The Case of the Golden Idol
Genres: Puzzle, Mystery, Point & Click, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Thriller
Release Date: 13-10-2022
Developer: Color Gray Games
Our verdict
9.5/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 6–8 h
The Case of the Golden Idol is a deduction game in which you play an observer of twelve strange deaths across 50 years of the 18th century, all tied to a cursed golden idol and an aristocratic family. Each case is a frozen scene: you click around to gather names, objects and words, then fill in a fill-the-blanks account of who died, how and why. It suits solo players who like Return of the Obra Dinn, notebooks and slow, careful reasoning.
With about 98% of more than 7,000 reviews positive, players adore it. They describe the cases as challenging but fair, solvable through logic rather than guessing, and enjoy how the scenes slowly reveal a larger conspiracy. Many single out the odd, grotesque pixel art and the world building that never over-explains.
Complaints are minor and recurring: it is fairly short, with the base game taking around six to eight hours, and a few wanted more payoff from the overarching plot or felt the final twist landed only in the epilogue. You also cannot start a fresh save to replay. For anyone who enjoys detective puzzles this is an easy recommendation, and the DLC and sequel extend it.
Pros
- Fill-in-the-blanks deduction makes you reason out every death
- Twelve linked cases build into a centuries-spanning conspiracy
- Hard but fair, solvable through logic rather than guessing
Cons
- Base game is over in roughly six to eight hours
- Some players found the overarching story payoff thin
- No option to start a fresh save for a replay
About
Step into the shoes of an 18th century detective and uncover the mystery behind twelve strange deaths spanning 50 years, all somehow connected.
Unmask the true killers in this sprawling narrative and discover their devious motives.
Observe closely and reconstruct each scene of death. Your skills of deduction can identify each suspect, motive and murder weapon.
Reveal the true nature of the mysterious Golden Idol and those who covet it. Follow the journey of a cursed aristocratic family as you untangle a web of deceit and villainy in your hunt for the truth behind this dark conspiracy.
