The Auction

About The Auction

The Auction is a bidding game where things money can't buy, and some everyday items, go up for sale. Each round reveals one card: sometimes "Swimming as fast as a fish", sometimes "A hot air balloon ride". Everyone gets one coin budget for the whole game, so what you buy, and for how much, shows what you really value.

Who is it for?

It's ideal for friend groups who love competition but prefer games where nobody gets knocked out. The Food and Shopping packs are easy to play even with family. At the office, the "who bought what for how much" table at the end is a fun way to learn what your teammates care about.

How to play

The Auction is played in online rooms only.

1. Create a room, choose the number of rounds and a pack, and send the code to your friends.
2. Each round, one card goes up for auction and a 35-second timer starts.
3. Type your bid as a number. It has to beat the leading bid by at least one coin.
4. When time is up, the highest bidder takes the card and pays the coins they bid. Everyone else pays nothing.

Rules

• Your budget is ten times the number of rounds: in a 10-round game, everyone starts with 100 coins. The budget is for the whole game, not per round.
• The opening bid is one tenth of the budget. On a tie, whoever bid first stays in the lead.
• If someone bids their entire budget, the round closes before the timer runs out.
• There's no winner. At the end, titles such as "The Collector", "The Vault Keeper", "Big Spender" or "The Sniper" are handed out.
• Food, Shopping, Relationships, Superpowers and Comfort are free. Luxury, Forbidden and Adventure are locked.

Tips

• Don't spend all your coins in the first rounds; the card you really want may come at the end.
• You can't raise your own bid while you're leading, so decide fast when someone outbids you.
• Buying a card nobody wants at the opening price is a strategy too.
• In the Food pack, each game is built around a single topic, such as "What goes on your pizza?". Decide first which topping you actually want.

Example cards

• Every animal trusts you and comes to you
• A week at a luxury spa
• Being forgotten right after anyone sees you
• Never going to bed angry after a fight
• A secret you tell should not be passed on to anyone

Every card is on the Auction game list page.

FAQ

How many players?

The game opens with two, but bidding wars heat up from four players on. A free room holds up to eight players; with Premium in the app you can create a room for twenty.

Is it free?

It's free in your browser with no account. No real money is involved; the coins only exist inside the game. Premium in the app unlocks the locked packs.

Do I need a phone?

Yes. Bids are placed from each player's own screen, so everyone needs a phone, tablet or computer. You don't need to download the app.