Every fact on this page applies to update 1.1.2, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Absolum runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Absolum runs
Absolum is playable on an iPhone, with a Packed app of about 2 GB. The game is built on FNA, an open reimplementation of Microsoft's XNA, compiled ahead of time from C#. That makes it one of the less usual engines on nxnative's tested games list.
How it runs
On the Mac with update 1.1.2, the game plays from the logo movie and licence screen through the main menu, the campfire character select and the intro movie into the first level, at 60 fps with sound and working saves. Memory use was about 2.5 GB.
The game's online services are left out: nxnative does not load that component, and the game plays offline without it. It also finds no microphone, which it only looks for when its audio starts.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout, which fits a side-on brawler. The layout button at the top centre switches layouts in game.
Good to know
- Online features are not available. The game itself plays offline.
- Tested with update 1.1.2.
Known issues
None reported
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/absolum -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Absolum work with nxnative?
Yes. Absolum is tested with nxnative on update 1.1.2.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Absolum?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Absolum included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Absolum from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Absolum?
Online play in Absolum is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
