Review | Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

A short review

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a 2024 action-adventure game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. You might know them from the Wolfenstein series, so it’s not exactly surprising that we're getting another first-person game from them. Yeah... how does that even work for Indy? Wonderful! But we’ll get to that.

This Indiana Jones game is based on the franchise but tells an original story that pulls from the films. It’s set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). The story follows archaeologist Indiana Jones in 1937, as he tries to stop several groups from unlocking a mysterious power tied to the Great Circle—an arrangement of ancient sites around the world that form a perfect circle. You'll explore real-world locations like Vatican City, Thailand, Egypt, and China—that is where you'll spend your time exploring.

You’ll also be able to play it on PlayStation 5 starting April 17, 2025. That’s actually where I’ve played it—on the Pro model. The game runs smooth and stable, with a couple of visual options, but nothing too advanced. Technically, it’s nearly flawless. Just don’t expect the Pro model to give you a noticeably different experience—it doesn’t really take advantage of the extra power.

Don't get confused by the intro - you can freely explore even at the start. Yeah, a lot of collectibles and hidden items scattered around the map, so take your time.

Story and the characters

I can honestly say only the best things about this part of the game. Indy is awesome. A young Harrison Ford on a journey full of surprises and strong characters—this is something every fan of the franchise and adventure games needs to experience. Sure, the first-person perspective might put some people off (even I was unsure at first), but I’d hate to miss a game of this caliber.

The voice acting is brilliant, and while the story itself is decent, the real stars here are the characters and their interactions—their personalities just shine. They’re fantastic. The journey also comes with a good dose of humor, stunning environments, and moments of solid teamwork. It feels like you’re playing through a movie adaptation, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it so engaging.

I genuinely enjoyed every part of this section, and I think most of you will too. There’s just something timeless about adventure games and treasure-filled caves. If you love Uncharted, this is right up there—an equal take on the genre that brings something a bit different, but still feels like a must-play in gaming history.

It feels like this game borrows from other games, but controlling a first-person character that shifts over to third-person mode is something new and fresh. It feels a bit weird at first, but it just works.

Game design, exploration

You might think of this game as Wolfenstein with some stealth elements and a whole lot of exploration. The maps and locations are semi-open (which is great), packed with secrets, artifacts, and all sorts of hidden goodies. Everything you discover is genuinely fun to find, every puzzle feels thoughtfully crafted (and yeah, some are tough), and the whole adventure feels like one big main quest that just keeps on giving. It’s a journey through thick and thin, where you’re using your whip to stun enemies, reach higher ground, and fully step into the shoes of a real adventurer. I disliked the second bigger settlement (after Vatican), but everything else was awesome. The movement feels stiff from times, but nothing too serious.

I’m not usually a big fan of stealth games, but here, you’ve got options. You can charge through enemy camps, pick off soldiers one by one, or just go full chaos and shoot your way out. At first, it was a bit rough—the guards were constantly messing me up—but then I started finding disguises, and that completely changed how I played. I really love how you come across hints and documents that help solve quests, or how you unlock clues pointing toward collectibles—yet you still have to track them down yourself. The game never holds your hand, and even though it’s not super hard, it still manages to deliver that sweet feeling of accomplishment.

The pacing is spot on—you move through towns, tombs, and a variety of different environments, and there's just the right amount of each to keep things fresh without ever feeling overwhelmed. Collecting stuff never felt like a chore, and for a game with over 500 collectibles, that’s seriously impressive. Honestly, Tomb Raider would be proud. The interiors and all this game offers looks and feels unique, packed with details. Kudos for the great design overal!

Lastly—collecting books to learn new skills or enhance your stats is done properly, and collecting enough points to buy them or unlock them is also paced properly. I have no complaints here.

Some scenes takes away the prise. The whole game is like one big candy that is both really pretty, and when you open it and try it, it's also great.

Combat

This part is probably the weakest in the whole game. I really enjoyed the Wolfenstein games and how tight the shooting felt there—but here? Not so much. Shooting enemies in the head three times with a rifle just to drop them? Yeah… that’s not great. Overall, the gunplay feels underwhelming. I get that shooting isn’t the main focus of the game, but if it’s going to be an option, it should at least feel decent. And honestly, it doesn’t.

Now, using the whip? That’s actually cool. You can disarm enemies and then finish them off with your fists. And fists are absolutely my weapon of choice. There’s just something so satisfying about brawling your way through enemy camps. It’s risky if other guards hear you, but grabbing a random guitar or shovel and smashing it over someone’s head? That works really well. I love that approach—the environment is surprisingly interactive when it comes to improvised weapons. The best way to go, though, is stealth and those sweet finisher moves. Still, I gotta say, punching out a whole group of enemies never got old for me.

Of course, you can upgrade your skills to get better at everything I mentioned—and it definitely makes a difference.

I still prefer the exploration aspect of the game, but combat can be fun (and kind of hilarious) at times. It’s just a bit disappointing when stacked up against the rest of the game’s strengths. That said, a few of the boss fights are actually pretty cool!

Always look above you, maybe you can climb that ledge. It's a mostly 1-path-experience, so there is always something you are missing when you don't know how to proceed.

Side Content

The side content is awesome. Honestly, everything outside the main story still felt like part of the main story. I loved the side missions, hunting for secrets in towns and settlements, and collecting all sorts of things. I really don’t have much to complain about here, so I’ll just leave it at that.

You can find books that give you upgrades, uncover hidden secrets, and collect artifacts—and it’s all genuinely rewarding. Not just for the loot, but for how you find them and what you need to do to get there. Some puzzles are tough. You’ll need to read documents, connect clues, and actually think things through. Don’t be afraid to check a guide if you get stuck—it might save you some frustration. That said, it’s super satisfying to solve things on your own (and yes, you can choose puzzle difficulty at the start).

The more side stuff you do, the stronger you get. And the fact that all of it feels polished and well-produced just adds to the whole experience. For me, that’s a huge selling point. Indy is just that good.

I want a sequel. Probably we will get it. Great stuff!

Conclusion

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn't without its flaws—mainly in the shooting mechanics—but what it delivers in atmosphere, storytelling, exploration, and character work more than makes up for it. From the beautifully designed environments to the clever puzzles and strong voice acting, this feels like a proper adventure. Technically, the game runs smoothly, looks great, and offers solid performance even on console, though the Pro model doesn’t really get the spotlight it could’ve. Still, this is a high-quality, well-produced title that fans of Indiana Jones—and anyone who loves a good treasure-hunting journey—should absolutely experience. Indy’s return is bold, fun, and totally worth it.