Game Review: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Grab your fedora and crack that whip—Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is here, and it’s swinging for the fences. MachineGames (of Wolfenstein fame) teams up with Lucasfilm Games to deliver a pulpy, first-person adventure that’s part treasure hunt, part Nazi-punching simulator, and all classic Indy.

🏺 A Whip-Smart Adventure

Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game drops you into a globe-trotting mystery involving ancient relics, cryptic symbols, and—you guessed it—a secret society with world-ending ambitions. You’ll explore temples, tombs, and train cars while solving puzzles, dodging traps, and occasionally decking fascists in the jaw.

The story is pure Indiana Jones: high-stakes, low-subtlety, and packed with one-liners. Troy Baker voices Indy with surprising charm, channeling just enough Harrison Ford to make it work without feeling like an impersonation.

🧩 Gameplay: Puzzles, Punches, and Pulp

Gameplay is a mix of first-person exploration, environmental puzzles, and cinematic action sequences. The whip isn’t just for show—you’ll use it to swing across gaps, disarm enemies, and solve puzzles. Combat is scrappy and satisfying, with a focus on melee brawls, stealth takedowns, and the occasional shootout.

The puzzles are clever without being cruel, often involving ancient mechanisms, light manipulation, and a healthy dose of “what would Indy do?”

🌍 A World Worth Exploring

From the sands of Egypt to the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas, the game’s environments are lush, varied, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s not open-world, but the levels are large and layered, encouraging exploration and rewarding curiosity with lore, artifacts, and side objectives.

✅ Pros

• Authentic Indy vibes: Feels like stepping into a lost Spielberg film.
• Whip mechanics are fun: Surprisingly versatile and central to gameplay.
• Strong level design: Linear but expansive, with plenty of secrets.
• Puzzles hit the sweet spot: Challenging without being frustrating.

❌ Cons

• Combat can feel clunky: Especially in tight spaces or with ranged weapons.
• Facial animations are stiff: Some cutscenes veer into uncanny territory.
• Pacing dips mid-game: A few levels drag before the finale kicks in.
• No Harrison Ford: Troy Baker does well, but purists may miss the original voice.

⭐ Rating: 8.6/10 Best played with a leather jacket, a sense of wonder, and a deep distrust of snakes.