Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox Series
Genre: Action-adventure stealth puzzle game

Many would jest that I was far too young to truly appreciate the wanderlust of Indiana Jones—his globetrotting escapades, antagonising fascists and Nazis while uncovering ancient relics. They wouldn’t be wrong, but they wouldn’t be entirely right either. It’s not just about being too young to experience it; it’s about being too young to marvel at it.

I vividly recall watching the first two movies as a kid, not with wide-eyed wonder but with the boredom that compels a child to watch anything. Back then, the whip-cracking hero was just another guy punching baddies and jumping over booby traps. It wasn’t until later, armed with a little age and the gift of perspective, that I began to grasp what made Indiana Jones so special. He wasn’t just an archaeologist on steroids. He was the scrappy, resourceful underdog who somehow emerged victorious against impossible odds, his smirk as sharp as his punches and his whip as quick as his wit.

So when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle teased an “adventure-action” game aiming to bottle that spirit, I was ready to dive in. This was my shot at recapturing that awe I’d overlooked as a child, now with the discerning eye of an adult who could savour the details. After playing through, I can say it wears Indy’s iconic fedora proudly and wields his whip with good intentions, but much like an ancient relic buried too long, its brilliance feels dulled. The narrative, however, is where this homage to Indiana Jones truly finds its footing.

Set in 1937, the Great Circle crafts a story that fits snugly between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, weaving a tale that feels as big and bold as any of Indy’s cinematic adventures. It all begins at Marshall College, where a priceless artifact is stolen by the towering and enigmatic Locus (voiced with gravitas by Tony Todd), setting off a trail that leads Indy to the Vatican. There, he uncovers a shocking revelation: a secret hidden within spiritual sites around the globe, their locations forming a perfect circle.

What follows is a thrilling whirlwind of intrigue and danger as Jones jets from the temples of Thailand to Shanghai’s chaotic streets, the pyramids of Egypt, and the frigid peaks of the Himalayas. Along the way, he’s joined by Gina Lombardi (Alessandra Mastronardi), a sharp-tongued journalist with her own agenda, as they face down both the scheming Emmerich Voss (Marios Gavrilis), a master manipulator, and the ever-present threat of Axis forces.

It’s a story brimming with all the hallmarks of an Indiana Jones adventure—hidden passages, ancient puzzles, and peril at every turn. While the gameplay may stumble, the narrative holds its whip-crack tension, delivering a tale worthy of Indy’s legendary exploits.

“X never, ever marks the spot.“

One of the Great Circle’s crowning achievements is its ability to immerse players in the quintessential Indiana Jones experience, blending the grandeur of history with the thrill of adventure. Each location feels like a postcard from a bygone era, brought to life with painstaking detail. The towering temples of Thailand shimmer in golden sunlight, their intricate carvings hinting at stories etched into stone centuries ago. Contrast this with the icy peaks of the Himalayas, where a foreboding mist clings to the slopes, whispering secrets of ancient relics buried beneath the frost. The game masterfully conveys a sense of scale and discovery, inviting players to lose themselves in its richly detailed environments.

Adding to this immersive tapestry is the game’s cinematic approach, which channels the sweeping majesty of Spielberg’s iconic direction. Dramatic camera angles and carefully choreographed sequences make every scene feel as though it belongs in a classic adventure film. It’s the little details, however, that truly elevate the experience: the satisfying crack of Indy’s whip cutting through silence, the metallic clink of ancient mechanisms coming to life, or the gritty rasp of dusty relics sliding open after centuries of undisturbed slumber.

Stepping into Indiana Jones’ well-worn boots is no small feat, yet Troy Baker delivers an authentic and inspired performance. He captures the essence of the character with remarkable precision, balancing the weary cynicism of a man who’s seen too much with the spark of an adventurer who can’t resist chasing the next mystery. His dry quips as he brushes off perilous encounters feel effortlessly in character, while moments of tension reveal a voice imbued with gravelly determination. It’s a portrayal that breathes life into the legendary archaeologist, making Baker’s take a worthy addition to the franchise.

Despite its polished presentation, the Great Circle’s gameplay often struggles to match the brilliance of its aesthetic. The core mechanics—a blend of action, stealth, and puzzles—offer variety but rarely feel cohesive or fully realised. Stealth sections, for example, are functional but uninspired. Enemies patrol with the awareness of someone navigating a dark room after waking up from a nap, which saps any real sense of danger. Combat fares marginally better, allowing players to leverage environmental tools and Indy’s bare-knuckle brawling skills. However, the fights quickly devolve into repetitive button-mashing rather than the fluid mix of punches, dodges, and whip strikes you’d hope for.

While the stealth mechanics showed early promise, particularly in the game’s more open environments, it quickly devolved into a repetitive routine. Sneaking through an area becomes a process of trial and error rather than a thrilling exercise in strategy. Worse, these stealth sections often disrupt the narrative momentum, dragging the pace down just when the story begins to gain steam.

“It’s a long way to Delhi.”

The illusion of choice further undermines the gameplay. While the game teases players with the idea of multiple approaches—stealth or combat—it ultimately feels inconsequential. Whichever method you choose, the outcome remains the same, making the decision redundant. For instance, sneaking through a Blackshirt camp might seem like the strategic option if you’re keen on snagging collectables, but the process inevitably ends in a brawl to expedite progress. The lack of meaningful consequences strips the gameplay of its weight, leaving players to wonder: what’s the point of having choices if they don’t matter?

The puzzles, an essential pillar of any Indiana Jones story, are a mixed bag. At their best, they deliver those exhilarating “Eureka!” moments that make you feel like a genuine archaeologist uncovering long-lost secrets. Unfortunately, many puzzles fall into predictable patterns, undercutting their potential to surprise or challenge players. Take the fountain puzzle towards the end of the Vatican arc—its intricate design hints at an ancient ingenuity that’s awe-inspiring to behold, but solving it requires little more than following a straightforward process, making the experience feel underwhelming.

The iconic whip, a cornerstone of both combat and exploration, is undeniably thrilling in concept but frustratingly inconsistent in execution. While it adds a layer of excitement to Indy’s arsenal, its mechanics often feel clunky, turning what should be seamless moments of heroics into awkward fumbles. On a funnier note, the whip’s occasional disregard for the laws of physics can pull you right out of the experience. Take, for example, those moments when Indy has to ascend using his whip, which conveniently latches onto a perfectly placed hook or beam. As he climbs, the tail of the whip somehow becomes so impossibly thin it looks like he’s scaling a rope made of dental floss. How does that even work? It’s like trying to climb a string—one tug and you’d expect it to snap under the weight of a grown man, but no, the whip miraculously holds strong. Indy may be a professor of archaeology, but clearly, his whip has a PhD in defying physics. Then again, I suppose the Indiana Jones franchise was never known for its realism.

Amid these missteps, one gameplay feature stands out as a welcome addition: the ability to adopt disguises. In Vatican City, you seamlessly blend in by donning the robes of a priest, while in Giza, you masquerade as a dig-site worker. It’s a clever mechanic that provides a brief respite from combat, allowing you to traverse dangerous areas undetected. While the execution isn’t flawless—your out-of-place appearance in Egypt raises more questions than it answers—it’s a feature that adds a touch of creative problem-solving to the gameplay and enhances the sense of infiltration and espionage that fits well within Indy’s world.

“No ticket!”

The most glaring issue with these sequences lies in their inability to evoke the quintessential thrill of discovery that defines the Indiana Jones franchise. Tomb-raiding in the Great Circle is more about adhering to a checklist than embarking on a genuine treasure hunt. The awe and wonder of unearthing hidden relics—those moments when you feel like history itself is unfolding at your fingertips—are replaced by a sense of monotony. The game’s secret rooms, in particular, fail to live up to their name. Instead of rewarding ingenuity or curiosity, they feel like obligatory stops along the way, as if a guide were standing by with a neon sign that reads, “The secret is right here!”

This lack of subtlety undermines what should have been the game’s most compelling feature. The thrill of uncovering a hidden passage or stumbling upon a long-forgotten relic isn’t something that should be handed to you; it’s something you should earn. By leading players so deliberately to these “hidden” areas, the game robs them of the joy of true exploration—the kind that leaves you grinning with pride as you say, “I found this.”

Perhaps the most frustrating part is how these missteps sap the potential for replayability. In a game like this, you should feel compelled to revisit areas, retrace your steps, and wonder what treasures or secrets you might have missed the first time around. Instead, the linearity and handholding make it clear that there’s little more to uncover. For a franchise rooted in the mystery and majesty of discovery, this is a significant missed opportunity.

“Not the adventure I was looking for.”

In the end, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a game that’s as rich in potential as it is in missed opportunities. It successfully captures the spirit of Indiana Jones’ legendary escapades with its cinematic presentation, gripping narrative, and a world that feels brimming with adventure. Troy Baker delivers a stellar performance that channels Indy’s charm, while the game’s aesthetic and tone transport players to iconic locations that feel like an authentic love letter to the franchise. Yet, for all its polish and ambition, the gameplay often falters under the weight of repetitive mechanics, predictable puzzles, and a lack of meaningful choices.

While the adventure may take you from the temples of Thailand to the icy peaks of the Himalayas, it never quite matches the thrill of uncovering a lost treasure or outwitting a cunning adversary. Instead of feeling like you’re part of Indy’s world, you’re often left simply following the script, ticking off tasks without the sense of wonder and unpredictability that made the films so special. Ultimately, the Great Circle is a solid attempt at reviving the Indiana Jones magic, but it struggles to capture the heart and soul of the series—leaving fans longing for an adventure that truly dares to be as wild and unexpected as Indy himself.

So, while it’s not the grand, heart-pounding journey we hoped for, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is still a decent adventure for those craving a quick escape into the world of archaeology, bad guys, and ancient relics. But if you’re looking for a game that can make you feel like you’re truly part of the action, you might want to wait for a sequel—or perhaps, an even greater adventure to come.

Pros

• Game captures the cinematic grandeur of Indiana Jones’ adventures.
• Narrative is engaging, with plenty of intrigue and mystery.
• Troy Baker’s portrayal of Indy is spot-on, bringing charm and depth to the character.
• Game’s locations are beautifully detailed, immersing players in iconic environments.
• Whip mechanics add excitement to combat and exploration.

Cons

• Stealth sections are repetitive and fail to generate real tension.
• Combat mechanics are limited and quickly devolve into button-mashing.
• Many puzzles feel predictable, undermining the sense of discovery.
• Lack of meaningful choice in gameplay makes decisions feel irrelevant.
• Secret rooms are too easy to find, robbing them of their mystery and thrill.

Final Score: 60/100

Review copy provided by the publisher.