The Rise of the Golden Idol

Release Date: November 12, 2024

Adventure, point-and-click, detective, 2D, Crime, indie games, 60s and 70s, singleplayer

8.5

OpenCritic

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A point-and-click detective adventure game and a sequel to The Case of the Golden Idol. The Rise of the Golden Idol has us solving fifteen investigations and trying to figure out how they're related to the titular Golden Idol.

Videos and Screens

[0:55] The Rise of the Golden Idol Launch Trailer

[1:08] The Rise of the Golden Idol Release Date Trailer

8.5

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 93% of Critics. There are 24 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Checkpoint Gaming: 9 / 10 by Edie W-K

The Rise of the Golden Idol is a brain-breaking collection of mysteries all wrapped up in one absurd narrative and is a must-have for lovers of investigation games. While it doesn't quite replace the original game in my heart, the puzzles are bigger and better, the plot progression is more fluid, and it's all-around beefier. Golden Idol's unique take on investigation and logical progression is as engrossing as it is difficult, and keeping up with its complex mysteries makes you feel like a master detective when you finally hit that "aha!" moment. I'm waiting with bated breath for those DLCs!

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Twisted Voxel: 8.5 / 10 by Salal Awan

In The Rise of the Golden Idol, players dive into a web of mysteries, using sharp deductive reasoning to solve them. This sequel features a rich narrative and modern setting that makes each revelation satisfying. With engaging art and intuitive gameplay, it offers fresh challenges for point-and-click adventure fans, despite minor interface hiccups on platforms like Steam Deck. A must-play for enthusiasts of the Golden Idol series.

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Shacknews: 9 / 10 by Josh Broadwell

Rise of the Golden Idol is one of the most captivating mystery games around, one that makes clever use of every tool available to it and expands the possibilities of what a logical deduction game can achieve.

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The Rise of the Golden Idol is a point-and-click detective adventure game and the sequel to 2022's The Case of the Golden Idol. Like the first game, it was developed by Color Stray Games.

Plot

The Rise of the Golden Idol is set in the 1970s, three centuries after the first game. Despite the passage of time, the legend of the Golden Idol is still alive and reaping a bloody harvest. We play as a treasure hunter following its trail, needing to solve fifteen criminal mysteries.

Mechanics

The Rise of the Golden Idol has us conducting investigations, ranging from murders to other crimes. The player will meet various characters, each with a different personality and hidden motivations. They include people from the upper classes, TV presenters, convicts and those seeking enlightenment.

The gameplay revolves around solving increasingly more difficult puzzles. To solve them, we must thoroughly search the locations for clues, leads and evidence, then figure out a coherent cause-and-effect sequence. This lets us explain how the event unfolded and who was involved in it.