The Case of the Golden Idol
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The Case of the Golden Idol
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Case of the Golden Idol is a downloadable mystery game for Windows PCs. While it's set in the 1700s and has a fictional plot, aspects of the environment may be educational to players looking to learn about the time period. Because of this, the language may be too outdated and complex for younger kids. The goal is to solve various logic puzzles and come to a conclusion about several different scenes. The game requires players to observe all aspects of each scene, including characters, names, and objects, and then sort those findings into "fill in the blank" puzzles to uncover plot points. Puzzles start fairly easy, but become increasingly more difficult as the game progresses. Hints are available after completing a small task, but are strongly discouraged by the game. Despite its skill-building attributes, this game is still an investigative murder mystery, and a murder takes place within each chapter. They are often gruesome. Violence is heavy, and the viewer frequently witnesses blood, explosions, and stabbings.
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What’s It About?
In THE CASE OF THE GOLDEN IDOL, players work through various scenarios, solving mysteries in each scene by completing tasks in two sections per chapter. First, in the "exploring" section, players examine objects and characters, adding the name of discovered items to a word bank at the bottom of the screen. Next, in the "thinking" section, players drag those items to fill-in-the-blank prompts, analyzing the scene's timeline and drawing conclusions about the outcome. If players have placed items into the wrong blanks, the game will alert them if there are more or less than two incorrect. The Case of the Golden Idol follows a family tree of characters in mid-1700s (presumably colonial) America, and all are intertwined in a complex timeline of betrayal and murder. There's no spoken dialogue, and all audio is crafted from instrumental music and sound effects.
Is It Any Good?
It's the 1700's, and you've been dropped into a seemingly endless string of drama, family betrayal, and murder. In The Case of the Golden Idol, you play as an unseen detective, working to piece together the story behind several different chapters, (and in each one, a murder). Despite its gruesome nature that may give parents pause, this game is a marvel. A testament to the wonders of keeping things simple, The Case of the Golden Idol makes for a very easy play through (mechanics-wise) and would probably not frustrate players who are unfamiliar with video games. Don't be mistaken, though – for what it lacks in complex button-pressing, it makes up for in logic puzzles. Some chapters are surprisingly simple, and others a bit overwhelming. But fans of mystery games know all too well that discovering what is relevant to the case and what isn't is half of the fun.
In the end, this game is a dream for fans of investigation and mystery challenges. Instructions are few and far between, but the simplicity of the game mechanics don't really warrant extensive help, and getting through tasks on your own, without the game's help, brings a sense of accomplishment and not frustration. Frequently referring to you as "friend" when you prompt it for hints, The Case of the Golden Idol implies that it knows the conclusion of this tale far before you will. But most of all, it knows that you'll have a blast solving this tangled web of cults, crimes, and clues.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why sabotage and betrayal are a recurring theme in the game. Why is it important to be open and honest with friends and family about your thoughts and emotions?
Where can we use skills like process of elimination and deduction in our daily lives? Can you learn tips from play The Case of the Golden Idol to help in real life?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($17.99)
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: PlayStack
- Release date: August 24, 2022
- Genre: Puzzle
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, History
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
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