Oldest Golden Treasure is a short but thoughtful VR puzzle adventure that shows surprising creativity despite its tiny budget
Oldest Golden Treasure is one of those VR games where you can tell almost immediately what kind of project it is. This is clearly a solo developer effort with an extremely small one "hotdog and a handshake" budget, the kind that barely stretches beyond the essentials. And yet, it ends up being better than it has any right to be. Its limitations are obvious, but so is the care behind it.
The game places you in the role of an explorer uncovering a strange and ancient mystery through environmental storytelling. There is no heavy dialogue, no cinematic cutscenes, and very little direct exposition. Instead, the story is told through symbols, mechanisms, old technology, and the spaces you move through. You piece things together by observing, experimenting, and slowly understanding how this world works. It is quiet and subtle, but it feels intentional rather than empty.
Gameplay revolves entirely around puzzle solving. There is no combat and no pressure to rush forward. You move through compact environments, inspect objects, interpret visual clues, and figure out how different systems connect. The puzzles are the clear highlight. There is a nice variety to them, and more importantly, the game does not hold your hand. You are expected to think, to try things, and to occasionally be wrong.
What works especially well is how many of these puzzles lead to satisfying “aha” moments. When you finally understand what a symbol means or how a mechanism is meant to be used, it feels genuinely rewarding. All the clues you need are present in the environment, and if you really get stuck, there is a built-in hint system that gently nudges you forward without outright solving things for you. It is a smart balance, especially for a puzzle-focused VR game.
However, the game struggles when it comes to clearly communicating interaction. One of its biggest weaknesses is how hard it can be to tell what objects are usable tools, what are interactive props, and what are just decorative elements. Many environments are filled with objects that look important, but only some of them actually are.
A good example appears in a basement puzzle involving a portal. You see drawings on the wall suggesting certain actions, you pull a lever, and nothing happens. Nearby, there is a cupboard full of items like a pipe wrench, a crank, and some strange fuses. At first, these feel like background props. In reality, you need to take the crank and use it on a large black box next to the lever. The problem is that the box blends into the environment, and the slot where the crank fits is almost invisible unless you are actively searching for it.
This lack of visual clarity shows up elsewhere too. Early on, you need to use an old telephone, but first you have to turn it on. The power button is hidden on the side and does not clearly look like something you can interact with. Moments like this can make well-designed puzzles feel frustrating, not because the solution is bad, but because the game does not clearly signal what you can actually do.
Visually, Oldest Golden Treasure looks fine and runs well on Quest 3. Textures are simple, lighting is basic, and nothing stands out as impressive, but it all works. The bigger issue is audio. There is no ambient music at all. Aside from occasional sound effects like wood creaking or doors opening, the game is very quiet. That silence makes the experience feel more bare than atmospheric, and some subtle background music would have gone a long way.
The game is also very short. You can finish it in under 30 minutes, possibly even faster. There is a speedrun mode included, which reinforces how brief the experience is. This very much feels like a passion project, something made with care and enthusiasm, but limited time and resources.
Oldest Golden Treasure has smart puzzle design and a clear creative spark. With more polish, better interaction clarity, and stronger audio, it could be something special. As it stands, the biggest issue is the price. At 15 euros, it is hard to recommend. At around 5 euros, it would be an easy suggestion for VR puzzle fans who value clever ideas over production value. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a promo copy provided by PR. Oldest Golden Treasure is available on Meta Quest.
