Wikipedia

Dark Auction

Dark Auction
Cover art featuring the characters
DeveloperIzanagiGames
PublisherGood Smile Company
ProducerShinsuke Umeda
DesignerKohske
WriterRika Suzuki
ComposerYuko Komiyama
EngineUnity
Platforms
ReleaseJanuary 29, 2026
GenresAdventure, visual novel
ModeSingle-player

Dark Auction[a] is a visual novel adventure game developed by IzanagiGames and published by Good Smile Company. The game features an dark anime-style environment and focuses on themes of memory, trauma, and guilt, using a linear and investigative style. A free-to-play game, Dark Auction is updated regularly using the games as a service model. It was originally released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 in January 2026. The story follows Noah who is haunted by the memory of his mother abandoning him at a very young age. He lives together with just his father Leonardo.

The game was met with controversy regarding the initial title. Dark Auction earned slightly positive reviews praising the writing handling of themes in the story and the mystery. Critics were divided on the use of AI and grammar mistakes, also highlighting the lack of effort put into the art featured in the game.

Plot

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Dark Auction is set in 1981 in West Germany, and follows eighteen-year-old Noah Crawford, who lives with his father Leonardo, a former writer. Leonardo often researched on topics related to Dictator X. Noah tracks his father down and enters an old castle. He witnesses a strange auction and realizes that him and the other guest are unable to leave. Guests may bid for items with their memories. Alongside the other bidders, Noah works to solve the mysteries related to the dictator hidden in the auction items, while his father's secret slowly comes to light. Guests are given an "EPO" device to bid their memories, if a false memory is bidden, the machine causes the participant's death.

Gameplay

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Dark Auction is an adventure visual novel video game that casts players in the role of eighteen-year-old Noah Crawford, an investigator searching for clues of his father's disappearance. The plot is set in 1981 in West Germany.[1] The game features a 3D environment with point-and-click mechanics and a story that takes an approach towards the exploration of the life of a "fictional" dictator.[2] Players explore the area in first person, rooms lock them into place, forcing them to investigate from a fixed perspective. In exploration phases, players talk to other participants, search rooms and floors, and reveal lies and trauma that leads you to the truth each person keeps hidden.[2]

Once players retrieve information, it is then placed in their Word Cloud, which is used to solve mysteries during every auction.[2] Rather than being an auction with bids of money, these auctions are instead bid with the participants memories. They must attempt to win by offering their own memories as bids. They use a memory reconstruction device known as EPO.[2] Memories affected by trauma or secrets often differentiate wholly, becoming warped and fallacious. If participants offer incomplete memories, their bid fails. When a participant's auction is a success, the truth is revealed—showcasing the dramatic story behind each ill-fated auction exhibit.[2]

Development

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Dark Auction was produced by Shinsuke Umeda, planned and written by Rika Suzuki.[3] Character design for the game was done by manga artist Kohske,[3] while the game's original score was composed by Yuko Komiyama.[3][4] Shinsuke Umeda, the game's developer described it as "authentic" mystery adventure.[5] In an interview with Netto's Game Room, Umeda explained during the initial stages of development, he and the rest of team sat down and talked with video game designer Rika Suzuki about multiple artworks that were lost to wars and natural disasters throughout history. Explaining "There are a wide range of artifacts and works of art have been lost that have a long history or certain legends about them that can really add an extra element to storytelling. We decided to incorporate that idea into the thematic core of the game."[6]

Promotion and release

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The existence of Dark Auction was first teased around August 2023 with the announcement of the game under its original title.[7] The game was initially met with controversy regarding the title, which they later renamed.[4][8] Developers initially intended to release Dark Auction in 2024 to Steam and Nintendo Switch, later choosing to delay the game.[9][10] Writer Rika Suzuki announced it was intended for a 2025 release.[11] Good Smile Company broadcasted a trailer titled "Story, Mystery & Bidding".[12] Later that year, further announcements regarding the release on the game were publicized.[3] A playable demo featuring the main cast of Dark Auction, was released on January 22, 2026.[2][4] Later, on January 29, 2026, the game was released and made available to platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.[3] In Japan, the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions of the game were sold digitally for 5,340 yen (¥),[13] alongside physical pre-orders for Amazon and Bic Camera.[8] In February 2026, it was announced that a Nintendo Switch 2 version would be released on June 11.[14]

Reception

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Upon release, Dark Auction received "mixed or average" reviews from video game publications based on the review aggregate website Metacritic.[15] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 54% of critics.[16] PSX Brazil writer José Viana commented on the game's story in the first few chapters calling it "quite interesting".[19] Viana would further praise the game for its art and soundtrack, "Specific aspects are commendable, such as the art and soundtrack, but they are nowhere near enough to save this game."[19] Jenny Jones from Push Square wrote "The story premise is slightly bonkers but surprisingly compelling. [...] even with its slow moments and uneven presentation, Dark Auction’s writing and mystery kept [us] hooked.[17] Jones compared the auctions to the trials in Danganronpa, calling it "far simpler".[17] Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40, which gained the game a Gold Award in the 2026 Weekly Famitsu New Game Cross Review.[18][20]

Negative critical response to the game often focused on the "uneven" presentation.[17] Multiple critics condemned Dark Fuction for its use of AI and the "handful" of grammatic mistakes.[8][17] With Jenni Lada writing for Siliconera stating "Worst of all, there’s genAI used for some artistic elements. It’s just a shame."[8] While Jenny Jones stated the game had "A handful of typos".[17] Lada noted "[..] because of the combination of going with “Dictator X,” erasing parts of actual history, and certain characters’ reactions to some memories, it doesn’t feel as meaningful. The case investigations and piecing together timelines for each auction aren’t terribly exciting."[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: 闇のオークション, Hepburn: Yami no ōkushon

References

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  1. ^ Nelva, Giuseppe (October 31, 2023). "Dark Auction by Hotel Dusk Creator Ends Crowdfunding with 464% of Initial Goal". TechRaptor. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sheehan, Gavin (January 22, 2026). "Dark Auction Extends Its Free Demo Ahead of Launch". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e Romano, Sal (September 18, 2025). "Dark Auction launches January 29, 2026". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Ramsey, Robert (January 27, 2026). "One of PS5's Most Promising Adventure Games Gets a Playable Demo". Push Square. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  5. ^ Nelva, Giuseppe (September 1, 2023). "Dark Auction by Hotel Dusk's Rika Suzuki Will Start Crowdfunding Tomorrow". TechRaptor. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  6. ^ B, Benjamin (November 20, 2025). "Interview With Director Shinsuke Umeda on Dark Auction, Rika Suzuki's Return to Visual Novels". Netto's Game Room. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  7. ^ Reynolds, Ollie (September 5, 2023). "Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk Writer's New Adventure Game Blows Past Crowd-Funding Goal". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lada, Jenni (February 14, 2026). "Dark Auction Can Be a Disappointing Izanagi Games Title". Siliconera. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 10, 2025). "Rika Suzuki, Kohske's Dark Auction Game Releases Demo, Reveals January 29 Launch". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  10. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 20, 2024). "Rika Suzuki, Kohske's Dark Auction Delayed to 2025". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  11. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 10, 2026). "Rika Suzuki, Kohske's Dark Auction: Hitler's Estate Game Delayed to 2025". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  12. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 10, 2026). "Rika Suzuki, Kohske's Dark Auction: Hitler's Estate Game Streams Story Trailer". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "『ダークオークション』1/29発売の『アナザーコード』クリエイターが手掛けるミステリーアドベンチャー、配信・二次創作ガイドラインを発表。最終章は7月いっぱい制限 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  14. ^ Romano, Sal (February 26, 2026). "Dark Auction – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition announced". Gematsu. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Dark Auction Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Dark Auction". OpenCritic. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Square, Push (February 10, 2026). "Review: Dark Auction (PS5) - Compelling Visual Novel Makes Some Generative AI Missteps". Push Square. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Famitsu review scores - February 14, 2026 - Mario Tennis Fever, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, more". Nintendo Everything. February 14, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  19. ^ a b Viana, José (February 14, 2026). "Dark Auction - Review". PSX Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  20. ^ "Dark Auction on Steam". Steam. January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
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