Best Games: Absolum

Best Games of the 2020’s is back with the first game in 2026. Well a 2025 released game and this post is 2026. Also, a proper skateboard sequel, that did it better on every front, is off the list.

Absolum(2025) goes on at 40

There are a lot of modern beat ’em up games out there. From recent entries like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge to first wave games like 2008’s Castle Crashers. Those feel modern and were really fun to play, but not reimagined or innovative. Not till Absolum last year did we really experience a new twist to the formula.

Absolum is a fantasy beat ’em up that looks great. A hand drawn design feel and a world that feels alive. What it brings new is very similar to what Hades has accomplished twice now. Replay-ability and narrative hooks. They infuse the start, fail, reset, and start again loop with a story that unravels around it and character progression.

The story is interesting, the NPCs and characters are compelling, and the map evolves and branches the more you play. Throw online and couch co-op into the pot and you have a very interesting game. It only falls into the lower half of the list because I rolled credits at 20-ish hours and I didn’t feel as compelled to keep playing for post credit. Thought it looks to have a lot more on offer after that.

OlliOlli World (2022) is a fantastic evolution of the original 2014 game. Every aspect matured to really bring together a fun game and realization of the concept.