The Rise of the Golden Idol

these puzzles are absolutely amazing. every single one of these was fun to figure out. the best thing is the variety, there are so many different things you have to think about and analyze, deciphering codes, determining who is lying, finding the names of BIRDS. what order did the auction go in and who bought what? who activated the idol and how? why is there an empty house with cryptic messages on the phone? there is mystery in each case that drives me to solve EVERYTHING. i couldn't understand much that was happening in the story (unlike golden idol 1) because there were so many moving pieces, but i don't care, the puzzles are just that GOOD.

Rise of the Golden Idol felt like a PG13-fied version of Case of the Golden Idol, especially in the writing to my immense disappointment. You would think setting the game far in the future would have grander delusions for a finale than just [spoiler] a bloody Superbowl ad.[/spoiler] Gone are the conspiracies, betrayals, murders and tension in the first game, replaced by "plot-moving" decisions of characters like Nathan. The puzzle varieties have increased but there were more cases that's dull, in both puzzles and narrative relevance. Especially [spoiler]the part where Tim writes about committing adultery in his damned schedule. Smart.[/spoiler] I would get it if you really like Case and are willing to get maybe 60% max of that enjoyment from this game.

Sure, I prefer the original. But the bottom line is one of my favorite detective games is now one of my favorite detective series.

If you liked the first game, and feel like you want more, you're either goning to love this one, or you're not going to find any fault in it. Either way, easy thumbs up, and I can't wait for the crew to finish all of the DLC content, which I didn't mind pre-ordering.

Truly ground breaking series in it's genre! I've played through all games and DLCs and I couldn't recommend the series highly enough. Each scenario is really well planned and balanced in terms of difficulty so it's always really fun - and the through-line story is tight, captivating and clever. This is the sort of series that a particular type of gamer will be immediately drawn to (puzzle heavy, wry humour, mystery lovers, someone who wants to replay Obra Dinn) - but I'd encourage those who aren't usually into this type of game to give it a crack. You can tell that this game and the entire series is a true labour of love. The investment that the developers had in the story and the game is palpable - and every instalment is more ambitious and cleverer than the next. Give it a try you won't be disappointed!

The first game was amazing and this outdoes it in every way. There is loads of content with amazing art style and music. Puzzles are tuned very well although a few are a little obtuse. Can’t go wrong with this one.

While I have not played the DLC I think overall this game is less enjoyable than the first one. It starts off really strong and you get invested into the story but the further along you go it gets more convoluted and sours the experience. It's also missing some of the charm from the first one. This is still a really good mystery game but while the first game was a masterpiece this one just doesn't reach the same highs. There are a few amazing levels though. Overall if the first game didn't exist then this would be top tier but comparing the two this was just has many more shortcomings. Ill probably play the dlc after they all come out. 7.2/10

Oh my god I love statues that one can idolise, especially when they're made out of gold! Don't even get me started on them rising!

The Rise of the Golden Idol is a distinctive point-and-click detective game that immerses players in a dark, alternative 1970s world filled with mystery and intrigue. Players step into the shoes of an investigator tasked with unraveling a series of gruesome crimes connected to a mysterious golden idol. The gameplay revolves around examining detailed, frozen scenes where every object and character can hold a crucial clue. By carefully clicking through elements in these static images, players gather keywords to piece together the narrative and reconstruct what happened, making for a deeply rewarding puzzle-solving experience. What sets this game apart is its emphasis on observation and logical deduction. Each case is presented as a snapshot in time, encouraging players to slow down and analyze their surroundings meticulously. Filling in the blanks of the investigation involves connecting dots across multiple scenes, requiring attention to subtle details that might otherwise be overlooked. This approach makes every discovery feel meaningful and keeps players engaged as they gradually uncover the story behind the golden idol and the web of corruption and supernatural events tied to it. The narrative unfolds through a series of interconnected cases, weaving together themes of power struggles, dark secrets, and mysticism. While character development takes a backseat to the plot, the writing is sharp and laced with a dry, sometimes dark humor that adds flavor to the grim scenarios. The game’s tone is further enhanced by its unique art style, which combines exaggerated, almost expressionistic character designs with a muted color palette. This distinctive visual approach perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, turning each crime scene into a carefully crafted tableau rich with hints and story elements. Though the game excels in many areas, it’s not without minor flaws. Some players find the interface occasionally awkward, and the puzzles can sometimes be overly cryptic, leading to moments of frustration. A few cases may require external help to solve, which can interrupt immersion. Additionally, the localization, particularly the French translation, has received some criticism for inconsistencies. However, these issues are relatively minor when weighed against the game’s inventive mechanics and captivating storytelling. Overall, The Rise of the Golden Idol delivers a fresh and engaging detective experience that challenges players to think carefully and piece together a complex mystery. Its innovative gameplay, compelling narrative threads, and striking art style combine to create an unforgettable journey into a bizarre and haunting world. For those who appreciate thoughtful puzzles and atmospheric storytelling, this game offers a uniquely rewarding adventure that stands out in the point-and-click genre. Rating: 9/10

A great game for relaxing, as there's no ticking clock. But you get great sense of accomplishment and a real 'detectivey' vibe to your solutions as you progress through the game.

Excellent game, similar to case of the golden idol, almost as good as obra dinn. The second DLC was disappointing, the others are good but not as good as the core game.

This game is an excellent successor to The Case of the Golden Idol. I wasn't sure if I'd be interested in the DLC but after completing the main story I bought the detective pass. Although the planned episodes aren't all completed yet they have been steadily releasing over the last several months and I don't expect to wait long for the remaining installment. I really liked that careful observation and reasoning are needed to solve the various cases, and how they all are part of a larger story that is not necessarily presented in chronological order. I loved the unique artwork. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Just as good as the original, so if you liked that this is a no-brainer (although you will definitely need your brain to play it).

This game is so good! The Game Loop is very interesting: Game drops a scene and a bunch of hints in chaotic order. Once you make sence of what is actually asked of you, it all starts to fall into place. Very satisfying. I played the first game on Gamepass and while I think it's a little better, this sequel is still a great achievement in its own right. The sequel puts more emphasis on variety and less on the overarching story, which it does to great effect. The characters aren't as iconic - but the scenes are a bit more memorable. Just like the first game the artstyle grew on me really quickly. I think the animations in this game add a lot to it. I really fell in love with the design of some of these riddles. Some of the given hints are so ingenious, I'm still thinking about them. The AHA-Moments never stop. If I had to criticise anything: The statements where you have to fill out the blanks are very strict in their wording. This makes some riddles feel a bit easy - you're railroaded by the syntax into solving the scenes. Other riddles rely on very complicated syntax. When I required a hint, it was mostly for scenes I had already figured out and was looking for help on the specific wording that was asked of me. But the fun is in the puzzle of what happened, so this did not take a lot away for me. I'm looking forward to the DLC and more releases in the futuer.

This is a classic. Absolutely love this game, please play it if you like mysteries, figuring stuff out, and thinking about existentially terrifying topics!

A series that constantly delivers high-quality reasoning puzzles with outstanding worldbuilding and style. A smartly hokey and outlandish story full of cult mysticism, ancient technologies, political conspiracy, and murders galore. Gameplay revolves around observing static scenes, finding clues in the world, and then piecing together the story of what happened by filling in the blanks in a description of events. Medium difficulty compared to other detective games: the number of blanks and words means many possibilities, but the game is forgiving. You can keep trying until you get it right and will often find it necessary to do so.

honestly really fun, the new mechanic for the idol was very interesting and personally was a step up from the previous game. there are aspects of both games i like, for example i feel that the aesthetic/tone created for the first one was slightly better as it fit the events, but rise of the golden idol isn't bad in that sense. for this game, i liked some changes to mechanics in the collection of words as it now automatically sorts the words by type

A vast improvement on the variety of puzzles and scenarios of the first game. There's a lot lower stakes on a lot of them like just figuring out who won a competition but the elements of shady coverups, New Age movements, secret experimentation, and government/corpo espionage plays well into the vibes of Golden Idol where secret societies and cults played into the old one. Some real headscratchers here too, I found myself double and triple-checking every level to get the final puzzle done. Really intriguing puzzles with lots of cool mechanics-solving moments and "aha!" moments that led to a pretty solid narrative.

I literally just finished this game. My head is reeling. It's so much better than the first game (even though I prefer the pixel art.) I'm going to play again in a couple of days to see everything line up. Empathy will prevail!

Insanely good game. If I could forget it and replay it from scratch, I would.

Masterpiece. I hope I could forget the content so I can play it again.....

Loved the first one so much and played all the DLCs. This one doesn't really do it for me

I LIKE this GAME. Dragging WORDS into places on the PUZZLES is fun.

If you liked the first you will like the second, love how the mystery slowly unravels

Great fun.

Decent game!

so sad for jack :(

fun game

Brilliant