The once around auction mechanic in board games is a type of auction where each player has the opportunity to bid on an item once, and the highest bidder wins the right to purchase the item. The auction goes once around the table, with each player getting a chance to bid. After the auction, the item is sold and a new item is put up for auction.

This type of auction mechanic is simple and straightforward, as players only have one chance to bid on each item. It can also create competition and tension, as players try to outbid each other for the items they want. The once around auction mechanic can be used to sell items, such as properties or resources, in a game. It is different from other types of auctions, such as English or Dutch auctions, in that each player only has one chance to bid on each item.

Here are 10 popular board games with the once around auction mechanic and a brief description of each:

1. Chinatown – Players bid on different city blocks to try and create the most profitable businesses in this economic strategy game.
2. Ra – In this ancient Egypt-themed game, players use a once around auction to acquire different tiles that can help them build monuments and gain points.
3. For Sale – Players bid on different properties in the first round, then turn around and sell those properties for the highest value in the second half of the game.
4. Medici – Players take turns choosing from a set of face-up goods and resources in a once around auction to build their wealth and reputation as merchants.
5. Power Grid – Players bid on power plants and fuel resources to build a network of power grids across different regions of the world.
6. Through the Desert – In this abstract strategy game, players take turns placing camels on the board in a once around auction to create the longest chain of connected camels.
7. Amun-Re – Players bid on land and resources to build ancient Egyptian temples and gain favor from the gods in this game of area control and resource management.
8. Modern Art – Players use a once around auction to buy and sell different works of art, trying to earn the most money by the end of the game.
9. Automobile – Players compete to build the best car manufacturing company by bidding on factories, patents, and other resources in a once around auction.
10. Ticket to Ride – In this classic game of train routes and destination cards, players bid on the right to claim certain routes, which can be crucial for completing their network of train lines.

A specific example of the once around auction mechanic can be found in the game Monopoly. In Monopoly, players roll dice and move around the board, landing on different properties. If a player lands on an unowned property, they have the option to purchase it or put it up for auction. If they choose to put it up for auction, the auction goes once around the table, with each player getting a chance to bid. The highest bidder wins the right to purchase the property.

The once around auction mechanic in Monopoly creates competition and tension, as players try to outbid each other for the properties they want. The mechanism also adds an element of strategy, as players must balance the cost of the properties against their own resources and goals. This type of auction mechanic is simple and straightforward, as players only have one chance to bid on each property.