The Rise of the Golden Idol

About

"The Rise of the Golden Idol" is a single-player puzzle game with a captivating story. As the player, you must discover clues and piece together the mystery to crack the case. Immerse yourself in a world of intrigue and problem-solving, where your wits and observation skills will be put to the test.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+12

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,095 reviews

story472 positive mentions

grinding34 negative mentions

A beautifully woven narrative on par with the Case of the Golden Idol.
Excellent sequel with rich narrative and methodical gameplay.
The puzzles are clever and satisfying, providing rewarding 'aha' moments.

The story feels less cohesive and impactful compared to the first game.
Some puzzles rely too heavily on specific wording, leading to frustration.
The new UI can be cluttered and less intuitive than the original.

story
1,582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The story in "Rise of the Golden Idol" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it offers intriguing twists and a more complex narrative structure, it lacks the cohesive and gripping quality of its predecessor. Some appreciate the non-linear storytelling and the way individual cases connect to an overarching plot, while others feel that the story is padded with filler content and less engaging characters. Overall, while the sequel builds on the original's foundation, it doesn't quite reach the same narrative heights, leaving some players eager for future DLC to resolve lingering plot threads.
- “The story is still interesting, and this time requires more awareness of how the events and people from various missions interconnect.”
- “The story is compelling and the puzzles are great.”
- “The story is intriguing and full of colorful and memorable characters.”
- “Does very little to differentiate itself from its predecessor... including having the exact same story - I saw some stuff coming before the game gave the information to properly deduce it by asking myself, 'did they literally just copy/paste this?' Art and length got an upgrade, but where the original game really shined - and this one doesn't as much - was having a really tight story without inconsistencies or plot holes.”
- “The story barely gets you invested and jumps around so often that there's no real reason to care.”
- “The story itself is huge and told in a non-linear fashion, but it lacks some of the charm, storytelling depth, and musical impact that made the original so great.”
graphics
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
73%
2%
The graphics in "Rise of the Golden Idol" have transitioned from the original's pixel art to a high-resolution, painterly style that many players find charming and visually appealing, though opinions vary on whether this change is an improvement. While some appreciate the enhanced detail and unique aesthetic that fits the game's quirky narrative, others miss the retro charm of the original's graphics. Overall, the updated visuals and user interface are generally seen as a positive evolution, contributing to a more engaging gameplay experience.
- “Trotgi has the same grotesque art style as the original, but the switch to high-resolution illustrations (compared to the original's pixel art) makes it significantly more palatable.”
- “The art style has received an update and is a joy to behold.”
- “The updated art style is fantastic and unobtrusive.”
- “The art style is what threw me off the most; it actually got creepier and more unsettling (a plus if you're into that).”
- “The story, UI, art style, and difficulty all took major steps back in this release.”
- “My only disappointment is everything but the puzzles - the soundtrack and the art style nosedive really hard compared to the case.”
gameplay
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
76%
1%
The gameplay in "Rise of the Golden Idol" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor, focusing on deduction and puzzle-solving through a fill-in-the-blanks format, while introducing new features and streamlining the experience. Players appreciate the improved complexity of puzzles and the cohesive chapter structure, although some feel the narrative lacks the depth of the first game. Overall, the game is seen as a worthy sequel that enhances the original's engaging gameplay while maintaining its unique investigative charm.
- “Without exception, the truth is always revealed in the clues, the answers are never obvious, and the drag-and-drop fill-in-the-blanks mechanic means it's almost impossible to guess or to complete a case without thoroughly understanding what really happened.”
- “The gameplay perfectly pulls off the feat of having puzzles feel challenging but not unfair, and one feels immensely clever when they make some deduction by connecting the dots between a scattered bit of dialogue and something that a different character carries in their pocket.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and addictive (in a healthy way).”
- “The gameplay—specifically the 'scenario deduction' aspect—is just as strong as in the first game, though not better, which left me slightly disappointed.”
- “This makes the gameplay incredibly frustrating.”
- “Some filler cases where nothing happens, some kindergarten writing, redundant idol mechanic, which is used for only one thing in this game; this leads to repeated events in scenarios and a sort of full circle where at the end we reconnect with the mystery first presented.”
music
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The music in "Rise of the Golden Idol" is generally praised for its atmospheric and diverse qualities, effectively enhancing the game's various scenarios. However, many reviewers feel it falls short compared to the memorable soundtrack of the first game, with some noting that it lacks the same impactful and haunting elements. While some tracks are appreciated for their uniqueness and fit within the game's aesthetic, others find them less engaging or repetitive.
- “The music is diverse and atmospheric, making each case feel like a new experience.”
- “The music is also a lot more eerie than last time, helping create many moments that are unnerving with off-kilter imagery and quietly creepy backing tracks.”
- “The atmosphere of the whole story and also the individual levels is great, the music adds so much to it.”
- “Worse music, worse mystery/story, and much worse UI.”
- “The game improves in some aspects over the original, however the story is way less engaging, puzzles clunkier because of the UI changes and their overall structure, and the music is just there.”
- “My only disappointment is everything but the puzzles - the soundtrack and the art style nosedive really hard compared to the case.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The atmosphere in "Rise of the Golden Idol" is generally praised for its captivating and diverse musical backdrop, which enhances the experience of solving cases. While some players feel it lacks the political intrigue and cohesive creepiness of the first game, the quirky art style and memorable levels contribute to a unique atmosphere. However, there are criticisms regarding the pacing and weight of certain cases, which detract from the overall atmospheric impact.
- “The music is diverse and atmospheric, making each case feel like a new experience.”
- “A sequel of the Case of the Golden Idol that revolutionized the detective game genre, Rise manages to expand upon the concept of the original while maintaining the grotesque atmosphere that made the original so iconic.”
- “The atmosphere of the whole story and also the individual levels is great; the music adds so much to it.”
- “This game starts out with an incredibly thick atmosphere, lots of mysterious deaths that really get the intrigue going, and then it all grinds to a halt halfway through the game as you solve a bunch of relatively minor incidents that have next to no weight. I mean, one of the cases boils down to accidental vandalism. Regardless of the grand story it's trying to tell, that's boring and it feels like a waste of my time.”
- “I had hoped they'd lean more into the 'dystopian 70's corporate America' aesthetic to inform the game's atmosphere and design.”
- “That said, I missed the distinct vibes of Kyle Misko’s soundtrack from the first game, which added so much to its atmosphere.”
grinding
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The aspect of grinding in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find certain tasks and puzzles to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when dealing with overlapping information or minor errors, others appreciate the challenge and rewarding nature of the gameplay. The game does a commendable job of maintaining engagement through varied scenarios, though some specific chapters and mechanics can feel unnecessarily contrived and tedious. Overall, the experience can oscillate between stimulating and frustrating, depending on the complexity of the tasks at hand.
- “It feels very rewarding, and the difficulty is just at the right level to be stimulating, but not tedious, so the temptation to do one more level is always high, even though playing this game requires constant focus.”
- “Once again a genius puzzle game, that is smart and not tedious like most others.”
- “The spieldance chapter is the low point of either game; it's contrived, tedious, and almost entirely unnecessary.”
- “I appreciate that it makes the game harder (albeit, artificially) but, more than anything, it's just tedious and frustrating.”
- “It gets tedious when you know you've filled in 90% of the section correctly and you've just made a minor error filling in one paragraph, but you've got no idea what the heck went wrong so you fiddle and fumble with it until it *finally* completes.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a surprisingly touching and serious ending that contrasts with its whimsical tone, leaving players feeling heart-wrenched and invested in the characters. Many reviewers noted a deeper emotional engagement with the narrative and characters, particularly in the late game, although some felt the emotional catharsis was less clear, possibly setting the stage for future content. Overall, the combination of plot twists and character development evokes a strong sense of satisfaction and pride in players as they navigate the story.
- “The ending is also surprisingly touching and serious compared to the series's overall whimsical tone.”
- “And this might be just me, but I find the ending heart-wrenching.”
- “I cried when I beat it but remembered we’re also getting DLC for this game with more cases, so I stopped crying.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by original writing, funny characters, and a shift towards zany, slapstick comedy compared to its predecessor's darker tone. Players appreciate the clever integration of humor into puzzles and scenarios, with many finding both positive and negative reviews to be amusing in their own right. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging mysteries, making for a lighthearted yet captivating experience.
- “Very original writing, funny characters, and some occasional references to the Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum podcast, which I was very excited about when I discovered them!”
- “This game did seem to be more zany than the first game, with less dark humor and more outright slapstick.”
- “The twenty cases had strange, exciting details to unravel and piece together, requiring creative applications of logic and weaving humor and emotion into the lore.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players feel a stronger attachment to the characters compared to the predecessor, others criticize the lack of meaningful development and the tonal shift that detracts from the narrative depth. The character designs have also been noted as less appealing, with some describing them as grotesque and poorly animated, further impacting the emotional connection to the characters. Overall, the sequel appears to prioritize different themes over the character-driven storytelling that fans appreciated in the original.
- “Another thing to mention, I've gotten attached to the characters in this game so much more than the first game, so with character development, this game has exceeded its predecessor.”
- “The character designs in Rise still maintain that distinct, almost grotesque, look to them that made the original attractive to me.”
- “Many negative reviews so far are along the lines of 'I liked the first game, but the tone of the sequel isn't quite the same, therefore game bad': the critique is somewhat fair, since this game is notably tonally different from the original, with less specific character development and fewer murder cases in favor of highlighting other themes.”
- “It’s not just the shift away from pixel art; the character designs are uglier, stranger, and the animations feel painfully amateurish.”
- “There is no character development at all for those involved and we have no reason to care about them or the twist at the end.”
- “the critique is somewhat fair, since this game is notably tonally different from the original, with less specific character development and fewer murder cases in favor of highlighting other themes.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, heavily influenced by publisher backing. Players express skepticism about the game's value, feeling that the focus on advertising and profit undermines the potential for a meaningful experience.
- “It's a clear cash grab thanks to the financial backing of a publisher.”
- “It comes off more as a cash grab than wanting to have a proper payoff.”
- “I still beat all the DLCs of the first game, but I was a tad hesitant about this upcoming game, especially with its advertisements saying it was 'bigger' than before.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game is noted for having minimal replayability due to its mystery genre design, which limits players' ability to experience new content after the initial playthrough. However, the introduction of additional cases through DLCs offers some hope for extended engagement, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of detective games despite its inherent replay limitations.
- “I look forward to the DLCs, and it's tragic that this kind of game lacks replayability by design -- I cannot get enough of games like this.”
- “I loved the first game, but due to it being a mystery game, there is basically no replayability. The DLCs promise more cases to solve in a similar style, which is literally all anyone could ask of this game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Many users express concerns that the game lacks proper optimization, with hopes that future DLCs will address these issues.
- “The game feels like it's not optimized.”
- “I hope it gets optimized for the DLCs to come.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences minor glitches and a buggy user interface that detracts from the overall enjoyment, including issues like misplaced clue-text and long loading times. While users are hopeful for future fixes, the current stability is seen as a downgrade.
- “But the UI seems to be a downgrade since it's so buggy and unclean that it quite ruins the fun (clue text pierces into the wrong layers, non-fullscreen cover background, very long loading screen, accidentally acquired clue text, etc.).”
- “It also has some minor glitches, but they'll probably fix them soon.”