The Nintendo Switch 2 has just received yet another excellent local co-op game in the form of Absolum, the side-scrolling beat-em-up from Guard Crush Games, Supamonks, and Dotemu. Absolum was a major hit with critics during its initial launch in 2025, and now Switch 2 owners can get in on the action.
Initially released for PS4, PS5, PC, and the original Nintendo Switch, Absolum is a fantasy beat-em-up that sees players take control of a colorful cast of characters, each coming equipped with their own weapons and magical combat abilities. Set in the world of Talamh, Absolum revolves around a band of brave warriors who must come together to defeat an evil Sun King and his army of cultists. That band includes a dwarven fighter, an elven swordsman, a biomechanical assassin, and an anthropomorphic frog wizard. While classic beat-em-up action takes center stage in Absolum, the gameplay loop also features some popular roguelike elements and some RPG staples.
Absolum Is Available Now on Nintendo Switch 2
A little less than a year after its initial release, Absolum has officially received a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Absolum for the Switch 2 currently costs $24.99 on the Nintendo eShop, and those who have already purchased the original Switch version of the game can download an upgrade pack for free. Physical versions of Absolum for Switch and Switch 2 should be available at select local retailers for around $45.
The Switch 2 version of Absolum offers 60 FPS, improved resolution, and the ability to Gameshare with other Nintendo Switch devices locally. Absolum offers a maximum of two-player co-op, regardless of whether players are joining via local, online, or Nintendo Switch 2 Gameshare. If players are joining an online lobby, they’ll of course need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Absolum received an incredibly warm reception from critics during its original October 2025 launch. On OpenCritic, Absolum currently holds a Top Critic Average of 86 and a critic recommendation score of 97%. Metacritic tells a similar story, with Absolum earning a score of 87 on PS5 and PC, and an even higher score of 89 on Nintendo Switch. Generally, critics praised Absolum‘s balance of accessibility and mechanical depth, along with its fast-paced gameplay loop, progression systems, and overall presentation. Some reviewers found Absolum‘s roguelike elements to be a little hit-or-miss, however.
In GameRant’s Absolum review, Josh Cotts gave the fantasy beat-em-up a 9/10. In their opening paragraph, Cotts says that Absolum‘s unique roguelike/beat-em-up hybrid structure creates “a loop that feels fast, responsive, and full of surprises,” and goes on to heavily praise the game’s hand-drawn art style, its creativity, and its unpredictability. One of Cotts’ only complaints is that Absolum‘s otherwise spectacular art style can lead to some visual chaos during combat sequences that involve multiple enemies.
- Released
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October 9, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
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Guard Crush Games, Supamonks, Dotemu
- Publisher(s)
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Dotemu, Gamera Games
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op