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The Case of the Golden Idol is half-price on Android and iPhone/iPad through October 23, 2026, and has joined the Google Play Pass catalogue. The mobile release starts with two free cases; one purchase unlocks the complete game and both downloadable-content packs.
What changed on October 15, 2026
Pocket Gamer reported on October 15, 2026 that the mobile version of The Case of the Golden Idol entered Google Play Pass and received a 50% discount on Android and iOS. The promotion runs through October 23, 2026, marking four years since the game’s launch.
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Google Play Pass access depends on the catalogue available in your country and on your active subscription. Check the Play Pass page in your Google Play app before assuming the game is included in your region.
What kind of game it is
This is a historical mystery and deduction puzzle built around a cursed artefact and a chain of crimes spanning decades. You examine crime scenes, inspect objects and dialogue, identify the people involved, and fill in blanks to reconstruct what happened. Its scene-by-scene investigation structure is often compared with Return of the Obra Dinn, although Golden Idol uses its own characters, timeline and deduction systems.
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What the mobile download includes
Both the Android and Apple listings provide introductory content before asking you to buy the rest. The free portion consists of the first two cases. The one-time unlock then provides the full package:
| Mobile option | What you get | Payment model |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial content | Two introductory cases | No purchase required |
| Complete mobile game | 12 main scenarios plus six bonus cases | One-time unlock |
| Bonus content named in the Apple listing | The Spider of Lanka and The Lemurian Vampire, among the six bonus cases | Included with the unlock |
| After purchase | No advertisements or additional in-app purchases, according to the Apple listing | One payment for the package |
The publisher’s Steam news post describes the same structure: the first two cases are free, and a single purchase unlocks the remaining game and both DLCs on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
How the sale compares with the regular price
Playstack lists a US reference unlock price of $6.99 before the temporary promotion. The current 50% offer should make the checkout total about half that amount, but the exact displayed price can be affected by store rounding, taxes and your country’s currency. Neither the US reference price nor the discount should be treated as a worldwide price guarantee.
| Buying route | Best for | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Pass | Subscribers who want to play from the catalogue without buying the standalone unlock | Catalogue inclusion and terms vary by country and can change |
| Android standalone purchase | Players who want to own access through Google Play | Two cases are free; one purchase unlocks the rest and both DLCs |
| iPhone or iPad standalone purchase | Apple-device players who prefer a permanent store unlock | Two cases are free; the same one-time unlock model applies |
Which option should you choose?
Choose Play Pass if you already subscribe
If the game appears in your local Play Pass catalogue, it is the lowest-friction route for an existing subscriber. You avoid a separate purchase while the subscription remains active. Confirm the catalogue entry and any regional restrictions first.
Rank #3
- Become one of nine characters to investigate and manipulate relationships from all angles and unlock the other half of the story. Every character you shapeshift into has your options voiced by the original actors
- Solve a murder, stop a murder, don’t get caught. Any one of three random murderers helps to minimize spoilers
- Hail taxi cabs instead of using a map screen and listen to ambient content and broadcasts while you choose your path
- Not all branching is binary. Push someone into a corner and they may have more than one way to react
- Can’t get that vital clue yourself? Try shapeshifting into the Police Chief. Think the dialogue options are a trap? Delete them
Buy the standalone unlock if you want access independent of Play Pass
The Android and iOS versions let you try two cases at no cost, then unlock all 12 main scenarios and six bonus cases with one transaction. This is the clearer choice if you do not subscribe to Play Pass or do not want access tied to a subscription.
Use the free cases to test the format
The opening cases demonstrate the investigation loop: inspect a scene, collect clues, connect identities and events, and submit a deduction. They are enough to check whether the game’s pixel-art presentation and demanding logic puzzles suit you before paying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it still available through Netflix?
No. A May 11, 2026 support update said the Netflix versions were removed as part of a broader content shift. The game is now distributed through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with Google Play Pass added in the October 15 announcement. The same support update noted that The Rise of the Golden Idol was still being brought to mobile at that time; that statement concerns the sequel, not the availability of the original.
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Quick Recap
What to check before you pay
- Confirm that your device uses the intended Apple App Store or Google Play account.
- On Android, verify that the game is shown in your country’s Play Pass catalogue if you plan to use the subscription route.
- Compare the sale price shown at checkout with the regular regional price; the published $6.99 figure is a US reference price.
- Make sure the purchase screen describes the one-time unlock and includes the downloadable content.
- Remember that the 50% promotion ends October 23, 2026, so the price may return to the regular regional amount afterward.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
