Common Sense Media Review
By Claire Crossman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
1700s murder mystery has excellent puzzles, but is violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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The Case of the Golden Idol
Parent and Kid Reviews
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
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