· Skillz · Negotiation
Negotiation Duel: free negotiation game to practise salary talks
A salary offer lands on the table. Pick your replies and land the best deal without walking away.
What is Negotiation Duel?
Three made-up job offers, each a little tougher: a friendly recruiter, a hiring manager with a tight budget, a busy boss with other candidates waiting. Pick your replies to grow the salary, signing bonus, vacation and learning budget, but keep an eye on their goodwill: push too hard and they walk away.
Negotiation Duel is a free negotiation game about job offers. Three made-up offers land on the table, from a friendly recruiter to a blunt boss with other candidates waiting. Each talk is a short branching dialogue: pick a reply, hear the answer, and watch the package of salary, signing bonus, vacation days and learning budget change.
Every move gets a coach's note saying whether it was strong, okay or weak, and why. Pushy moves cost goodwill: bluffing about another offer, issuing ultimatums or piling on demands may pay off once, but if goodwill runs out they walk away and the deal is worth nothing. Your score is the total value of the packages you sign.
At a glance
- Category
- Skillz
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Play time
- 3–5 min
- Price
- Free, in your browser, sign-up optional
How to play
- Pick a reply
- Each turn, choose one of three or four replies. The other side answers and the package updates.
- Hear the coach
- After every move, a coach says whether it was strong, okay or weak, and why.
- Mind the goodwill
- Pushy moves, bluffs and ultimatums use up goodwill dots. At zero they walk away and that deal is worth $0.
- Score
- Your score is the total yearly value of the packages you sign: salary + bonus + learning budget + each vacation day at a day's pay.
Scoring
Your score is the total yearly value of the packages you sign: salary + signing bonus + learning budget + each vacation day at a day's pay.
If their goodwill runs out they walk away and that deal is worth $0. Three offers, each with less goodwill and less luck for risky moves.
What it trains
- Negotiation
- Anchoring with a researched number and asking with reasons.
- Trading terms
- Bonus, time off and learning budget when salary is capped.
- Knowing when to stop
- Keeping goodwill and getting the deal in writing.
Strategy and tips
- Never say yes on the spot
- Thank them, ask for the offer in writing and take a day or two. It's normal and expected.
- Have a researched number
- A specific figure based on what similar roles pay anchors the talk better than "whatever is fair".
- Trade when salary is capped
- Signing bonuses, vacation and learning budgets often come from a different budget than salary.
- One clear ask with a reason
- "A signing bonus would help me cover the switch" is easy to say yes to. A long list of demands isn't.
- Get the final deal in writing
- What you agree on a call can go missing from the contract unless it's written down.
Why play Negotiation Duel?
Most people never negotiate their first offer, and the gap compounds over a whole career. Negotiation isn't about being tough: it's preparation, clear asks with reasons, trading on what matters to each side, and knowing your walk-away point (your best option if this deal fails). Negotiation Duel lets you try strong and risky moves safely and see what each one does to the deal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Negotiation Duel free?
Yes. It is free and runs in your browser, with no download. Signing up is optional.
Is this advice for my country?
The tips are general negotiation habits that work in most places. They aren't legal advice: rules on contracts, notice and pay vary by country, so check local guidance for your situation.
Are the companies and numbers real?
No. Every company, person, salary and budget is made up for the game.
Is there luck in the game?
A little. Risky moves like bluffing or a last-minute demand work only some of the time, and less often in tougher talks. Strong moves never depend on luck.