All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a bold, genre-bending adventure that attempts to fuse high-stakes poker gameplay with a dystopian narrative of deception and survival. Developed by ACQUIRE Corp. and WSS Playground, the game lands with an intriguing premise: take the psychological tension of Texas Hold’em and embed it within a world ruled by power-hungry “witches” who use lies and manipulation to control the city. It’s a risky blend, and much like the poker hands it revolves around, the game doesn’t always play a winning hand, but the gamble itself is fascinating.
A unique combination
The story centers around Asuha, a confident and slightly cocky protagonist who believes she has what it takes to take on the witches through wit, poker prowess, and an array of special abilities. The plot unfolds through visual novel-style segments, interspersed with one-on-one poker duels that are key to progressing through the game. The city’s rulers are not just champions of deceit, but literal cheats — and exposing their methods becomes just as important as winning the hands themselves.
The poker mechanics are surprisingly robust. While the game is traditional Texas Hold’em at its core, it’s enhanced by character-specific abilities and tactical tools that let you bend the rules slightly in your favour. These skills can be used to manipulate outcomes — peeking at cards, boosting odds, or shaking your opponent’s confidence — creating moments that feel more like a turn-based battle than a card game. However, these same mechanics sometimes make the matches feel less grounded, especially when the AI frequently folds, deflating the tension of what should be high-stakes encounters. I also found the game very easily exploitable with predictable AI. I experimented with how far I could take it and proceeded to win so many games at the first “table” that I could acquire some powerful skills. I ended up reloading an older save as this trivialised all of the early game.
Jack of all trades, master of none
The game’s structure alternates between matches and segments of city exploration. You can gather intel, converse with characters, and unravel subplots that help build context for the world. Unfortunately, this is where the game struggles. The exploration sections are undercooked, often serving as little more than connective tissue between matches. The environments lack depth, and the flashy dialogue rarely achieves emotional resonance. Characters often feel one-dimensional, with motivations that are either too obvious or too muddled to leave a lasting impression.
Tonally, All in Abyss is a mixed bag. On one hand, it leans into a campy, over-the-top aesthetic with stylish character designs and dramatic, sometimes absurd cutscenes. On the other hand, it tries to tell a serious story about corruption, betrayal, and survival in a crumbling society. The result is jarring. Execution scenes and moral confrontations are meant to hit hard, but the lack of a consistent narrative tone undermines their impact. It’s clear the game wants to be emotionally powerful, but it often settles for spectacle over substance.
Despite these shortcomings, the game does have its hooks. There’s a unique satisfaction in calling out a witch’s bluff, using your skills to reverse a losing hand, or discovering a hidden strategy buried beneath layers of deception. It rewards players who pay attention and punishes those who rely purely on luck. The music and visual presentation, too, add to the atmosphere — synth-heavy tracks and bold character art sell the high-tension stakes even when the gameplay doesn’t fully follow through.
My conclusion
Ultimately, All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a game that thrives on its concept more than its execution. It’s ambitious, stylish, and refreshingly different — but it can’t always live up to the narrative weight or mechanical depth it seems to promise. For those who enjoy poker and are looking for a fresh narrative twist on it, this could be a compelling, if uneven, experience. But players seeking emotional depth or a tightly designed tactical game may find its bluffs easier to read than intended.
