All in Abyss: Judge the Fake Reviews
All in Abyss is exceptional. Sharp and very funny writing, is backed by a fast-paced, intelligent appropriation of poker. This is going to be one of my highlights of 2025.
A happy blend of gambling, rock ‘n roll, and anime shenanigans.
An anime visual novel with poker at parts. The visuals were nice but sometimes grossed me out, with AI generation in parts that I can’t get behind. A niche crossover of genres that will find a dedicated audience but sadly not myself.
The games of Texas hold'em poker All in Abyss: Judge the Fake are fun for a while but become tiresome thanks to a lack of innovation and a reliance on luck. The writing isn't doing much to pick up the slack either.
All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a game built around the thrill of poker battles, where players are tasked with unmasking deception and striking back with skills and items, delivering a wicked sense of satisfaction. While it bends traditional poker rules for the sake of dramatic gameplay, it layers on deduction mechanics that turn each match into more than just a card game—it's a stage for exploring human nature. Unlike high-stakes online multiplayer poker, All in Abyss pits players against NPCs in one-on-one battles. This might dial down the psychological warfare, but boss fights bring their own brand of tension, with puzzle-like tricks that unfold in stages. There’s a strange, addictive pleasure in seeing through your opponent’s lies, dismantling their strategy, and walking away with a victory that feels as unsettling as it is satisfying.
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All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is a visual novel poker RPG that only excels in one aspect. The actual poker games are a lot of fun, but the whole thing is held back by a lacking narrative. The characters are not interesting, the antagonist are not memorable, and the story falls apart the more you play. It's a shame because I really enjoyed playing Texas hold 'em when the game allowed me to, it just paired with a story I plan on forgetting.