All in Abyss: Judge the Fake review

During the PlayStation 2 era, games like World Series of Poker and High Rollers Casino delivered simulated gambling without the worry of losing your rent money. But there was a good reason why these titles habitually lined bargain bins: the main motivation was watching the credits roll after winning big.

But with Acquire and WSS Playground’s All in Abyss: Judge the Fake, winning is incentivized by providing players with regular payouts of storytelling. Unlike most casino games that provide little context, All in Abyss: Judge the Fake sets up its premise with a delightfully ridiculous prologue. Here, overconfident Asuha Senahara decides to challenge a sweets-obsessed witch to a game of Texas Hold ‘em. Not only does Asuha lose badly, but she’s publicly humiliated when her opponent gnaws on her flesh, all in front of a legion of viewers.

Too Much Sugar Can Kill You, Ulu Amamino

At its core, Judge the Fake is a revenge tale as the potty-mouthed protagonist attempts to beat a trio of double-dealing witches. Deftly, the writers provide a secondary character named Mina who’s the tsukkomi to Asuha’s boke. A significant portion of Judge the Fake’s enjoyment stems from the pair’s reactions as they explore a city that has both a high-end hostess club as well as grimy slums. Yes, this is a satirical world, so losing a Hold ‘em tournament results in (optional) over-the-top executions where characters get their comeuppance.

And if you’re a fan of kitchen sink-design, Judge the Fake just might impress. Climbing the ranks involves playing a lot of Texas Hold ‘Em, of course. Expectedly, the journey gets grindy, with two-minute matches against NPCs serving as the equivalent of basic role-playing encounters. But just when you’re growing weary, All in Abyss will integrate some old-fashioned adventure game sleuthing, as you attempt to get information about your duplicitous rivals. Moving around the city through menu options ever feels like a RPG.

Rework the Odds in Your Favor

Meanwhile, Balatro-style advantages can raise your luck stat or provide a clue at what cards your opponent is holding. Undoubtedly, you’ll need to purchase these perks as those Hold ‘em witches are true hustlers. But even the routine trash mobs can be a threat thanks to All in Abyss’ respectable AI. Raise big and you’ll inevitably spook your opponents, who are savvy enough to occasionally bluff. And if you really need an advantage, save-scumming is always on the table.

Some might find Acquire’s admission of using generative AI for background images troubling. But honestly, I didn’t notice the typical tell-tale signs of generic slop. Instead, Judge the Fake’s typography, dialog portraits, and backdrops all seem organic and eye-catching, capturing the garishness of old Vegas. So, if poker with a playful plotline sounds interesting, All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is worth the risk.

All in Abyss: Judge the Fake was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.