Let's be real, Balatro has made card games trendy again. It's thoroughly addictive, easy to pick up (literally and figuratively), and doesn't break the bank - it's easy to see why it's been at every awards ceremony from the Golden Joysticks to The Game Awards and, laterally, The BAFTAs. Various competitors have attempted to hop on the card game train - Nubby's Number Factory and Aotenjo spring to mind - and All In Abyss: Judge the Fake is hoping to cement itself as gaming's next big Balatro-like. Reminiscent of anime games like Danganronpa but with the poker feel of LocalThunk's finest, it's just dropped on Steam.
This is The City, a neo-dystopian cyberpunk world where you - Asuha - are hoping to make a splash. A self-professed card game master, you've got your eyes set on taking down The Witches, leaders of The City's various districts that are best known for their corruption and cheating. In All In Abyss: Judge the Fake, you'll face off against each of these top players in turn, ascending to the rank of poker goddess while simultaneously making some fat stacks on the side.
Matches play out in 1v1 battles, with Texas hold 'em rules in place. You win the game by dropping your opponent's chips down to zero using various tips and tricks that you've picked up throughout your career. You'll be able to intimidate your foes into folding, sneakily snoop at their cards, and much more.
As you explore The City's various regions, you'll pick up evidence of the Witches' corruption, eventually using these to expose their cheating during your face-off. Dirty laundry out in the open, you'll be able to hit them with an All In, which puts every one of your chips down on the table as a final display of dominance. Don't get too cocky, though; your reputation's on the line.
But, of course, the most important part of the hustle is the party. You can spend your free time at Club All Out, splash the cash on new skills and items, or take on the locals to stack up even more money. If you get lucky, you'll have a little bit of extra help during your next battle - and, if you're going to take down the ones who beat you last time, you'll need it.
Blending Balatro and Danganronpa, All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is available on Steam right now. It's currently 10% off, or $14.39 / £12.14, until Sunday April 20, when it'll return to its normal price. So ready your cards, and head on into The City.
If you, like literally everyone else, are currently addicted to Balatro, here's a list of all the best Balatro mods. Alternatively, if it's All in Abyss' aesthetic that caught your eye, here's a rundown of the best anime games.
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