The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.
The Case of the Golden Idol is a mystery, detective and investigation game
developed by Color Gray Games
and published by Playstack.
Released on October 13th 2022 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux
in 12 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Spanish - Latin America, Traditional Chinese and Turkish.
It has received 8,616 reviews of which 8,464 were positive and 152 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 17.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified The Case of the Golden Idol into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at The Case of the Golden Idol through various videos and screenshots.
Load More
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7
- Processor: 1.7 GHz Dual Core
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 2 GB available space
MacOS
- OS: macOS High Sierra
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.86 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000
- Storage: 400 MB available space
Linux
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
The main game especially clicks along well and provides satisfying twists, appropriate for the mystery genre. I found the second DLC (Lemurian Vampire) to contain some pretty egregious typos, that made solving the mystery a matter of brute force rather than clever deduction.
Expand the review
This game wasn't on my radar at all, but from the first minute I was completely enthralled. A perfect marriage of puzzle and mystery, I was compelled by both the gameplay and the story equally. If you liked Obra Din you must play this.
Expand the review
People have been talking about this game for a while as sort of a successor to Obra Dinn. It's not an adventure game, it's a detective type game where you're just filling in the blanks (literally) as to who everyone is and what transpired in the scene you are viewing. There are 11 main game scenes and 6 DLC scenes. Base game took me about 4 hours and the DLCs took about the same amount of time despite being half the number of levels. The core story is entertaining and would make a good novel (DLCs as well, which are a prequel). However, I think it hits better if you don't figure out the twist early; I think the seed is planted too soon in the plot. The sounds are fine but nothing to write home about. Scenes are very slightly animated so they are not completely static, and the art style is kind of uniquely unpleasant, so at least it stands out. The core issues I have with the game are twofold: First, the difficulty of the base game is lacking. Over the course of 11 levels only a handful really used the mechanics beyond an extremely surface level implementation. The DLC missions fix this somewhat. Secondly, the implementation itself has core flaws related to grammar. Verb words (typically blue) will have tense endings attached to them which practically reduces the number of valid choices by 50% or more in many cases. In some rare cases (one particularly nasty one in the second DLC), there are additional articles before where a word should go which makes the correct answer grammatically incorrect. I understand the difficulties of implementing this kind of system, especially if you are translating into multiple languages, but the end result in this case is a huge disservice to the game's premise. Ultimately though, while I think the game doesn't quite deserve the level of praise and attention it's gotten, it's still quite good, and the DLCs are a welcome increase in challenge if you enjoy the base experience.
Expand the review
for me, the litmus test of a good puzzle/mystery game is this: finding the solution all on your own makes you feel super smart. caving and using a hint or a guide makes you feel dumb, because solution makes you realize you could have solved it without help. this is a very, very good puzzle game.
Expand the review
It’s pretty rare these days to find a game that really looks unlike anything else. Describing the art style of The Case of the Golden Idol is a challenge for sure. That is an achievement in and of itself. I’ve never seen a game so gruesomely “ugly” yet striking and awe-inspiring in its own weird way. What an irony to have a studio called Color Gray Games release a game that couldn’t be further from the color gray. Despite its dark subject matter, Golden Idol is actually rather bright and colorful. The reduced color palette combined with a masterfully utilized dithering effect gives the whole game a unique retro charm. The environments you get to visit during your journey through this mystery tale are a sight to behold for sure but nothing comes close to the simply unmatched expressiveness of these faces. Just look at these ugly-ass dudes. The huge bulging eyes, the crooked noses, the swollen pursed lips and never-ending foreheads. It’s an art style that embraces its obliqueness proudly and it reinforces the strange and mysterious vibe the game is going for perfectly. Yes, the titular case in The Case of the Golden Idol, is an intriguing one. Through 12 chapters, you follow the events surrounding a mysterious artefact – the golden idol. It makes its first appearance near the isle of Lemuria where two men are entangled in mortal strife over the ownership of this ominous and strangely alluring item. This is the first case you have to solve and everything you need to know to progress the game can be learnt here. This is a “whodunit” murder mystery puzzle game and you take on the role of an observer/detective trying to piece together what transpired in each chapter. Certain rules always apply. There’s always a body, the cause of death can be inferred from clues that are scattered around the vicinity and things are never as clear as they first seem. Similar to games like Return of the Obra Dinn, it is your task to identify each person in a scene and determine what chain of events led to the eventual death of the victim. You do this by gathering clues in the form of names, objects and activities. Yes, by clicking on points of interest in a scene, you literally collect words that you then need to input into an incomplete text describing the events. You fill in the blanks and, if your deductions are correct, solve the case. What I loved about this approach is that Case of the Golden Idol uses environmental storytelling to great effect. Once you enter a scene you only perceive the aftermath of the horrific event that led to a person’s death. The environmental storytelling is all there is for you to make any kind of sense of what happened. You can check people’s inventories, you can look into drawers or closely examine papers and paintings. Everything you see can hold a clue to the mystery at hand. But it doesn’t have to! That’s the cool thing here. Sometimes, the game deliberately misleads you by presenting “clues” that are really not going anywhere. I remember a specific chapter in which the game put great emphasis on showing a variety of footprints. Additionally, for every character present in the scene, you could zoom in on their shoes and match their shapes with the prints you found. Did you need any of this? Hell no! At least for me, I had the case figured out without this info. I don’t think this is a bad thing though, quite the opposite. I love when puzzle games respect my agency as the player. Let me figure things out on my own given all the information available. Even if seemingly useless information can feel like it’s only there to confuse you, I actually enjoyed crawling through the heaps of data trying to identify the relevant bits and pieces I needed to solve the case. I say “seemingly useless information” for a reason. You see, another positive effect of this approach is that sometimes, the game embellishes a scene with information that isn’t necessarily important for the identification of the murderer but that still enriches the world and its characters. Many times did I find a peculiar piece of writing or a clothing item or jewelry that would tell me something about the person who possessed it. Sometimes, entire relationships between characters are recontextualized this way. You think you know how certain characters relate to each other and then you find a letter in someone’s pocket that turns everything on its head. It’s the coolest thing ever! As you move from one case to the next, an initially unconnected series of events slowly starts to reveal itself as a continuous storyline as every case is in some way connected to the golden idol. Certain characters are featured in multiple chapters and by the end of the game, you have a pretty solid understanding of their personality, ambitions and morals. What starts as a fictionalized tale of colonial thievery subsequently turns into a grand epic about conspiracies, secret societies and coup d'etats. It’s a gripping alternate history that slowly unfolds, sucking you into its dark narrative further and further with every chapter you play. When it all came together so beautifully in the end, there was this moment of epiphany that shook me to the bone. This is usually the moment that makes or breaks a mystery game - the resolution at the end. I can’t stress this enough but The Case of the Golden Idol nails this so perfectly. Not only does the ending give you a satisfying sense of closure, it also completely reframes everything that happened until that point. In your mind, you go back to previous cases and it gives you one aha moment after another. The writers did a fantastic job here and I have nothing but praise for their work. It’s a slow burn for sure but I guarantee you that if you give this game a little time to get going, its story will have you in its grasp until the very end. Another game element that delights me is how optional objectives are designed. To progress the story, you have to fill in the blanks of a descriptive text delineating the events of the current chapter. However, there is more to do if you wish to. Identifying every character, correctly placing every person in a seating order or matching tattoos with their corresponding social standing within a secret society. The game gets really creative with these. Oftentimes, those “optional” tasks really help with the main mystery. Knowing everyone’s identity or where everyone was seated during a dinner party when the victim collapsed sure helps with solving the case. I love how the game doesn’t hold back here. There are some genuinely tricky tasks here that absolutely require you to pay attention to the scene, connect the dots and sometimes, learn certain rules or symbols by heart. I found myself sitting in front of the screen trying to piece everything together and often being close to losing the plot. But I always kept going because I just needed to understand everything that was going on. To summarize my feelings for the puzzle design in this game: “It makes no damn sense…compels me though.” I have nothing more to say other than: Play this game! If murder mysteries interest you at all and you have a fondness for puzzle games like Return of the Obra Dinn, this is one of the if not the best in the genre. The way this game misleads you, the way it subtly tells you so much about its characters with so little, the way this small-scale story about an ancient artefact turns into a grand alternate history tale is nothing short of marvelous. Amazing narrative design, outstanding audiovisual presentation and a core mystery that stays compelling till the very end… The Case of the Golden Idol is close to perfection.
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
The Operator
Welcome to the FDI. As our newest Operator, your role is to use your detective skills to assist our field agents and investigate mysterious crimes. Use cutting-edge FDI software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth.
Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
In this point-and-click urban thriller, down-and-out private eye Kathy Rain will embark on her most dangerous case yet — the pursuit of the notorious serial killer known as the Soothsayer. Find clues, gather evidence, connect the dots, and confront the murderer before the hunter becomes the hunted…
The Rise of the Golden Idol
The Award-winning detective saga returns in this standalone sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol. Uncover the truth behind 20 strange cases of crime, death and depravity in the 1970s. The world has changed dramatically - the sins of humanity have not.
The Roottrees are Dead
A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
Confidential Killings - A Detective Game
A series of murders is shocking Hollywood! Use your detective skills: search the crime scene, find clues, solve the mystery. Who is pulling the strings behind these Confidential Killings?
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments
Become the most celebrated detective of all time: Sherlock Holmes! Use your impressive talents as a detective to solve six thrilling and varied cases: murders, missing persons, spectacular thefts and numerous investigations that sometimes lead you into the realms of the fantastic.
The Painscreek Killings
Investigate an infamous cold case in the eerie, abandoned town of Painscreek. Search for evidence, connect the dots and uncover who killed Vivian Roberts. Can you expose the truth behind this town’s dark secrets?
Dahlia View
Sometimes it takes a nightmare to wake a place like Dahlia View. Lead the investigation into a missing child and discover the dark secret of Dahlia View in this story-driven observational thriller from the creators of The Occupation and Ether One.
Strange Antiquities
Become the custodian of a store dealing in occult antiquities. Explore the quaint and gloomy town of Undermere, where strange goings-on and dark mysteries abound. Find and identify arcane artefacts, use your collection to aid the townsfolk with their unusual problems — and remember to pet your cat!
Enigma of Fear
Become Mia, a paranormal detective searching for her missing father inside the Perimeter - a place that doesn't exist. Investigate clues like a real detective and unravel the mysteries behind the Enigma of Fear, defeating the terrible monsters who'll try to stop you.
Mohism: Battle of Words
Mohism: Battle of Words is a detective game set in the world of wuxia. The game follows Zhang Xiaochen, investigates unsolved cases and comes into his own as a hero. He must rely on his wits and razor-sharp tongue to best his opponents, find the culprit and ensure justice prevails!
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
Become the greatest detective of all time in The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, a twisting, turning investigation game set in a faithfully-reproduced London of 1898. As Sherlock Holmes, you must find clues, interrogate suspects and unveil a mystery in a story full of twists!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Case of the Golden Idol is currently priced at 17.99€ on Steam.
The Case of the Golden Idol is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 17.99€ on Steam.
The Case of the Golden Idol received 8,464 positive votes out of a total of 8,616 achieving an impressive rating of 9.51.
😍
The Case of the Golden Idol was developed by Color Gray Games and published by Playstack.
The Case of the Golden Idol is playable and fully supported on Windows.
The Case of the Golden Idol is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
The Case of the Golden Idol is playable and fully supported on Linux.
The Case of the Golden Idol is a single-player game.
There are 3 DLCs available for The Case of the Golden Idol. Explore additional content available for The Case of the Golden Idol on Steam.
The Case of the Golden Idol does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
The Case of the Golden Idol does not support Steam Remote Play.
The Case of the Golden Idol is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for The Case of the Golden Idol.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 17 January 2026 20:14 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 23 January 2026 17:36 |
| Steam price | 29 January 2026 04:25 |
| Steam reviews | 28 January 2026 21:46 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about The Case of the Golden Idol, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about The Case of the Golden Idol
- SteamCharts - Analysis of The Case of the Golden Idol concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck The Case of the Golden Idol compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
80
Developer
Color Gray Games
Publisher
Playstack
Release
13 Oct 2022
Platforms
Clicking and buying through these links helps us earn a commission to maintain our services.