Absolum

Absolum is a side-scrolling action beat 'em up with roguelite progression. The story takes place in Talamh, a realm fractured by a disaster that left magic feared and outlawed. The Sun King Azra and his Crimson Order enslave wizards to maintain control, while a group of rebels, led by the enchantress Uchawi, rises to resist his reign. Players control a roster of outcast heroes, each with distinct fighting styles and abilities, such as Galandra's necromantic sword attacks and Karl's close-range brawling and explosives. Additional characters, including the prodigy wizard Brome and the elusive fighter Cider, join over the course of the campaign.

Players fight through hand-drawn 2D environments, chaining attacks and spells into combo sequences while managing limited health and resources. Defeated enemies and exploration reward currency used for permanent upgrades and unlocks between runs. Levels feature multiple branching routes and encounters that change with each attempt. Runs are designed around iterative progression, dying often to acquire resources and improve stats for subsequent playthroughs.

Combat emphasizes precision, timing, and resource management. Players can mix melee combos with magical counters and elemental powers. There are complex systems involving dodging, pressure and clashing to avoid or counter attacks, or taking big risks for opportunities for huge damage in return. Cooperative play is supported both locally and online, allowing players to synchronize attacks and combine elemental effects for enhanced combos. There are also temporary boons, trinkets, coins that can be exchanged for items or to hire companions, mounts that can be ridden and secret areas.