Mystery fans, rejoice! A thrilling new adventure from acclaimed Japanese writer Rika Suzuki, best known for her work on Another Code: Two Memories and Hotel Dusk: Room 215, is officially making its way to the West. Dark Auction, developed and published by Izanagi Games, Inc. and co-published by Good Smile Company, Inc., is set to launch globally on January 29, 2026, with a free demo now available ahead of its showcase at Steam Next Fest.
Enter the Dark Auction
Dark Auction invites players to unravel a sinister mystery set within a shadowy castle deep in the Black Forest. The game’s demo—available now via Steam—offers a first glimpse into this haunting narrative, allowing players to experience the prologue before the full release early next year.
The story follows Noah, who ventures alone into an eerie castle to search for his missing father, last seen attending a secret auction. What he finds is far more disturbing—a nightmarish event where “memories” are used as currency, and reality itself begins to blur. Trapped with other mysterious participants, Noah must uncover the truth behind the auction and the supernatural secrets it conceals.
A Collaboration of Esteemed Creators
Bringing together some of Japan’s most celebrated creative talents, Dark Auction boasts:
- Story & Scenario: Rika Suzuki (Another Code, Hotel Dusk: Room 215)
- Character Design: Kohske (GANGSTA.)
- Music: Yuko Komiyama (Monster Hunter series)
- Director/Producer: Shinsuke Umeda (Death Come True, World’s End Club)
This star-studded team ensures an experience that merges gripping storytelling, striking visuals, and a hauntingly immersive atmosphere.
Explore, Deduce, and Remember
The Dark Auction demo introduces players to its distinct game systems, blending traditional adventure gameplay with inventive mechanics:
- Exploration & Conversation: Investigate a fully explorable 3D castle filled with secrets. Interact with other participants and uncover clues through branching dialogue choices.
- Word Cloud System: Organize items and keywords to form deductions. This innovative system challenges players to piece together the truth behind each mystery.
- Auction Mechanic: Unique to Dark Auction, players must bid with “memories” instead of money—helping others recall their pasts to reveal the truth behind cursed artifacts.
Demo Now Available
The Dark Auction demo can be downloaded now from Steam, offering players an early look at the dark, atmospheric world Rika Suzuki and her team have created. Players can wishlist the game ahead of its full release on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, and Steam® this coming January 29, 2026.
Follow the Mystery
For the latest updates, follow the official channels:
- Steam Store Page
- X (Twitter): @dark_auction
- Izanagi Games EN Website
- Izanagi Games Discord
- Good Smile Company EN X Account
- Good Smile Company EN Discord
Game Overview
Title: Dark Auction
Genre: Mystery Adventure
Story & Scenario: Rika Suzuki
Character Design: Kohske
Music: Yuko Komiyama
Director/Producer: Shinsuke Umeda (Izanagi Games, Inc.)
Players: Single-player
Platforms: Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, Steam®
Voice Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
Release Date: January 29, 2026
Developer/Publisher: Izanagi Games, Inc. / Good Smile Company, Inc.
Copyright: © IzanagiGames, Inc. / GOOD SMILE COMPANY
