Absolum
News, coverage and analysis tracking Absolum across the outlets.- What happens when story serves art direction in Absolum - Narrative Notebook #2This article analyzes how the game Absolum uses its storytelling techniques to draw player attention to the environment. The narrative elements are designed to serve the game's art direction, encouraging players to engage more deeply with the game's world.
What happens when story serves art direction in Absolum - Narrative Notebook #2This article explores how the narrative in Absolum serves its art direction, prompting players to engage with the environment for gameplay purposes. Developers Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks use environmental storytelling and quests that direct players to specific locations without UI navigation, encouraging close observation of visuals. This contrasts with games like Hades II, where narrative and art are less directly tied to moment-to-moment gameplay mechanics.
The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026This guide highlights the best games available on Xbox Game Pass in 2026, covering a wide range of genres from roguelites to open-world adventures. It details different subscription tiers and provides brief descriptions of each recommended title, including recent additions and critically acclaimed games from previous years.
Metacritic Names Top Game Publishers of 2025 With Square Enix LeadingMetacritic has released its annual ranking of top game publishers for 2025, based on the critical reception of their released titles. Square Enix secured the number one spot, driven by strong performances from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and other titles. Capcom and Gamirror Games followed in second and third place, respectively, with Microsoft rounding out the top five.- Dotemu's Acclaimed Rogue 'em Up Absolum Now Available on Xbox, Game PassDotemu's roguelite beat 'em up Absolum is now available on Xbox and PC Game Pass. The game, co-developed with Guard Crush Games and Supamonks, previously launched on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Absolum features branching pathways, quests, and challenging bosses, blending classic brawler mechanics with roguelite replayability.
Absolum Hits Game Pass And It’s One You Shouldn’t MissAbsolum, a fantasy beat 'em up with roguelite elements, has launched on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Developed and published by Dotemu, the game features fast-paced combat, branching paths, and co-op gameplay. Its inclusion on Game Pass makes it easily accessible for subscribers.
Metacritic's 2025 Rankings Show A Major Shift In Top PublishersMetacritic's 2025 publisher rankings reveal significant shifts, with Square Enix topping the list followed by Gamirror Games and Capcom. Nintendo saw a notable rise, while Sony dropped from fourth to 21st place. The rankings are based on critical reviews, excluding sales and user scores, and consider factors like average Metascore and the percentage of good and bad reviews.
Xbox Game Pass Gets A Massive Boost – Including A 5/5 Must-Play RPG GiantXbox Game Pass is adding several new titles this week, highlighted by the critically acclaimed RPG Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The subscription service also welcomes the roguelite brawler Absolum and the city-building strategy game Nova Roma (Game Preview). These additions span across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Cloud platforms, offering a diverse range of genres for subscribers.
Last Chance to Buy These 60+ PS5, PS4 Games in PS Store's Spring SaleThe PlayStation Store's Spring Sale offers discounts on over 60 PS5 and PS4 games, with deals running until April 22, 2026. This guide highlights recommended titles that have received at least a 7/10 score, many at their lowest prices ever.- 60+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Refreshed Spring SaleThe PlayStation Store's Spring Sale is ongoing until April 22, 2026, featuring over 60 discounted PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games. The article highlights recommended titles that have received high scores and are at their lowest prices, including "Metaphor: ReFantazio," "Resident Evil 4," and "Hades."
- 60+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Refreshed Spring Sale (North America/Europe)The PlayStation Store's Spring Sale is currently active and features over 60 discounted games for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The sale includes a curated list of recommended titles, many of which are at their lowest prices ever, and will run until April 22, 2026.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 23 to 27Xbox has announced a slate of new games launching between March 23 and March 27 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Titles include "Life is Strange: Reunion," "Absolum," "RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic," and "Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection," among many others. Several of these titles will also be available on Game Pass.
Devolver's New 'Dungeon Scroller', Dark Scrolls, Is Packed With Retro Fantasy GoodnessDevolver Digital will publish Dark Scrolls, a new 'dungeon scroller' from Gato Roboto and Gunbrella developer Doinksoft, for the Nintendo Switch later this year. The game features procedurally generated levels, nine playable characters with unique skills, and both local and online co-op, all presented with a retro fantasy aesthetic.
Resident Evil 7 Headlines Xbox Game Pass March Wave 2 Lineup - IGNMicrosoft has announced the second wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in March, headlined by Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The lineup also includes Disco Elysium, South of Midnight, The Alters, and Final Fantasy IV, among others. Several titles are also set to leave the service on March 31.
Here's your next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for MarchMicrosoft has announced new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in March and April, including Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Disco Elysium, and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Several titles, such as Peppa Pig World Adventures, will be removed from the service on March 31st.- More Game Pass additions for March include Disco Elysium and Resident Evil 7Microsoft has announced the latest wave of games coming to Game Pass in March and early April. Titles like Disco Elysium, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, South of Midnight, and The Alters will be available across various tiers. Several games previously exclusive to the Ultimate tier are expanding to Premium.
Xbox Game Pass Adds Resident Evil 7, Final Fantasy IV, And MoreMicrosoft announced new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in late March and early April, including Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Final Fantasy IV, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and South of Midnight. Several other games are also being added, while a few titles will be leaving the service on March 31.- Xbox Game Pass March 2026 Wave 2 Adds Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Disco Elysium, Final Fantasy IVMicrosoft has announced the second wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in March 2026, including Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Disco Elysium, and Final Fantasy IV. Several titles are also being added to Game Pass Premium. The article also lists games that will be removed from the service on March 31, 2026.
- Absolum Launches on Xbox Series X|S March 25Dotemu and Guard Crush Games announced that their beat 'em up game Absolum will launch on Xbox Series X|S and via Game Pass on March 25, 2026. The game features a story about a resistance against the Sun King Azra, combining arcade-style combat with roguelite elements like branching paths and unlockable upgrades. Absolum is also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
- Absolum coming to Xbox Series on March 25The arcade-like beat 'em up Absolum, developed by Guard Crush Games and Supamonks and published by Dotemu, is set to release on Xbox Series X on March 25. The game features classic arcade gameplay.