Art That Packs a Punch
When Absolum's trailer dropped at Gamescom 2025, its hand-drawn visuals caught everyone's attention. Developed by Guard Crush Games and animated by Paris-based Supamonks, the game turns every fight into a living comic book. Each character move, crafted with 8 to 12 frame-by-frame drawings, bursts with personality, from a female elf warrior's swift kicks to a Mowlaï frog mage's fiery spells. Supamonks, known for linear animation, adapted their craft to create interactive assets that feel alive, blending bold ink lines with 4K clarity. This visual flair sets Absolum apart in a sea of pixel-art indies, offering a fresh take on arcade brawlers.
Gameplay With a Roguelite Twist
Absolum builds on the beat 'em up formula with a clever roguelite spin. Each 25-to-35-minute run weaves through 140 hand-built rooms, randomized to keep players on their toes. A dual-parry system, blending fighting-game clashes with evasive dodges, adds depth to combat, while elemental synergies, like fire-trail dodges, let players craft unique builds. Steam Next Fest players raved about the fluid 60 fps gameplay, even with the heavy animation load. Yet, some brawler fans worry the procedural chaos might disrupt the genre's tight, curated rhythms, a tension Guard Crush Games aims to balance.
Learning From the Past
Absolum draws inspiration from two standout titles: Streets of Rage 4 and Cuphead. The former, also published by Dotemu, proved players crave modernized brawlers, with its 2020 release sparking a genre revival. Cuphead, launched in 2017, showed hand-drawn animation could justify premium pricing, captivating players with its relentless style. Absolum combines these lessons, pairing nostalgic arcade vibes with roguelite replayability akin to Hades. Unlike its predecessors, it uses modular backgrounds and AI-assisted animation cleanup to manage costs, a smart move given the labor-intensive art pipeline.
Challenges and Market Buzz
Despite its promise, Absolum faces hurdles. Hand-drawn sprites demand precise hitbox tuning to match their stylized silhouettes, and balancing loot rarity for fair yet rewarding runs is tricky. The game's higher price point, driven by production costs, might raise eyebrows in the indie market, especially in 2025's crowded release schedule. Still, Dotemu's retro brand and cross-platform launch on PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch give it strong visibility. Market trends back this move, with roguelites projected to grow 8 to 10% annually through 2033, and hand-drawn art standing out as a key differentiator.
A Broader Impact
Beyond gameplay, Absolum resonates on a deeper level. Its narrative of rebellion against magical oppression taps into themes of resistance, while its diverse roster, including a female elf warrior and a frog mage, broadens representation. Accessibility options, like reduced-flashing modes and remappable controls, ensure more players can enjoy its vivid world. With a Teen rating for fantasy violence, it stays approachable, and Dotemu's DLC plans, including guest fighters, hint at long-term engagement. Supamonks' animation expertise might even spark a tie-in series, blending gaming and storytelling further.