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Dark Auction

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Dark Auction
Cover art featuring the characters
DeveloperIzanagiGames
PublisherGood Smile Company
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.

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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The main protagonist is eighteen-year-old Noah, who lives with his father. His father constantly researches about topics related to a dictator. He enters a strange auction in an old castle, where guests may bid for items with their memories. Alongside the other bidders, he works to solve the mysteries related to the dictator hidden in the auction items. While his own father's secret slowly comes to light.

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. The plot is set in 1981 in West Germany. The game features point-and-click mechanics and a story that takes an approach towards the exploration of the life of a “fictional” dictator.[1] The gameplay features a 3D environment that players explore in first person, the rooms lock the players in place and force them to investigate from a fixed perspective.[2]

Development

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Dark Auction was produced by Shinsuke Umeda, planned and written by Rika Suzuki,[3] while the character design was done by Kohske.[3] The game's original score was composed and produced by Yuko Komiyama.[3] In an interview with Netto's Game Room, the game's director Shinsuke Umeda explained during the initial stages of development, he and the rest of team sat down and talked with manga artist 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."[4]

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.[5] Due to complications with the title, it was later renamed.[6] A playable demo featuring the main cast of Dark Auction, was released on January 22, 2026.[4] In 2025, further announcements regarding the release on the game were publicized.[3] Later, on January 29, 2026, the game was released and made available to platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.[7] In Japan, the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions of the game were sold digitally for 5,340 yen (¥),[8] alongside physical pre-orders for Amazon and Bic Camera.[6] In 2026, it was announced that a Nintendo Switch 2 version would be released on June 11.[9]

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.[10] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 54% of critics.[11] PSX Brazil writer José Viana commented on the game's story in the first few chapters calling it "quite interesting".[13] 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."[13] Jenny Jones from Push Square wrote "The story premise is slightly bonkers but surprisingly compelling."[12] Also stating that "[...] even with its slow moments and uneven presentation, Dark Auction’s writing and mystery kept [us] hooked.[12]

Ben Sheene writing for Digital Chumps felt the game "fascinates with its premise".[14] Sheene had said Dark Auction is "meant to be a narrative about generational sins and trauma and how people deal with a past that haunts them."[14] A reviewer at PlayStation Country's wrote "It explodes into this sci-fi conclusion that, whilst brewing in the background, doesn’t really land."[15] Dark Action would receive a Gold Award in the Weekly Famitsu New Game Cross Review.[16]

Negative critical response to the game often focused on the "uneven" presentation.[12] Multiple critics condemned Dark Fuction for its use of AI,[6] with Ben Sheene stating that it "features some extremely blatant AI and low-effort art."[14] Jenni Lada writing for Siliconera said "[..] 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. Worst of all, there’s genAI used for some artistic elements. It’s just a shame."[6] Gamer Escape's Laura Borrayo criticized the grammar mistakes, saying "[This] game is riddled, and I mean riddled, with bad grammar and editing mistakes, down to some of the characters being called the wrong name during interactions."[1]

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. ^ a b Borrayo, Laura (January 29, 2026). "Review: Dark Auction". Gamer Escape. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  2. ^ Lienhard, Samantha (February 10, 2026). "Dark Auction Review - An Intriguing Mystery Undermined by Odd Design Choices". MonsterVine. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Kiwami, Soul (September 18, 2025). "Dark Auction Releases on January 29, 2026". Final Weapon. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d Lada, Jenni (February 14, 2026). "Dark Auction Can Be a Disappointing Izanagi Games Title". Siliconera. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  7. ^ Romano, Sal (September 18, 2025). "Dark Auction launches January 29, 2026". Gematsu. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  8. ^ "『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.
  9. ^ "Dark Auction Nintendo Switch 2 Edition set to release June 11th". GoNintendo. February 26, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Dark Auction Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Dark Auction". OpenCritic. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d Square, Push (February 10, 2026). "Review: Dark Auction (PS5) - Compelling Visual Novel Makes Some Generative AI Missteps". Push Square. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Viana, José (February 14, 2026). "Dark Auction - Review". PSX Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  14. ^ a b c Sheene, Ben (February 10, 2026). "Dark Auction Review". Digital Chumps. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  15. ^ "Dark Auction – PS5 Review". PlayStation Country. February 4, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  16. ^ "Dark Auction on Steam". Steam. January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
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