Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda, promises an exhilarating adventure where players embody the most famous Nazi-killing archaeologist in the known universe. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones and this time we get to experience a younger Indy in the prime of his career.
The game combines linear storytelling with open-area exploration, delivering rich environments like Egypt’s pyramids and sunken temples of Sukhothai. Players can wield Indy’s whip for traversal and combat while solving intricate puzzles. Blending stealth, melee, and gunplay, the game offers action-packed set pieces and mysteries to unravel, staying true to the franchise’s essence. Releasing December 8, 2024, it’s set to captivate fans and newcomers alike.
The game is set as a prelude to the events of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in 1937. Teasers of the game’s intro showcase the iconic Raiders of the Lost Arc famous opening treasure hunt sequence where Indy swaps the golden statue for a bag of sand, only to activate the most famous booby trap in cinema history – a giant bolder careening towards Indy as he runs for his life. This near scene for scene remake is a great way to suck fans back into Indy’s vibrant world.
What Do Critics Say?
On the eve of the game’s release, Metacritic is buzzing. Out of 53 critic reviews, it has a 91 percent positive rating with only three mixed reviews and zero negative reviews.
“A magnificent, immersive, smart and thoughtful action-adventure game that doesn’t bend the original to suit the needs of the game genre, but the opposite. Probably the most faithful adaptation of Indy’s adventure we’ve ever played,” 100, Games.CZ
“After a few decades with an ageing Indy, the Great Circle is a delightful return to Dr Jones in his prime. Strictly for the fans, in all the right ways,” 90, Stevivor
“Ever since we caught wind of MachineGames making an Indiana Jones title, we’ve been very excited by the prospect, but ultimately – we’re a little disappointed in the final product. The overall experience isn’t bad..”, 60, Pure Xbox
Where to Play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is published by Bethesda Games which is under the Microsoft/Xbox umbrella. The easiest way to play it is by downloading Xbox GamePass and playing it for “free” with your GamePass subscription. If you don’t want one more streaming service to deal with you can always purchase the game outright from the Microsoft / Xbox store. PC users can purchase and play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from the Steam store.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle stands as a return to glory for this historic franchise. The last two films were generally received as mediocre entries compared to the original trilogy. This game is shaping up to be a certified hit (I’m definitely playing it day one) and when games make money they get a sequel. For those devoted Indy fans, as I have been since being a young lad, I would love to experience a few more adventures in Indy’s hallowed hat.
