Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 86 | 200 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 87 | 129 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 86 | 200 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 7, 2026) · 200 reviews sampled · 175 total reviews in window · weighted 146.5 up / 13.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (120)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 95
“Absolum doesn’t just revive the side-scrolling beat ’em up, it elevates it. This is a game forged with fire, magic, and heart, a modern classic in the making., CtrlQueen”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the team of veteran beat ‘em up developers made another great beat ‘em up game. Absolum evolves the best parts of classic beat ‘em up action and weaves it with an original story, a compelling world, and roguelike elements. This doesn’t seem like a game that should work as well as it does, but it’s some of the most fun I’ve had with a co-op game this year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Absolum is a spectacular follow-up to Streets of Rage 4. Dotemu and Guard Crush have crafted a roguelite brawler that is the epitome of “easy to learn, hard to master,” with surprising depth that is only matched by its incredible variety. I do hope more is added on top of the game’s foundation, as I don’t think we’ve seen the full potential of these underlying mechanics just yet. Still, this is easily one of the best beat-’em-ups I’ve ever played, and it offers more than enough entertainment to deserve both your time and money. Dotemu took a big risk by betting on a totally original IP with Absolum, and I sincerely hope this is only the beginning of our adventures in the world of Talamh.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Absolum is a strong roguelite with enough content to keep you busy for hours and fun characters to try out. If you're a fan of beat 'em up games with challenging bosses, then certainly pick this game up.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Absolum is one of the toughest games I’ve ever reviewed. Structurally, it’s a letdown, with disappointing balance choices, unrelenting RNG, and a progression system that feels half-baked in comparison with other contemporary roguelikes. Mechanically, however, it’s probably the strongest beat-em-up I’ve ever played. The sublime combat ultimately wins out. Even when I was struggling to grind through runs, I was having a blast stringing up combos and laying waste to my enemies. If Dotemu ever decides to make a sequel, they could be on to something revolutionary. For now, Absolum will just have to settle as something great.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Absolum is an interesting roguelike that can be completed in a couple of hours on the lowest difficulty setting. However, even after the finale, the developers encourage players to keep exploring the world to try out new builds and characters.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Dotemu, Guard Crush, and Supamonks have pulled out all the stops with a beat 'em up that marks an evolution in the genre thanks to a solid combat system and top-notch technical features. Honestly, I'm struggling to find any weak points in such a solid offering. Without a doubt, this is a bold step forward for a genre that never goes out of style.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Absolum is a pleasant surprise within the modern beat 'em up genre, showing how it's possible to combine intense action, deep combat mechanics, and roguelike elements in a cohesive and intelligent way. Despite some limitations, such as the limited number of blessings and abilities, and a certain imbalance between builds, the game makes up for it with outstanding art direction, a masterful soundtrack, and a combat system that, while easy to learn, demands dedication to truly master.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Absolum is an on-par experience to Dragon's Crown, but a superior game in terms of its key metrics. Its combat, collectible augmentations, and planning are exceptionally well-formulated, ensuring no run is ever quite the same and its strategic options and play-styles are ever-deepening. It's incredibly impressive in its reconstitution of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, evolving them into something fresh and exciting.To that end, it's one of the best of its kind, whatever that kind may be. If you don't enjoy the idea of repetition and grind, you may not fall in love with its initial five hours, but the momentum for one-more-go becomes so compelling after a while that it's impossible to relinquish the pad.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The game is too good. Absolum is not only one of the best games you will play all year, it is my current favorite game of the year.”
read full review ↗ - 86
“Absolum is an excellent fusion between a side scrolling beat ’em up and a roguelite. The creation is not lazy and indeed, it is full of secrets and side quests. There are even quests that we can only complete with certain characters. This expands the storytelling and lore of the world we are in. The characters have good characterization and have unique dialogues between them. The NPCs we find interact, tell stories and are alive. The audio design conveys the impact of the shots well, thanks also to the carefully crafted animations. In fact, the combat system is a flagship of the title. Despite some filth, hitbox issues and unhelpful Ultras, Absolum gives the player complex and challenging, if sometimes confusing, gameplay. The balance sometimes fails and risks overwhelming the player. Added to this is the roguelite element which seems to be the least successful part. Even if certain builds are really strong. In my opinion the problem lies in a reduced choice of passives which translates into the search for the OP rituals and the right objects themselves. A more branched development, perhaps built on each character, would have given it more body and substance to the gameplay. Absolum is a great title, which every lover of these genres should try.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Absolum is a game that I welcome with open arms. It’s further proof that there’s still room for fun and original experiences in gaming, and is a lovely example of showing what you can do when you let your experience speak for itself. The level of polish and reverence for what Guard Crush and the gang have here is well worth a look. Which also maintains an iron grip on what makes a roguelike and a beat ’em up compelling in the first place. If you’re looking for a good time at a reasonable price, you can’t really beat what’s cooked up here. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Gamepressure
Maximum Utmost
Pure Nintendo
The Punished Backlog
GameMAG
La Orden del Pixel
GameFM
Nintendo Life
Seasoned Gaming
Indie Games Devel
Gamer Escape…and 108 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- We’re Bringing More Fixes, Tweaks and Improvements to Talamh!Aug 7, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Unravel the Threads of Fate - 1.1 hits Talamh NOW!Feb 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Rebels to Arms! Our next hot-fix is ready for the resistance.Oct 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- ABSOLUM: Hotfix - r34294Oct 16, 2025