8.8/10
For decades, fans of Indiana Jones have dreamed of a modern video game capable of capturing the excitement, mystery, humor, and globe-trotting adventure of the classic films. While the franchise has seen numerous game adaptations over the years, few managed to truly recreate the feeling of stepping into the boots of the world’s most famous archaeologist.
That changed with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game delivers an original adventure set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Rather than retelling an existing movie, it creates a brand-new chapter in Indiana’s life while remaining faithful to the spirit of the classic trilogy.
The result is an adventure that combines exploration, puzzle solving, stealth, combat, and cinematic storytelling into one of the most highly praised licensed games ever created. Critics praised its story, world design, performances, and authenticity, while players embraced it as a true Indiana Jones experience.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Official Launch Trailer
What Is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle About?
Set in 1937, the story follows Indiana Jones after a mysterious artifact is stolen from Marshall College by a giant stranger.
The investigation leads him to uncover a secret connected to the “Great Circle”—a series of ancient sacred sites scattered across the world that form a perfect circle when viewed on a map.
As Indy travels across multiple countries, he encounters secret societies, dangerous enemies, lost civilizations, ancient mysteries, and a growing conspiracy involving powers that could reshape the world. Along the way he teams up with journalist Gina Lombardi while racing against Nazi forces seeking to exploit the Great Circle’s secrets.
The story captures everything fans expect from Indiana Jones:
- Ancient mysteries
- Lost artifacts
- Exotic locations
- Historical mythology
- Nazi villains
- Escapes from impossible situations
- Humor and adventure
Most importantly, it feels like a genuine Indiana Jones story rather than simply borrowing the character’s name.
Why The Great Circle Stands Out From Other Adventure Games
Modern gaming already has several adventure franchises.
Many players immediately compare The Great Circle to:
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- Tomb Raider
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
However, The Great Circle approaches adventure differently.
Instead of focusing primarily on shooting, the game emphasizes exploration, investigation, puzzle solving, and improvisation.
Indiana Jones is not a superhero.
He is not a one-man army.
He survives through intelligence, determination, luck, and creativity.
That philosophy shapes nearly every aspect of gameplay.
Gameplay Explained
Exploration Comes First
One of the biggest strengths of the game is exploration.
Players travel through several large locations inspired by real-world historical sites.
Major locations include:
- Vatican City
- Giza
- The Himalayas
- Sukhothai
- Ancient ruins around the world
Each area contains secrets, optional discoveries, side activities, collectibles, puzzles, and hidden lore that reward curious players.
Rather than rushing players from action scene to action scene, the game encourages them to slow down and investigate their surroundings.
Puzzles Feel Like Classic Indiana Jones
Puzzles have always been a major part of Indiana Jones stories.
The Great Circle embraces this aspect more than many expected.
Players encounter:
- Ancient mechanisms
- Hidden chambers
- Symbol-based puzzles
- Historical clues
- Environmental riddles
The game even includes a smart hint system that gradually helps players without immediately revealing solutions.
This makes puzzle solving rewarding while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Combat Is More Personal
Combat differs significantly from many modern action games.
Indiana relies heavily on:
- Fists
- Improvised weapons
- Stealth
- Environmental interactions
- His iconic whip
Firearms exist but are intentionally limited.
Ammunition is scarce, and using guns often attracts additional enemies.
This design choice reinforces the idea that Indy is an adventurer first and a fighter second.
The Whip Is More Important Than Ever
No Indiana Jones experience would be complete without the whip.
In The Great Circle, the whip serves multiple functions:
- Traversal
- Combat
- Puzzle solving
- Enemy disarming
- Exploration
Rather than being a simple weapon, it becomes one of the game’s most versatile tools.
MachineGames invested significant effort into ensuring the whip behaved naturally and felt satisfying to use.
The Story Feels Like A Lost Indiana Jones Movie
One of the highest compliments critics gave the game was that it feels like a movie that was somehow lost between the original films.
The writing successfully captures:
- Spielberg-inspired adventure
- Historical mystery
- Pulp storytelling
- Character humor
- High-stakes treasure hunting
The pacing allows quieter investigative moments to coexist with large-scale cinematic action sequences.
Many reviewers even argued that the game felt more authentic than some of the franchise’s later films.
Troy Baker’s Incredible Indiana Jones Performance
Who Plays Indiana Jones?
Troy Baker
One of the biggest concerns before release was whether anyone could convincingly portray Indiana Jones besides Harrison Ford.
Troy Baker quickly erased those doubts.
His performance captures:
- Indiana’s charm
- Sense of humor
- Confidence
- Vulnerability
- Intelligence
Rather than impersonating Harrison Ford, Baker creates a respectful interpretation that feels authentic to the character.
The performance became one of the most praised aspects of the game and earned multiple award nominations and wins.
Supporting Characters
Several new characters help make the story memorable.
Gina Lombardi
Gina Lombardi
A journalist investigating her sister’s disappearance who becomes one of Indy’s key allies.
Emmerich Voss
Emmerich Voss
The primary antagonist and one of the franchise’s more memorable villains.
Locus
Locus
A mysterious giant connected to the secrets of the Great Circle.
The game also features the final voice acting performance of Tony Todd.
The Order of Giants DLC
What Is The Order of Giants?
Released in September 2025, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants expands the game’s lore and explores the origins of the mysterious Nephilim Order.
The expansion focuses on ancient secrets hidden beneath Rome and introduces:
- New story content
- Additional puzzles
- New exploration areas
- Expanded lore
While critics viewed it as a smaller side adventure compared to the main campaign, many fans appreciated the additional world-building and mysteries.
Visuals And Presentation
The Great Circle is one of the most technically impressive adventure games released in recent years.
Highlights include:
- Ray-traced lighting
- Detailed environments
- Cinematic cutscenes
- Realistic character models
- Stunning historical locations
The developers worked extensively to recreate the visual style of classic Indiana Jones films while taking advantage of modern technology.
Music And Soundtrack
A True Indiana Jones Sound
Composer Gordy Haab created the score while drawing inspiration from the legendary work of John Williams.
The soundtrack was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios, helping preserve the classic Indiana Jones atmosphere.
The music successfully balances:
- Adventure
- Mystery
- Tension
- Wonder
- Nostalgia
Without simply copying earlier film scores.
Critical Reception
The game received widespread acclaim from critics.
Reviewers praised:
- Storytelling
- Exploration
- Level design
- Voice acting
- Puzzle design
- Faithfulness to the films
Many publications awarded scores between 9/10 and 10/10.
Highlights include:
- IGN – 9/10
- GameSpot – 9/10
- Eurogamer – 5/5
- GamesRadar+ – 5/5
The game also achieved a recommendation score above 90% on OpenCritic.
Is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Worth Playing?
Absolutely.
Whether you’re a lifelong Indiana Jones fan or simply enjoy adventure games, The Great Circle delivers one of the most authentic licensed gaming experiences ever created.
It respects the source material while introducing enough new ideas to feel fresh.
Very few licensed games manage to capture the magic of their franchise this successfully.
Why Should You Play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle?
The game succeeds because it understands what makes Indiana Jones special.
Biggest Strengths
- Excellent story
- Authentic Indiana Jones atmosphere
- Strong puzzle design
- Great exploration
- Memorable characters
- Outstanding voice acting
- Beautiful locations
- Rewarding side content
- Faithful adaptation of the franchise
For many players, it represents the best Indiana Jones adventure since the original film trilogy.
FAQ
Is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle canon?
Yes. The game tells an original story set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade.
Who voices Indiana Jones?
Troy Baker provides both the voice and motion capture performance for Indiana Jones.
Is the game first-person or third-person?
The game is primarily first-person but switches to third-person during certain actions and cutscenes.
What platforms is it available on?
The game is available on:
- Windows PC
- Xbox Series X/S
- PlayStation 5
- Nintendo Switch 2
Is The Order of Giants required?
No. The DLC expands the story but is not required to understand the main campaign.
Conclusion
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle achieves something many believed impossible: it delivers a brand-new Indiana Jones adventure that feels worthy of standing alongside the classic films.
Through excellent writing, rewarding exploration, engaging puzzles, memorable characters, and a fantastic performance from Troy Baker, the game captures the spirit of adventure that made the franchise legendary.
Whether you’re searching for hidden relics in ancient ruins, solving centuries-old mysteries, or cracking your whip while escaping danger, The Great Circle offers an unforgettable journey that reminds players exactly why Indiana Jones remains one of pop culture’s greatest adventurers.
Thank you for reading and make sure to bookmark the site, comment and follow up on the newest posts!