Home News > Streets of Rage 4 Devs Unveil New Roguelite Absolum

Streets of Rage 4 Devs Unveil New Roguelite Absolum

by Aaliyah Dec 14,2025

Guard Crush Games, the studio behind Streets of Rage 4, is teaming up once more with publisher Dotemu for a new beat-'em-up adventure. This project, however, marks Dotemu’s first original intellectual property. It features beautifully hand-drawn animations crafted by Supamonks and a score composed by the acclaimed Gareth Coker. Bringing together so much talent for a new venture might seem bold, but after spending an hour playing the game – titled Absolum – it appears this project won’t remain unproven for long.

Absolum is a roguelite side-scrolling beat-'em-up RPG, engineered for what the developers describe as "deep replayability." This includes branching exploration paths, diverse quests, a cast of unique characters, and formidable boss encounters. From my experience, these promises hold true. The game is a visually stunning fantasy adventure offering multiple character classes. I had the chance to test the sturdy, dwarf-inspired Karl and the nimble, ranger-like swordswoman Galandra. Gameplay involves battling sinister creatures, demolishing environmental objects (often in hopes of revealing health-restoring items like carrots), ducking into structures to loot treasure chests or face surprise goblin ambushes, challenging bosses with massive health pools, and embracing the cycle of death and rebirth. Additionally, though I didn't experience it myself, the game supports two-player local co-op.

For someone with fond memories of classic two-player arcade beat-'em-ups from the 1980s and early '90s, and titles like Sega Genesis's Golden Axe, Absolum delivers a welcome dose of nostalgia. This feeling is amplified by its vibrant, Saturday morning cartoon-inspired art and animation. The combat system is elegantly straightforward yet offers depth: a two-button setup lets you vary your attacks based on the enemy you're facing. The roguelite elements infuse the experience with a modern edge and significant built-in replay value.

As you progress, you'll uncover various power-ups, some hidden and others in plain sight. These include equippable active weapons or spells, activated with a trigger and face button combo, as well as passive abilities stored in your inventory. The items you find are randomized with each new run, and not every discovery is beneficial. A distinct risk-reward dynamic can influence your strategy; in one early attempt, I acquired two orbs that each boosted my damage by 20% but also reduced my health by 20%. The result was a dangerously small health bar but the ability to eliminate foes rapidly. You can discard any inventory item at any time if you decide its drawback isn't worth the boost.

Absolum - First Screenshots

10 Images

This is a roguelite, meaning death is a certainty. When it happens, you're returned to a central hub featuring a shop. Here, you can spend currency collected during your run to purchase items or permanent upgrades for subsequent attempts. This feature wasn't fully implemented in the early version I played, leaving me reliant on random chance for decent gear at the start of each run.

Absolum shows tremendous potential and seems highly likely to be a great game.“

Since I couldn't spend my accumulated gold between runs, the first major boss presented a significant challenge. While I don't have footage of that specific troll boss—a massive foe wielding a giant mace and summoning smaller goblins that would latch onto my character—I can confirm these games truly excel in two-player mode. Having a partner would have divided the boss's attention, a classic advantage that anyone who enjoyed the genre's heyday will remember. Cooperative play is where these experiences consistently shine.

Overall, Absolum's compelling art style, fluid animation, classic side-scrolling action, and engaging roguelite progression—coupled with the developer's established expertise—point toward a game with immense promise. If you've missed the era of couch co-op, Absolum seems poised to make a notable comeback in that space. I am eager to see how the game develops with further polish, but my initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive.

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