitement I had when Mortal Kombat II landed on the Sega Genesis back in 1994. Before I get too carried away, though, I need to give a little backstory on why Absolum meant so much to me before I even played it.
I first heard about the game back in March 2025 when the demo launched on Steam. I was immediately interested because I already owned plenty of games from Dotemu and had complete confidence this would eventually arrive on Xbox. That confidence disappeared in October 2025 when the developers announced that Xbox was not a priority following the game’s full Steam release. Naturally, Xbox players did what Xbox players do best and collectively begged across social media until somebody listened. Thankfully, that persistence paid off when Xbox finally confirmed on 17th March that Absolum would launch on Xbox on 25th March 2026.
Like most people right now, money is tight, and I don’t casually throw money around on games when real life exists. I usually hoard my Microsoft Rewards points like Smaug sitting on a mountain of treasure, waiting for the perfect moment to cash them in during major sales. I waited through the Spring Sale hoping Absolum might surprise me with a discount, but deep down I knew it wasn’t happening. Eventually I looked through my wishlist and realised no other game came close to how badly I wanted to play this. So I cashed in everything I had and bought it.
It was absolutely worth it.
I was born in 1980, which means I grew up during the golden era of arcade beat ‘em ups. I played Kung-Fu Master on holiday arcades, Double Dragon in grocery stores, and Final Fight outside cinemas while breathing in popcorn and cigarette smoke. Beat ‘em ups have always been one of my favourite genres, so seeing them enjoy such a strong modern resurgence has been fantastic.
Absolum clearly understands what made those games special while also recognising that simply copying the past is not enough anymore. Yes, there are obvious comparisons to Golden Axe with its fantasy setting, magic systems, weapons and mounts, but this feels far more ambitious than a simple throwback. It respects old-school brawlers while confidently pushing the genre forward.
Weapons begin fairly traditionally with knives, axes and throwable objects, but the game constantly evolves those systems. Rather than simply picking up a weapon and discarding it moments later, you can store multiple copies of identical weapons and unleash them in succession. This creates some fantastic combo opportunities, especially when chaining weapon throws into supers or defensive counters. Later in the game, the weapons become increasingly bizarre, ranging from rotten food to cursed urns and spiked branches.
One of the things I love most about Absolum is how much personality it injects into seemingly minor interactions. There are treasure thieves that instantly reminded me of the annoying elves from Golden Axe, except here they look like strange squid-legged thieves that I happily chased down for gold every single time.
There are also brilliant environmental interactions throughout the game. Breaking furniture in most brawlers is expected because it usually rewards food, weapons or hidden treasure. In Absolum, smashing furniture inside a tavern leads to the bartender shouting at you and threatening not to serve you. In another section I attacked a pillar and accidentally caused falling rocks to crash down on me. These small touches make the world feel far more reactive than many games in the genre.
Even something as simple as chickens roaming around immediately brought back memories of old-school shooters where attacking random animals became an unofficial tradition. It sounds silly, but these moments give the game personality.
This is where Absolum becomes something special.
Movement feels incredible. Running has always been one of my favourite mechanics in brawlers because it keeps combat flowing aggressively rather than forcing players into defensive turtle gameplay. Absolum not only includes traditional running mechanics but also adds a dedicated run button that doubles as a defensive tool.
That same button introduces one of the game’s smartest systems: parrying. Players can deflect attacks, dodge attacks or perform clashes against stronger enemies. Each option carries different levels of risk and reward, and while I personally found dodging more reliable than deflecting, the flexibility allows players to approach combat however they want.
The combo system also feels fantastic. Grabs remain a staple mechanic, allowing you to control crowds and throw enemies into each other, while Overpressure rewards players for maintaining aggressive combos without dropping momentum. Once enemies enter that vulnerable state, you can unleash devastating attacks that feel incredibly satisfying.
Combat never feels like mindless button mashing. It constantly rewards timing, movement and experimentation.
This is where Absolum surprised me most.
As you progress, you unlock upgrades through branching paths that allow you to shape your build however you want. You can improve combos, increase defence, strengthen weapon damage or build entirely around aggressive offense if that suits your playstyle.
Players familiar with games like Hades, Dead Cells, Rogue Legacy 2 or Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will feel right at home here.
Death also feeds directly into progression. Rather than simply respawning, you return to a spiritual hub where you upgrade characters, unlock abilities and prepare for your next run. The branching map system also keeps things fresh, offering multiple paths and slight story changes depending on which character you’re using.
It gives Absolum far more longevity than most traditional beat ‘em ups.
I intentionally saved the visuals for later because beautiful games mean very little if the gameplay is weak.
Thankfully, Absolum excels at both.
The graphic novel-inspired art style is instantly appealing and remains consistent throughout the entire experience. Unlike some games where promotional art feels disconnected from gameplay visuals, everything here feels cohesive.
The game’s visual identity is strengthened even further by work from talented teams including Guard Crush Games, Supamonks and Seaven Studio, alongside developers connected to games such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4 and Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap.
That pedigree absolutely shows.
I genuinely feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of Absolum because I’ve intentionally limited how much I play each day purely because I don’t want it to end too quickly.
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
This is one of the best modern beat ‘em ups I’ve played in years. It evolves classic arcade foundations with deeper combat systems, meaningful progression mechanics and endless personality.
This is not a game that deserves to disappear into subscription libraries and be forgotten.
It deserves to be bought, replayed and appreciated.
Score: 9/10
- Deep and rewarding combat systems
- Excellent replay value
- Packed with personality and creativity
- Upgrade systems may overwhelm some players
- Repetitive map resets may frustrate certain players
- Niche genre appeal may limit wider interest
Fletcher Wilkinson
Jordan Campbell