The Case of the Golden Idol Reviews
Overall, The Case of the Golden Idol manages to enter the niche of good detective games that require real attention and reasoning in their investigations. Its retro look is well applied, but it may not be to everyone's taste. The mysteries are intriguing, provide good challenges and also have a hint system for those who are more comfortable with them.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Case of the Golden Idol is not a game for everyone, but I suspect many who miss the classic adventure and point-and-click games of yesteryear will find an enjoyable and satisfyingly tricky detective based puzzle game to tackle here. The plot thickens as a family yearning for power ‘battle’ over the Idol, and there’s a neat twist to the proceedings that I won’t spoil here. But I fear that many will struggle with the sheer patience required to play on controller, and while it all works just as well it can, it’s a case that many players may not want to solve in the end. And that’s a shame. Here’s hoping touch support on Cloud can step in!
The Case of the Golden Idol is a brilliant game. Instead of relying on complex puzzles to try and confuse the user, Color Gray makes everything about observation and just sheer analysis to create a brilliant experience for the player. This game is ideal for fans of masterpieces like Return to the Obra Dinn.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
"Murders and mysteries in pre-industrial England."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Truly a bit of an odd bird, with its own pretty minimalist style on point-and-click adventuring, but daring to tell an overarching story its own way
Color Gray Games could never release another game and they'd still be a team I'd remember years down the line. Case of the Golden Idol is an incredible first showing that may just revolutionize the mystery game genre in the way that classics like Return of the Obra Dinn did at launch. When I was done with it all, I was left with this hunger to create art, because that's what happens when I consume a piece of truly great art.
I will commend The Case of the Golden Idol for being an excruciatingly smart game with a neat method of developing its lore and world-building, but its mystery solving gameplay loop, while engaging for those into whodunits, features some flaws worth pointing out. Solving a case is really rewarding, but getting stuck in a particular puzzle feels punishing, with the game nearly starting to treat you in a condescending way if you start using its (tiresome) hint system too often.
Everything that I love about Return of the Obra Dinn is present in The Case of the Golden Idol and more. Things are never as straightforward as they seem, and the story is so absorbing that I once again spent all night delving into each case. My only wish is that the game was longer, as I eventually completed it in four hours. But when the only flaw is that you wanted more, can it really be considered a flaw?
While I do think there was room for some additional quality of life features here, and it sometimes gets a bit too clever for its own good, The Case of the Golden Idol took me back to my childhood, reminding me of the puzzles I once loved while putting its own spin on things that would only work in a video game. This idol might be cursed, but you should still take a chance on it.
The Curse of the Golden Idol keeps you guessing right up until the end. It smartly connects its cast and cases, really immersing you in its mysteries and intricacies. Some minor UI issues aside, this is a must play for adventure game enthusiasts or anyone looking for a good, memorable journey.
The Case of the Golden Idol offers us one of the best recent investigative stories. The main gameplay mechanic is your brain and how you can deduce everything. It's an absolutely brilliant game and I wish more like it came out.
Review in Spanish | Read full review