Dark Auction: A journey to decode memories inside an ancient castle

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Fans of detective games have just received exciting news with the release of Dark Auction, a promising new adventure title. The game brings together a renowned development team led by Rika Suzuki, the writer behind the acclaimed stories of Another Code and Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Joining the project is Kohske (creator of the manga GANGSTA.) as character designer, along with music composed by veterans from the Monster Hunter and Megami Tensei series.

Dark Auction (Image source: Steam)
Dark Auction (Image source: Steam)

1980s Europe setting

The story takes place in 1981 at a location in Europe. The main character is Noah, an 18-year-old boy haunted by the disappearance of his mother when he was young. Noah lives with his father Leonard, a failed writer obsessed with collecting artifacts related to a mysterious figure known as Dictator X.

Everything begins when an invitation to an auction is sent to Leonard. After his father never returns, Noah decides to enter the ancient castle alone to find him. There, he becomes trapped with other guests and is forced to participate in a strange auction hosted by the enigmatic Auctioneer.

Inside the ancient castle - Dark Auction (Image source: Steam)
Inside the ancient castle - Dark Auction (Image source: Steam)

Unique memory-based auction system

The biggest difference between Dark Auction and other titles in the genre is its auction system. Here, people do not bid with money but with their own memories through a memory reconstruction device called EPO.

However, memories burdened by secrets or psychological trauma are often distorted. Noah's mission is to help other characters edit and restore these memories to ensure accuracy. If the auction succeeds, the truth behind the cursed artifacts will be revealed.

Exploration and deduction gameplay

The game offers deep interactive features to deliver an authentic detective experience:

  • Free exploration: Players can move through the 3D-rendered ancient castle, searching rooms and floors to gather clues.
  • Word cloud system: Information collected from observation or conversations with other participants is stored in a “word cloud,” which players use to reason and solve puzzles.
  • Uncovering the truth: Through conversations, Noah gradually exposes lies and psychological trauma hidden by each character.

Produced under the direction of Shinsuke Umeda from IzanagiGames, Dark Auction is not just a puzzle game but also a psychological thriller story. The title officially launched on January 28, 2026 and is currently available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS5.