"Bid with your memories to uncover the truth."
Updates & Events
Dark Auction - 10% OFF on Steam
Dark Auction is currently featured on the Steam store!
About
Set in 1981 West Germany, Dark Auction is a psychological mystery adventure where memories are the currency of survival. Players control Noah Crawford, a young man searching for his eccentric father in an ancient castle, only to find himself trapped in a supernatural auction where the items on sale are inextricably linked to a dark past.
Story
Noah's father, an author obsessed with 'Dictator X', vanishes after accepting an invitation to a mysterious castle in the Black Forest. To find him, Noah must participate in a bizarre auction where bidders pledge their own memories instead of money. As Noah refines the distorted memories of the participants, he uncovers a traumatic history dating back to the war.
Gameplay
The game blends 3D exploration of an atmospheric castle with a unique 'Word Cloud' deduction system. Players gather keywords and clues through investigation, then enter high-stakes auctions. Success requires using the 'EPO' device to restore the bidders' traumatic memories, correcting distortions to reveal the true history behind the auctioned artifacts.
Key Features
- 1Written by Rika Suzuki (Hotel Dusk, Another Code)
- 2Unique 'Memory Auction' bidding mechanics
- 3Word Cloud System for deduction and logic
- 4Atmospheric 3D exploration of a castle in the Black Forest
- 5Character designs by manga artist KOHSKE
- 6Deep narrative exploring trauma and historical secrets
- 7Multiple endings based on deduction accuracy
Highlights
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Compelling story by a legendary mystery writer
- +Innovative memory-as-currency mechanic
- +Stylish visuals and character design
- +Accessibility options for puzzle difficulty
Cons
- -Slower pacing typical of visual novels
- -Niche appeal for pure text-adventure fans
Game Ratings
Complex, emotional storytelling by Rika Suzuki
Eerie castle setting in the Black Forest
Deduction via Word Cloud and memory logic
Distinctive character art by KOHSKE
Focus is on investigation, not combat
Who Will Enjoy This?
Fans of deduction and connecting clues
Players who prioritize story over action
Interested in 1980s post-war settings
Similar To
Narrative Style
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
match
Debate Mechanics
Danganronpa
match
Investigation
Ace Attorney
match
💡 Did You Know?
The scenario writer, Rika Suzuki, is famous for cult classics like 'Hotel Dusk' and 'Trace Memories'.
The game was originally titled 'Dark Auction: Hitler's Estate' before being shortened.
Development was supported by a successful Campfire crowdfunding campaign.
The story is set specifically in 1981, capturing a unique post-war European atmosphere.
Bidding requires 'Memories'—if you lose too many, you lose yourself.
Latest Updates & Events
Dark Auction - 10% OFF on Steam
Dark Auction is currently featured on the Steam store!
“A mystery adventure where the currency isn't money, but memories.”— IzanagiGames
“I want to depict the 'truth' that emerges when people confront their pasts.”— Rika Suzuki, Scenario Writer
Game Ratings
Complex, emotional storytelling by Rika Suzuki
Eerie castle setting in the Black Forest
Deduction via Word Cloud and memory logic
Distinctive character art by KOHSKE
Focus is on investigation, not combat
Who Will Enjoy This?
Fans of deduction and connecting clues
Players who prioritize story over action
Interested in 1980s post-war settings
Similar To
💡 Did You Know?
The scenario writer, Rika Suzuki, is famous for cult classics like 'Hotel Dusk' and 'Trace Memories'.
The game was originally titled 'Dark Auction: Hitler's Estate' before being shortened.
Development was supported by a successful Campfire crowdfunding campaign.
The story is set specifically in 1981, capturing a unique post-war European atmosphere.
Bidding requires 'Memories'—if you lose too many, you lose yourself.
Latest Updates & Events
Dark Auction - 10% OFF on Steam
Dark Auction is currently featured on the Steam store!
Timeline
Game Details
- Developer
- IzanagiGames
- Publisher
- IzanagiGames
- Platforms
- PC
- Genres
- Adventure, Mystery +1
- Atmosphere
- mysterious