Case of the Golden Idol is one of the best puzzle games of the year

There are some games where it’s nice to have a notebook handy: Elden Ring, TunicPlease see the following: Disney Dreamlight Valley I can think of no other. There are also games that you can play. Not requiredIt is a good idea to keep a notepad handy. The Case of the Golden IdolIt is also one of the most popular games.

Developer Color Gray Games’ point-and-click detective mystery has drawn comparisons to The Return of the Obra DINN, and for good reason — it’s a tightly wound mystery that takes skill and precision to untie. The Case of the Golden IdolIt spans over 40 years, and twelve deaths in an 18th century high society. At the center of it all is the mysterious golden idol — a tool of magic and intrigue that’s so powerful people are willing to murder and steal over it. Eleven static pixel-art scenes depict the character and power of the idol. Each level captures the moment of murder right at its impact — the moment a character erupts into a ball of flames or a woman’s poisoned at the dinner table, to name a couple. You’re the detective, tasked with filling in the blanks — literally on a separate screen with blank spaces dotted throughout a story — to figure out who was involved and how the murder unfolded.

The gameplay involves clicking through increasingly complicated scenes and finding key words or clues. The Case of the Golden Idol is the “exploring” phase. The “thinking” phase is where you input what you’ve learned to solve the puzzles of each case; typically, The Case of the Golden IdolIt is necessary to complete a short summary, and identify each person at the crime scene.

Image: Color Gray Games/Playstack

The Case of the Golden Idol’s first few cases are overtly simple, and act as tutorials of sorts. A man is seen falling from a cliff while another person watches. Two backpacks are found near a small camp. The two men each have something to look at, as well as their bags. In sifting through these characters’ possessions, you’re starting to weave the imaginary tapestry of these people’s lives, leading into the moments just before the murder.

Where does the notebook go? Every one of The Case of the Golden Idol’s cases are tightly packed with intricate things to look at, and sometimes small details will lead to revelatory developments in later cases. Plenty of logic puzzles accompany proceedings, including deducing who sat where at a table or how a dash of poison found itself in someone’s glass. I found it helpful to create “trees” of people, their motives, and interpersonal connections; The Case of the Golden Idol’s story spans decades in an aristocratic society where everyone is positioning themselves for power.

Understanding the gruesome nature of these characters’ search for power, and how that power warps society, is just as essential to solving the game as its logic puzzles. You can move freely back and forth between “exploring” and “thinking,” and that’s certainly helpful. There are other benefits. The Case of the Golden Idol To access more cases you can flip to the menu screen. There’s no rush on solving any case, and no penalties for seeking out help, either. There is a hint system that offers clues — still vague and full of riddles — designed to lead you toward answers. The developer is not happy. Does caution the player from using this system without consideration; there’s no real reason given, but my best guess is that developer Color Gray wants players to take the time to consider each scene in depth, and arrive at Eureka! They can take their time.

Image: Color Gray Games/Playstack

As in many detective games, there’s a lot hidden throughout Curse of the Golden Idol, as you observe one item intensely for minutes on end only to discern its true meaning once you’ve almost forgotten about it later on. It is an intricate world that slowly becomes something bigger. The joy of looking back at the whole picture comes from seeing the details. Color Gray Games has created a mystery tale in which every little thing seems essential, which is all the more impressive considering the sheer volume of information you’ll absorb by the end.

The Case of the Golden IdolThe game is so addictive that I feel like a television detective, placing photos on walls and drawing red lines. These yarn strings run through my notebook connecting murder motives and weapons to characters. It’s easy to get sucked into small details looking for a lead, but the feeling it gives when I’ve locked in the correct answers… It’s like I’m the most brilliant person on earth — even if just for a moment. The Case of the Golden Idol, like other deep detective games, expands past its own boundaries and into the pages of my notebook, leaving me thinking about its clues long after I’ve closed the game.

The Curse for the Golden Idol Windows PC was updated on October 13. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. They do not affect editorial content. However, Vox Media might earn commissions for products bought via affiliate links. Find out more. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.