X
- Playstack
- Playstack
- Playstack
- Playstack
The Case of the Golden Idol
Released On: Oct 13, 2022
84
8.0
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
84
70% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
84
70% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The Case of the Golden Idol is a game of reasoning, elegantly modest in execution – the artwork is rudimentary, but strikingly so – but one that often requires extravagant feats of deduction. Genuinely new and inventive forms of play are relatively rare in video games, a medium that more often trades in refinement than revolution. Which makes this even more thrilling. Its puzzles are inventive, but so too is the way they must be solved, allowing both a trial-and-error approach and pure deductive reasoning. A game of wondrous, Sherlockian texture that plays out in our own imagination as much as on screen.
Some flow hiccups will do little to interrupt the fun for most players, who will instead see a uniquely clever game, full of wonderful idiosyncrasies, that tells a delightful tale of murder and deceit.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 User Ratings
8.0
82% Positive
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
9% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
9% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 34 User Ratings
8.0
82% Positive
28 Ratings
28 Ratings
9% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
9% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
A true detective game with little handholding
The plentiful comparisons in other reviews to Return to the Obra Dinn, Paradise Killer, Her Story or Painscreek Killings aren't misplaced. Curse of the Golden Idol just presents the player with the facts and lets them come piece together the story themselves. This process is of course immensely satisfying, in big part thanks to how well built and interconnected the cases are.
True, the "fill in the blanks from a list of words" method of solving cases does limit player's options quite a bit, making it somewhat easier than in some of the aforementioned titles. However, most cases contain enough mystery and/or red herrings to keep the experience quite challenging.
A well-designed hint-system
The hint system is something that more games should use. The moment you click "Get a hint" button you are presented with a puzzle to solve to unlock the hint. The puzzle is also connected to the facts of the case(s). This makes it that the puzzle is there if you really need it, but makes it impervious to an impulsive check if you aren't REALLY stuck.
This system saved me from checking a hint in one of the cases when what I really needed was just to look over the evidence once more and find one detail I previously overlooked. :)
Report
PC
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Report
PC
A challenging and inventive set of mysteries to solve tied together with a brilliant storyline.
The Case of the Golden Idol is a brilliant and original detective point & click adventure, supported by an excellent art direction and some really fresh ideas about its gameplay.
Another great indie detective game that not only makes solving crimes fun and interesting but has some surprisingly good storytelling to tie everything together.
A truly great detective story needs a satisfying conclusion - and here the Klavins deliver, and then some. [Issue#377, p.116]
In The Case of the Golden Idol, the mystery-solving is quite engaging up to a point. But overall, the narrative is frustratingly executed and the presentation is unremarkable.
Much like Obra Dinn, it has a really good story that is told and discovered in such a smart and fun way. I love "animated" MS Paint art, that style just really does it for me.
Report
PC
A must play for anybody who loves detective games and who enjoyed Obra Dinn. Depending on your problem solving skills, it will take around 5-7 hours to completely finish the game.
There is a really good story telling, and clues are just excellent. Unlike other point and click games, it is not enough to just randomly click something and hope for the result. You really have to sit down and think about the clues.
Brilliant, brilliant game design, well done.
Report
PC
It's like a logic puzzle/hidden object/deductive reasoning game with an interesting story. I loved it.
Report
PC
Wonderful game, loved every second of it. A little bit on the short side, but it's a must for any fan of detective games. Don't miss out!
Report
PC
A deduction-based investigation game. The game is made of several 2D scenes, frozen at the time of a murder. You have to deduct from what the characters are saying, what they wear, what they have in their pockets and what they seem to be doing, who is who, who killed who and why. The red wire between theses scene is the story around the golden idol, a mysterious artifact prey to all desires. The story is thrilling, the art style is goofy to perfection, the gameplay is challenging and engaging. Not a perfect game, in particular as regards the difficulty curve, but a really good one.
Report
PC
Summary The Case of the Golden Idol is a wryly amusing detective game set in the 18th century, brought to life with striking hand-drawn artwork. The game tests your ability to piece together clues and reconstruct the events leading up to some mysterious deaths. Investigate a series of mysterious deaths. Explore hand-drawn locations set in the 1...
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Oct 13, 2022
Developer:
- Color Gray Games
Publisher: Playstack
Genres:
