Played on an LG C3 55” OLED Display via Steam, AMD 7900 XTX and i9-10900k.
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: MachineGames
There’s something timeless about adventure serials—daring escapades into uncharted jungles, the mysterious depths of the oceans, or the vast expanse of space. The hero’s strength, courage, and quick wit carry them through perilous trials, culminating in a triumphant ending, often alongside a romantic partner-of-the-week. From comics to black-and-white serials, movies, and video games, I’ve always been drawn to these tales, especially those that weave in hidden cultures and ancient secrets. And no figure embodies this archetype better than Indiana Jones. While his games have never quite matched the blockbuster success of Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider, they’ve always delivered enough heart and thrilling adventure to satisfy long-time fans.
Heading into Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, my expectations were low. MachineGames’ recent track record—marked by subpar writing, clunky level design, and disjointed gameplay systems—didn’t inspire much confidence. Adding to that, the lackluster handling of the character in his latest film gave little reason to hope for a satisfying big-budget game tied to the franchise.
I’m happy to say I was completely wrong. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn’t just a love letter to the series—it’s one of the most unique and memorable adventure games in years. The game strikes a perfect balance between reverence for the beloved character and innovative gameplay, elevating the experience into something truly special.
Set in 1937, a time of global upheaval with the rise of fascism and the aftermath of economic collapse, the story sees Dr. Jones back in the classroom at Marshall College after a breakup with his old flame. His quiet life is upended when a mysterious intruder steals a cat mummy he discovered during a dig in Siwa, Egypt, leaving only a Vatican emblem as a clue. What begins as a search for answers spirals into a globe-trotting quest to uncover the secrets of the titular “Great Circle.” Along the way, Indy clashes with Nazis, fascists, and shadowy figures vying for control of an ancient artifact that could alter the course of history.
The characters are varied and interesting.
You will meet locals of the regions you enter. Some old friends like Marcus Brody and Marion Ravenwood will be around or referenced offhand, but much of the story will involve new ones like Gina Lombardi, Locus, and Voss. Gina, a reporter searching for her sister—a renowned linguistic researcher who has gone missing—is a near-constant companion throughout the adventure. Thankfully, unlike the recent film’s heroine, she doesn’t constantly upstage Indy, allowing the titular character to maintain the spotlight. Moreover, she is a well-written and well-defined character, as are the rest of the cast, each with their own goals, histories, and personalities. Locus, a giant of a man with few words, lets his imposing stature and facial expressions tell much of his story. Voss, another archaeologist who leads Nazi research into the occult, has a longstanding rivalry with Dr. Jones—at least in his own mind. His insecurities and desperation to prove his intellect lead to comedic moments that recall the charm of classic Indiana Jones villains. These and other characters encountered over the game’s 20-30 hour runtime bring depth and life to the narrative.
The game’s locations are where it truly shines, offering a veritable treasure trove of variety and imagination. Each area is meticulously crafted, offering a mix of expansive, open-ended exploration and tightly scripted sequences that keep the pacing fresh. From the dark, long-abandoned catacombs of Vatican City—complete with numerous rooftops to sneak across while avoiding the National Fascist Party of Italy—to the sun-scorched deserts of Egypt, dotted with Nazi dig sites and abandoned tombs rife with gold and historical significance, and the jungle waterways of Siam, where ancient temples reclaimed by nature are filled with traps and snakes, The Great Circle is a whirlwind tour of adventure.
The addition of “immersive sim-lite” mechanics ensures that every location feels alive, with multiple paths to success—whether through stealth, combat, or clever problem-solving. Each region has its own food, categorized into two groups: Bread, which adds another pip to your health, and Fruit, which boosts stamina used for actions like wielding weapons, climbing, swinging, and swimming. Books scattered throughout the game perfectly align with Indy’s identity as both a scholar and adventurer. Reading these books unlocks new abilities, enhancing combat, survival, and exploration skills. Side quests often lead to expansive sub-dungeons filled with puzzles and treasures that enrich the story, while hidden relics tucked away behind ingenious environmental challenges reward keen observation and curiosity.
The flexibility in gameplay is another highlight. Whether you’re sneaking past guards, disarming enemies with your whip, or engaging in brawls with a mix of fists, pistols, and improvised tools, the experience feels dynamic and rewarding. One standout moment in Giza had me rescuing a student captured by Nazis. After sneaking into their camp to gather intel, I was spotted by an officer, leading to a frantic sequence: I knocked him out with the butt of my pistol, leapt through a window under fire, disarmed a brute with my whip, and used his weapon against him to knock him out before crawling into a small crevice near by that lead to an expansive tomb filled with puzzles. Moments like these, where strategy, mprovisation, and exploration blend seamlessly, capture the essence of Indiana Jones and the thrill of adventure serials.
The presentation further elevates the experience. While the music occasionally overdramatizes minor moments, it evokes the iconic John Williams score with remarkable fidelity. The vocal performances are also stellar. Troy Baker delivers an outstanding performance as Indy, almost perfectly mimicking a young Harrison Ford. The late Tony Todd lends his gravelly voice to Locus, adding weight to every scene he’s in. Marios Gavrilis portrays the smarmy, egotistical Voss with aplomb, stealing every scene. Overall, the sound design is fantastic, from enemy whistle calls alerting others to your position, to the buzzing of flies and hissing of snakes that make the environments feel alive, and the strong, powerful crack of the whip. The result is a game that makes you feel and sound like Indiana Jones.
The game will shift between first- and third-person perspectives, primarily during climbing and swinging sequences. While I didn’t mind the switching, it might feel jarring to those who prefer a consistent viewpoint. The writing also stumbles a few times, with modern lingo occasionally breaking immersion in moments where era-appropriate alternatives would have been preferable. However, this is largely nitpicking.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle succeeds where many modern adaptations fail. It understands what makes the character iconic and delivers a thrilling, heartfelt experience. MachineGames has rekindled the spirit of adventure serials, crafting a game that respects its roots while boldly charting new territory. For fans and newcomers alike, this is one adventure worth taking—whip, fedora, and all.
Technical Addendum
On PC, graphical bugs—particularly lighting issues on AMD cards—occasionally disrupted the immersion. Ray tracing is a fantastic technical tool that can elevate a game’s visual fidelity to a whole new level; however, the demands it places on any graphics card are substantial. While I commend the developers for their efforts to implement ray tracing and make the world feel more alive, several issues—such as black boxes in water, shimmering effects around characters’ eyes, and noticeable pop-ins in dense environments—were distracting and frequently pulled me out of the experience.
These problems are even more pronounced on Steam, where the platform’s strong push for Linux support and AMD graphics cards highlights their struggles with ray tracing technology. That said, the developers deserve credit for addressing these concerns through updates and patches. Recent improvements have significantly smoothed out many of these issues since launch, and it’s clear they remain committed to further optimization.
From a performance standpoint, the game shines across most systems, including lower-end hardware. Despite the initial glitches, the idTech engine delivers impressive visuals and smooth performance, often requiring only minor tweaks to settings to achieve excellent results.
If you are interested in other action game reviews, please read my review of Space Marine! You can also follow me on Twitter for updates and Instagram for travel photos and in-game screenshots!
