The Case of the Golden Idol

Case of the Golden Idol is an innovative and truly engaging detective masterpiece.

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In "The Case of the Golden Idol," players become an 18th-century detective, investigating twelve mysterious deaths over 50 years, all linked to a cursed aristocratic family and the elusive Golden Idol. By meticulously observing each death scene and utilizing deductive skills, players can unmask killers and expose their motives, unraveling a complex web of deceit and villainy. The game promises a sprawling narrative filled with dark conspiracies and hidden truths.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,619 reviews

story1,835 positive mentions

grinding88 negative mentions

Interesting and polished art style that complements the game's atmosphere.
Engaging and satisfying deduction mechanics that reward careful observation and logical reasoning.
Creative storytelling that unfolds through interconnected mysteries, providing a compelling narrative.

Relatively short gameplay experience, which may leave players wanting more.
Some puzzles can feel tedious or overly reliant on specific wording, leading to potential frustration.
The art style may be off-putting to some players, potentially affecting initial engagement.

story
3,720 mentions
49 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "The Case of the Golden Idol" is a captivating and intricately woven narrative that unfolds across 11 cases and an epilogue, exploring themes of greed, ambition, and treachery. Players engage in a unique deduction mechanic, piecing together clues to reveal a larger, interconnected plot that is both surprising and satisfying, with numerous twists and callbacks that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the story straightforward or occasionally convoluted, the majority praised its depth, humor, and the rewarding feeling of unraveling the mysteries within a richly crafted world.
- “The storyline is very unique and intriguing.”
- “The plot takes more than a bit of figuring out, with certain twists presented in ways the player might not fully grasp until the epilogue puts everything together, but ultimately lays out a captivating story of greed, treachery, and ambition.”
- “The overall story is well-written and there are many surprising turns and callbacks to things earlier in the story.”
- “The only shortcoming of the game is that major story plot twists are placed on the answer pages.”
- “I wish the plot twists were made (at least more obvious) in the scenes rather than on the page... I see quite a few people shared similar frustration with me in the discussion forum.”
- “I also didn't love the fact that I was playing as a kind of disembodied observer and couldn't interact with the story in any way (i.e. if you catch a murderer, the story just moves on as though you didn't). Solving the mysteries is purely for your own curiosity, and does not affect the narrative whatsoever.”
gameplay
1,101 mentions
37 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Case of the Golden Idol" is characterized by its unique deduction mechanics, where players explore static scenes to gather clues and fill in narrative blanks, reminiscent of "Return of the Obra Dinn." While the game offers a satisfying challenge with clever puzzles and a compelling story, some players noted that it can become repetitive and may require brute forcing in certain instances. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics, intuitive design, and the ability to immerse players in a rich narrative experience.
- “The appeal here is the unique gameplay, where you explore a static scene in order to understand the sequence of events which led to the death of a character, and then drag the concepts you've discovered while exploring to a fill-in-the-blank quiz to demonstrate your understanding.”
- “The gameplay in this game is very unique and it really makes your brain work!”
- “The gameplay revolves around finding out what happened in each murder scene.”
- “At first, I thought it was my own failure, but I think it's possible that they just weren't always able to be deduced... at a certain point, I was just naturally brute-forcing certain aspects of the puzzles... the gameplay is just really conducive for that being a way to get by.”
- “The gameplay of this game will not be for everyone.”
- “The second problem is that the detective gameplay felt quite shallow; there was maybe only one scenario in the whole game where I felt like I was making a clever observation to figure something out.”
graphics
1,030 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Case of the Golden Idol" have received mixed reviews, with many players initially finding the art style off-putting but ultimately growing to appreciate its unique, nostalgic charm reminiscent of 90s adventure games. Described as "ugly cute" or intentionally grotesque, the pixel art effectively complements the game's dark themes and storytelling, creating a distinctive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players may find the visuals lacking in polish, the engaging puzzles and compelling narrative often overshadow any graphical shortcomings.
- “The game's nostalgic visuals add a unique charm to the mystery-solving experience, making it both visually delightful and engaging.”
- “The art style is unique and fits the theme well.”
- “The art style is quirky but fun, there is no voices but there is suspense music (which stuck in my head after we brainstormed for so long).”
- “I found the art style very off putting and the entire game is just you looking at a picture.”
- “The graphics originally stopped me from wanting the game but I grew to really enjoy them, the sound design is great, and the soundtrack is good but some tracks loop too quickly.”
- “The art style is plain ugly, and the price is high for the content.”
music
686 mentions
63 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the unique art style, with many reviewers noting its catchy, moody, and sometimes unsettling qualities. While some tracks may loop too quickly or become repetitive during extended gameplay, the overall soundtrack is described as excellent, fitting seamlessly into the game's narrative and contributing to the immersive experience. Many players found themselves enjoying the music so much that they considered purchasing the soundtrack separately, highlighting its memorable and engaging nature.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing as it carries you around the mysteries with urgency and determination but without annoyance or repetitiveness.”
- “The music contributes very well to the atmosphere of every scene, especially in the DLC.”
- “The art style and music are excellent as well, same with the humor to its writing.”
- “My only grumble would be sometimes I find the music 'intrusive' when trying to piece together a scene, and the minimalist use of animation was a detriment to noticing one of the clues.”
- “While this game could be compared to Obra Dinn, unlike that game, the music is truly bad here and I turned it off after the first two cases.”
- “My only slight annoyance was that some of the music, while mostly well-crafted and interestingly arranged, can get very annoying when it's been on loop for an hour during a case that you just can't seem to solve.”
humor
131 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its dark, clever, and absurd qualities, seamlessly blending with the intriguing narrative and complex puzzles. Players appreciate the sharp writing, funny character designs, and laugh-out-loud moments that enhance the overall experience, making it both entertaining and engaging. The art style and music complement the humor, creating a unique atmosphere that keeps players invested in the story while solving its mysteries.
- “This game is hilarious and very enjoyable, whilst simultaneously being very challenging at times.”
- “The story is gripping and compelling, the tone is equal parts dark and hilarious, it's just perfect.”
- “The cases all build upon each other, and tell a weird story which ultimately delivers probably the most excellent and hilarious ending to a game I have experienced in years.”
atmosphere
126 mentions
62 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of art style, music, and storytelling, creating a captivating and often unsettling experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of soundtracks and visuals that evoke a sense of nostalgia and mystery, reminiscent of the 18th century. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging, immersive, and integral to the game's identity, enhancing the enjoyment of its challenging puzzles and narrative depth.
- “Outstanding visuals and sound create a unique mysterious atmosphere.”
- “The game is beautifully designed, with a unique art style that is both stylish and atmospheric.”
- “The atmosphere, writing, and character design are all so unique.”
- “The story is less a mystery than just a macabre collection of events, but the atmosphere and oddity of it all keeps you hooked along with the puzzles which are simple, but satisfying to solve.”
- “It creates a subtly disturbing atmosphere that is really key to the game's identity.”
- “The creepy art and music add to the unsettling atmosphere.”
grinding
94 mentions
2 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that while the games offer engaging puzzles and narratives, many players find certain aspects of the gameplay, such as clue gathering and interface interactions, to be tedious. Common complaints include repetitive tasks like dragging and dropping keywords, backtracking through clues, and lengthy text passages that detract from the overall experience. Despite these frustrations, most reviewers agree that the games still manage to provide enjoyable and challenging mystery-solving experiences.
- “You're given juuust enough information to work it out so it feels challenging but not tedious.”
- “Finding clues is fun at first, then it gets tedious when the clue is some unintuitive word in an ordinary statement.”
- “The backtracking from thinking to exploring mode can get rather tedious as you pore over clues again and again trying to find the thread that will lead you to piece together what happened.”
- “The later chapters are just tedious to 'finish' because the method of inputting your 'guess' is just a strew of nonsensical sentences with a gap every other word that makes the actual deduction rely far less on observation.”
replayability
67 mentions
9 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
54 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with most players noting that it is quite short (around 4-6 hours) and offers little incentive for a second playthrough. While some players found value in revisiting the game after forgetting certain details, the consensus is that once the story and puzzles are known, there is minimal replay value. Despite this, many reviewers still recommend the game for its quality experience, even if it doesn't provide substantial replay opportunities.
- “It's not really a replayable game, but I found the whole experience to be pretty fresh and worthwhile!”
- “A brief but utterly spellbinding mystery game in the vein of Return of the Obra Dinn, not replayable once you know everything, but not every game needs to be.”
- “However, I have memory problems, so at least for me, given enough time between playthroughs, it's infinitely replayable!”
- “The game took me approximately 6 hours to finish and there is no replayability, but that's not a problem at all because it is a very well-crafted experience that I can easily recommend.”
- “There's probably some replayability in there for me, since I've already forgotten most of its story and puzzles, but for anyone with a memory better than that of a goldfish, there might not be much value in a second go.”
- “Took me five hours which is probably about average, and there's honestly no replayability to this game.”
emotional
60 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a strong sense of intellectual achievement, with players frequently expressing feelings of both brilliance and frustration as they navigate challenging puzzles. While many found satisfaction and pride in their problem-solving abilities, some noted that the game's art style detracted from deeper emotional engagement with the narrative. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy feeling clever and accomplished, though it may not provide a deeply emotional storyline.
- “This game made me feel more smart than any of my academic accomplishments.”
- “In the end, it made me feel smart, maybe even because I was smart, and that's all I can ask of a mystery game, right.”
- “Solving the scenarios made me feel clever; they were never so obtuse to be illogical, nor were they too obvious to be a challenge.”
character development
14 mentions
29 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
While the game features impressive character designs and a unique atmosphere, many reviewers note a lack of substantial character development, with characters often feeling underutilized and fading between scenes. The standout character design does contribute to a surprising post-game twist that enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The atmosphere, writing, and character design are all so unique.”
- “The art and character designs are fantastic and the gameplay is very accessible.”
- “The character design, the settings, and the music were all phenomenal.”
- “There is no real character development as most characters just fade away between scenes.”
- “Because it turns out that the awful character design was silently priming you for a post-game twist that ties everything together and blows your mind, and it only works because of the character design.”
- “There is no real character development as most characters just fade away between scenes.”
stability
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance with minimal glitches and no significant slowdowns, some have experienced random crashes and save corruption issues. The design choices, such as disappearing keywords, have also raised concerns among users.
- “Runs smoothly with no glitches or slowdown, and even though I experienced one random crash, I didn't lose any progress.”
- “Runs smoothly with no glitches or slowdown, and even though I experienced one random crash, I didn't lose any progress.”
- “That said, my save got corrupted halfway through (my game would launch and immediately force close) and I spent like an hour troubleshooting and downloading an exterior save to continue my playthrough.”
- “A little bit buggy, but interesting riddles and good detective genre.”
- “In terms of issues, I didn’t run into any glitches whatsoever, but I did find it a questionable design decision to have keywords vanish from the list at the bottom of the screen once you complete a scroll.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any significant glitches or slowdowns. Players have reported experiencing only one random crash, but it did not result in any lost progress.
- “Runs smoothly with no glitches or slowdown, and even though there was one random crash, I didn't lose any progress.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any noticeable glitches or slowdown, and despite a random crash, my progress remained intact.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but the mention of discovering the game through an advertisement suggests that marketing strategies may play a role in attracting players. Overall, the review indicates a positive experience with the game, though it does not provide specific details on monetization practices.