Dark Auction

Dark Auction

Released Jan 2026

Noah lives with his eccentric father, who’s obsessed with Dictator X. When he joins a strange auction at a castle, he must work to solve mysteries hidden in the exhibits and uncover his father’s secrets. Risk everything to win—but what truth awaits? Story by Rika Suzuki!

65% positive · 225 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

Steam $34.99
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Evaluation

Dark Auction launched on January 28, 2026 as a complete mystery adventure game. Since launch, the developer has remained actively engaged: a bug fix shipped on January 30, 2026; another on February 3, 2026; a new illustration was announced on February 4, 2026 and implemented via a patch on February 7, 2026; a feature update adding Chapter Select and a Gallery mode shipped on February 27, 2026; and a further update improving keyboard/mouse controls and artwork shipped on April 17, 2026. Critically, a February 4, 2026 developer post explicitly stated that "Dark Auction will continue to receive major updates going forward," signaling that the developer considers the game's post-launch content journey ongoing. The game is a self-contained narrative adventure with no announced DLC or season pass, but the developer's stated intent to deliver major future updates — combined with the active post-launch patch cadence — indicates this is not yet a complete and finished product from the developer's perspective.
Evidence
Developer announced that 'Dark Auction will continue to receive major updates going forward,' explicitly signaling ongoing post-launch development plans.
news post · Feb 4, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Dark Auction launched on January 28, 2026 with a free demo available and an Original Soundtrack listed as coming soon.
news post · Jan 28, 2026 source content shipped
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
IzanagiGames
Achievements
40
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

A brand-new mystery adventure game, with both story and script written by Rika Suzuki, known for her brilliant work on Another Code/Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk: Room 215. It also features character design by Kohske, author/illustrator of GANGSTA., and music by Monster Hunter composer, Yuko Komiyama, and Tsukasa Masuko, composer for the Megami Tensei series. Directed and produced by Shinsuke Umeda (IzanagiGames).

Game features:

- Explore freely within an old castle rendered in 3D

- Use reasoning and deduction to solve clues via the Word Cloud System

- Use memories to expose the truth via each Auction

In the exploration phase, you will search rooms and floors, and talk to other participants, revealing trauma and lies that will lead you to the truth each one keeps hidden.

Information you learn here will be stored in your Word Cloud, and can then be used to solve mysteries during each auction!

But in this place, the auction exhibits aren't bid on with money, but with memories.

Auction participants try to win their bids by offering their own memories, using a memory reconstruction device known as EPO.

But memories burdened by secrets or trauma can change completely, becoming distorted and incorrect.

If the participants offer incomplete memories, their auction bids will fail.

Noah must become their supporter, fixing each target's memory to ensure they are correct.

If the auction is a success, the truth will be revealed—unleashing the dramatic story behind each ill-fated auction exhibit.

Story:

1981, Somewhere in Europe.

Eighteen-year-old Noah is haunted by the memory of his mother abandoning him as a child.

He lives with his father Leonard, a failed writer obsessed with collecting items related to “Dictator X.”

Noah wishes he would stop, but Leonard refuses to give up his strange obsession, even as they struggle financially.

One day, an auction invitation arrives, addressed to Leonard. Ignoring Noah’s protests, Leonard sets off for the old castle where the auction is to be held, promising to tell Noah everything once he returns.

But Leonard never comes home. With no way to contact him, Noah heads to the castle himself, determined to bring him home—only to witness something shocking.

Trapped inside the castle with the other guests, Noah decided to accept the Auctioneer's invitation, and take part in the auction himself.

Characters:

Noah Crawford (VA. Kengo Kawanishi)

Leonard Crawford (VA. Rikiya Koyama)

Edgar Schultz (VA. Daisuke Namikawa)

Christoph Treheim von Berg (VA. Nobunaga Shimazaki)

Otto Klein (VA. Shunsuke Takeuchi)

Karla Becker (VA. Maaya Uchida)

Lorraine Klopp (VA. Yui Ishikawa)

Hell (VA. Akira Ishida)

Auctioneer (VA. Show Hayami)

Game Overview:

Title: Dark Auction

Genre: Mystery Adventure

Development / Marketing: IzanagiGames

Story / Script: Rika Suzuki (Another Code/Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk: Room 215)

Character Design: Kohske (GANGSTA.)

Music: Yuko Komiyama (Monster Hunter series), Tsukasa Masuko (Megami Tensei series)

Director / Producer: Shinsuke Umeda (IzanagiGames)

Copyright: © IzanagiGames, Inc. / GOOD SMILE COMPANY

* This game is a story about young people learning about the past, and striving to protect a peaceful future. Although memories related to past wars feature in this game, it does not in any way, seek to glorify or promote the crimes of war.

Last evaluated Jun 21, 2026
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