If you ever wanted a bidding war with a twist, where the price only goes one way—down! You should look no further than games that make use of the Dutch Auction mechanic, a realm where hesitation can cost you more than just that bid.

In a Dutch Auction, the game begins with the stakes sky-high, only to plummet as time ticks on. It’s a pulse-pounding race to shout ‘mine!’ before anyone else, but at just the right moment to snag a bargain.

To introduce people to this mechanic, you should embark on a conquest with Eight-Minute Empire, where the territories and resources start costly but become more tempting as the price falls.

EXTRA TEXT Here, territories and resources start costly but become more tempting as the price falls. Will you jump in early or wait for the perfect price, risking it all as others eye the prize?

For a medium weighted game, look no further than Castles of Mad King Ludwig, as you build your dream castle from a market that’s forever in flux.

EXTRA TEXT Watch as the prices of rooms plummet—dare you wait for the bottom, or will the piece you covet be snapped up by a rival architect?

And for a heavier experience with the Dutch Auction mechanic, Pax Pamir: Second Edition offers a cutthroat gameplay in the fierce political landscape of 19th-century Afghanistan.

EXTRA TEXT Allies, spies, and military might all come with a price, decreasing until claimed. Timing is everything, and greed can either be your downfall or your greatest weapon.

Because …

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