The Rise of the Golden Idol & DLC – PC Review

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The Golden Idol is back with the newest instalment from Latvian studio Color Gray Games and publisher Playstack. The Rise of the Golden Idol is a direct sequel to 2022’s The Case of the Golden Idol. However, this time you are transported to the roaring 1970s to solve crime. The base game was originally released in November 2024, however, we at Thumb Culture have been lucky to receive the base game and its newest DLC: The Sins of New Wells. Available on Steam the base game will cost you around £17, whilst this first DLC is £5.

Have you got your detective’s hat on?

There is an abundance of detective style games out there to enjoy, but does The Rise of the Golden Idol beat them? Let me know your thoughts below!

This image depicts the player attempting to work out the story. This includes all the words to figure this out to the left hand side of the screen, and then to the right hand of the screen is the sentences in which need to be corrected.
Why don’t you have a go!

Gameplay

The Rise of the Golden Idol follows on the events of its predecessor, The Case of the Golden Idol. The Golden Idol has fallen into myth, and we are now transported to the 1970s. As the player, you are presented with interactive scenes that are frozen at a particular point in time. This may be during the murders themselves, or it may be in the immediate aftermath.

Each scene invites you to explore that single moment in time. All the cast are also frozen. However, they may harbour useful information. You need to make sure that you click on everything available to you; otherwise, you will not be able to uncover the mystery.

This image depicts two detectives in the lower left hand side of the screen, and a news coverage transcript to the right hand side of the screen.
Will you be able to solve the crime?

This includes character dialog, objects and text within the scene to help you to identify all relevant information. These will then offer you keywords. These key words are used to identify characters, and complete the sentence which tells you what has happened within the scene. As the player, you get an idea of what keyword goes where, thanks to the colours. This gives you a little hint that you are going along the right lines.

Once all the words are filled in, the game will then tell you if it’s correct. The only thing I don’t like about this game is that it does not tell you where you have gone wrong. It just tells you that you have. Therefore, you just have to keep moving words around until you can work it out. At the end of each chapter, you have to fill in the chapter puzzle panels before you can move on to the next chapter.

The Sins of New Wells DLC

Once you have completed the original game, there is more fun to be had with the newest DLC package. The Sins of New Wells is the first of four DLC packages coming to the game. The narrative is centred on detectives Roy Samson and Cliff Savea. Partners who are investigating the seedy city. It offers four new scenarios to explore, which are all tied into a bigger narrative.

While it can feel a bit confusing and overwhelming at the beginning, by the end, it all makes sense. It is a perfect addition to the base game, and it offers players the ability to enjoy 3-4 more hours of fun.

Graphics

The standout of The Rise of the Golden Idol is its visuals. There is just something about the grotesque art style that draws you in. It amplifies the eeriness of the cases. The zoomed in close-ups of the movement loops add to the atmosphere. Thankfully, due to the large open scenes which the game freezes on, the player is constantly reminded of the artfully arranged cast. Each scene features an array of characters, some more grotesque than others.

This continues into The Sins of New Wells. I particularly like the two main protagonists, as I feel that they signify how we think detectives were during this time period.

This image depicts the two main protagonists at their newest cases. The background shows a number of vehicles, as well as a chicken fast food joint.
What’s cluckin?

Longevity

The Rise of the Golden Idol boasts 20 strange cases for the player to complete. On average, it takes the player between 12 – 15 hours to complete the game. However, The Rise of the Golden Idol boasts so much more. The first DLC content The Sins of New Wells is a welcomed addition to the game. There are also a further 3 DLC packages awaiting release, which I can’t wait to experience.

Even before including the DLC, 12 – 15 hours for a game like this is great. Especially when you take into account the cost of the game. These DLCs are truly a bonus, that are certainly worth buying.

This image depicts the anticipated DLC packs for the game. The image shows a array of colours, between 4 DLC packages.
Will you be getting all 4?

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think The Rise of the Golden Idol is a brilliant game. I was immediately drawn into playing the game based on its visuals alone. However, its gameplay hasn’t disappointed. There are a couple of tweaks that I would like to see. But in terms of overall enjoyment, The Rise of the Golden Idol is near the top of the list.

In addition to this, there is so much more to look forward to with the DLC packs. We have already had a sneak peek with The Sins of New Wells which continued the eeriness of the series perfectly.

The Rise of the Golden Idol and The Sins of New Wells DLC receive the Thumb Culture Gold Award. 

Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.

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