The trailers for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have perfectly captured the adventurous vibe we all love, with John Williams’ iconic music, Harrison Ford’s signature smirk, and the classic whip sounds.
In this new game set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, Indy is back in action after a year of teaching archaeology at Marshall College. My first experience with the game wasn’t a rush into danger but a walk around as Dr. Jones, the professor. This slower pace let me soak in the setting, from the college to the sandy expanses of Giza.
But soon, Indy’s quiet life is shattered by a giant intruder, Tony Todd, who steals a precious artifact and roughs him up. Left with no choice, Indy swaps his tweed jacket for his famous fedora and leather coat, ready for a new adventure.
I spent some more time exploring the college, dealing with the aftermath of the theft. It was fun piecing together clues and putting artifacts back in place, which felt like solving a puzzle based on history.
The game’s first-person view made holding artifacts feel real. When Indy pulls out his notebook, it pops up right there in front of you without pausing, so you can keep looking around while checking maps and notes.
MachineGames understands more than just the aesthetic of Indiana Jones, but also what it means to be Indiana Jones
Playing as Dr. Jones, I realized the game really nails the dual identity thing. Like how Superman is Clark Kent with glasses, Indy is just a regular guy until he puts on his hat and becomes the hero. It’s a bit cheesy, but it made me smile.
Unlike Superman, Indy isn’t invincible. I quickly learned that charging at enemies wasn’t the smartest move. Punching feels heavy, and while it’s satisfying to land a good punch, fighting in close quarters can get messy. Fans appreciate these moments where we see Indy’s limitations.
Luckily, the game lets you be creative in combat. Instead of just punching, you can use things around you like shovels or guitars to fight. It’s funny to disarm an enemy with the whip and then use their own weapon against them.
Even though Indy has a gun, I found myself avoiding it. It seemed like using the gun was admitting defeat, unlike in Wolfenstein, where shooting is a big part. Here, the game subtly encourages you to think of other ways to handle fights.
From Vatican’s narrow paths to the wide-open spaces of Giza, you have options: sneak away, find a disguise, or just brawl. Pulling a gun often meant more trouble than it was worth.
Shooting a bad guy in the face isn’t as fun as tripping them with a whip and watching them crash into a chair. Guns are more like tools you can use in different ways, not just for shooting. Once, I flipped a machine gun and used it like a bat against a Nazi.
Sneaking around the Vatican, scouting alternate routes, and taking out enemies, in my own unique way, gave my Dishonored itch a well-needed scratch
The Great Circle feels like a mix of genres, kind of like Dishonored. Levels are open, with side quests and secrets to find. In Giza, I could only explore a bit due to time, but I used Indy’s camera and notebook to keep track of missions and take notes.
Taking photos and adding them to Indy’s notebook made me feel like a part of the story. It reminded me of Alan Wake 2, where organizing clues is interactive and fun.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle blends different game styles to capture the spirit of Indy, both as a professor and an adventurer. While 90 minutes wasn’t enough to see everything, it showed me a promising adventure-puzzle game. Look out for its release on Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9.
