The Case of the Golden Idol
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.
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The Operator on Steam
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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.
The Operator is a detective, investigation and conspiracy game
developed by Bureau 81
and published by Bureau 81 and indienova.
Released on July 22nd 2024 is available on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Steam Deck and Steam Machine.
It has received 6,196 reviews of which 5,750 were positive and 446 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 13.79€ on Steam, but you can find it for 9.95€ on Eneba.
The Steam community has classified The Operator into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7
- Processor: Intel i5 or equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GTX 970
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 3 GB available space
MacOS
- OS: High Sierra 10.13+
- Processor: Apple M1
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Apple M1
- Storage: 3 GB available space
Linux
- OS: Ubuntu 16.04
- Processor: Intel i5 or equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GTX 970
- Storage: 3 GB available space
Steam Price & Best Deals
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
I just finished this and it was... honestly, some of the best writing I've experienced in a game in a while. On the surface it looks like an interactive OS job simulator that might have "dark secrets" or something of the sort. But it throws those assumptions completely out the window, and seeing how little people actually finished the game.... I feel like most aren't even aware of that. The voice acting, the mechanics, the soundtrack... Just incredible. I can see the love that was poured into this and I can't recommend it enough. 10/10
I hardly ever write reviews for games... However, after this one... Just play it. You won't regret it. I went in thinking it was going to be a basic puzzle solving operator simulator game...HOW WRONG I WAS. This game, I should've seen it coming. I should've seen where it was going...But it kept me too immersed to really care about anything else. This is such a beautifully written concept turned into an equally beautiful game. Games never leave an impression on me, really. I mean I play them, I have my favorites. But this is the first game that has EVER given me chills, shocked me to my core, and my stomach dropped more times than I care to admit. This was a beautiful game. Absolutely fabulously, wonderfully, beautifully, amazingly well crafted game and I look forward to any other game this company produces. Thank you, Devs, for this beautiful masterpiece.
This game essentially feels underbaked. It was building up a compelling mystery and then it gets cut short in a rather unsatisfying way. However, I feel like what is present in the game is strong enough to still recommend. If you like other investigative computer type games such as Orwell or The Roottrees are Dead, you will like this and I think it's still worth playing despite the flaws.
I'm very on the fence about recommending this game. I would say pick it up on sale for a few reasons. For one, the game is very linear with almost no replay value outside of getting achievements. Their seems to have been many opportunities for branching story paths but your choices don't really matter much. The presentation and mechanics are the game are really cool and I hope in future game they can be expanded on more. The story kind of devolves into an ending I didn't really find satisfying and its the singular ending to the game, regardless of how successful you are. If you are okay spending money on a 2-3 hour narrative experience, I would say pick this up. Its up to you if you think that's worth the full retail price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Operator is currently priced at 13.79€ on Steam.
No, The Operator is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 13.79€ on Steam.
Yes, The Operator received 5,750 positive votes out of a total of 6,196 achieving a rating of 8.97.
😎
The Operator was developed by Bureau 81 and published by Bureau 81 and indienova.
Yes, The Operator is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Yes, The Operator is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Yes, The Operator is playable and fully supported on Linux.
Yes, The Operator is playable and fully supported on Steam Deck.
Yes, The Operator is playable and fully supported on Steam Machine.
No, The Operator does not support VR.
The Operator is a single-player game.
Yes, there is a DLC available for The Operator. Explore additional content available for The Operator on Steam.
No, The Operator does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
No, The Operator does not support Steam Remote Play.
Yes, The Operator 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 Operator.
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 | 20 September 2026 12:16 UTC |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 21 October 2026 08:11 UTC |
| Steam price | 26 October 2026 19:28 UTC |
| Steam reviews | 18 October 2026 22:04 UTC |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about The Operator, 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 Operator
- SteamCharts - Analysis of The Operator concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck The Operator compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
41
Developer
Bureau 81
Publisher
Bureau 81,
indienova
Release
22 Jul 2024
Platforms
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