You’ve seen the trailers. You’ve heard the whip crack. But honestly, there’s a massive misconception floating around about what this game actually is. Most people look at a screenshot and think "Oh, it's just first-person Uncharted."
It isn't. Not even close.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is something much weirder and, frankly, much more interesting than a simple clone of Nathan Drake's adventures. Developed by MachineGames—the folks who made the recent Wolfenstein reboots—you might expect a non-stop Nazi-slaying fest. Instead, they’ve built a methodical, tactile, and surprisingly quiet archeological sim that just happens to have high-octane fistfights.
Why the Perspective Matters More Than You Think
When the first-person view was revealed, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. People wanted to see Indy’s iconic silhouette, the leather jacket, the fedora. But having spent hours in his boots, I can tell you: the first-person perspective is the secret sauce.
It makes the world feel heavy.
When you’re in the Vatican catacombs or standing at the base of the Great Sphinx, the scale is genuinely intimidating. You aren't just watching a character climb a wall; you are reaching out, grabbing a pipe, and feeling the height. MachineGames uses a "full-body" first-person model, so when you look down, you see Indy’s legs. When you punch, it’s a desperate, scrappy lunge. It’s personal.
It also changes the way you interact with history. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, you aren't just running past statues. You’re pulling out a camera to take photos of inscriptions. You’re sketching in a journal. You’re actually doing archeology, which is something the movies always said Indy did, but rarely showed for more than five minutes.
The 1937 Problem: Where This Fits
Chronology is a bit of a nightmare with this franchise, but this game slots into a very specific gap. It takes place in 1937. That puts it right between Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936) and The Last Crusade (1938).
Temple of Doom is actually a prequel set in 1935, so technically, this is the third adventure in the timeline if you're counting the "Golden Age" Indy.
Why does this matter? Because Indy is at his peak here. He’s already dealt with the Ark of the Covenant, so he’s a believer in the supernatural, but he’s still cynical enough to get annoyed when a giant man named Locus breaks into Marshall College to steal a seemingly worthless relic. This theft is what kicks off the mystery of the "Great Circle"—a literal alignment of ancient spiritual sites across the globe.
Global Hopping (The Real Deal)
The game doesn't just stay in one place. You’re bouncing between:
- Rome & The Vatican: Sneaking through holy halls.
- Egypt: Open-area desert exploration.
- Sukhothai, Thailand: Sunken temples and heavy jungle vibes.
- The Himalayas: Frozen peaks and Nazi outposts.
The transition between these is handled via a map screen that looks exactly like the red-line-over-parchment from the films. It’s a small detail, but it hits that nostalgia bone perfectly.
Is Troy Baker Actually a Good Indy?
This was the second big controversy. Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones. Period. So when Troy Baker—the guy who is basically in every video game ever—was announced as the voice, people were skeptical.
I’ll be blunt: he nails it.
He isn't doing a caricature. He isn't doing a "gruff guy" voice. He has captured the specific cadence of 1980s Harrison Ford. The way he sighs. The way he sounds slightly out of his depth even when he’s winning. It’s an incredibly respectful performance that manages to disappear into the character. You forget it's "the guy from The Last of Us" within twenty minutes.
Combat: Wits Over Weapons
If you try to play this like Call of Duty, you will die. Often.
Indy is a professor, not a soldier. While you do have a revolver, ammo is incredibly scarce. The game actively encourages you to use your brain. This means using the whip to pull a Nazi’s feet out from under him or smashing a glass bottle over someone's head.
The whip is basically a Swiss Army knife. You can use it to:
- Distract: Crack it near a guard to make him look away.
- Traverse: Swing across gaps (the game shifts to third-person briefly for these cinematic moments).
- Disarm: Rip a rifle right out of a soldier's hands.
Honestly, the melee feels "crunchy." It’s less about combos and more about timing your parries and finding an opening to land a heavy hook. It feels like a bar fight in a 1930s serial, which is exactly the vibe it needs.
The Stealth "Issue"
Some critics have complained that the stealth is a bit "simple." They aren't entirely wrong. The AI can be a little dim sometimes, and you can often get away with things that would get you caught in a game like Hitman.
But here’s the thing: Indiana Jones isn’t a ninja.
The stealth in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is built around disguises and social infiltration. You might find a worker’s outfit to blend into a dig site. It’s about the tension of being somewhere you shouldn't be, rather than staying hidden in shadows 100% of the time. If you get caught, the game doesn't instantly end; it just turns into a chaotic brawl, which feels very "Indy."
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Actionable Insights for Players
If you’re diving into the game this week, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Put away the gun. Seriously. The game is much more rewarding when you find environmental ways to take out enemies. Use those shovels, hammers, and frying pans.
- Check your journal constantly. It isn't just a quest log. It contains clues for puzzles that aren't highlighted on your HUD. If you’re stuck on a riddle in a tomb, the answer is usually sketched in your book.
- Take photos of everything. Every photo you take earns "Adventure Points." These points are the only way to unlock "True Grit" abilities (like surviving a fatal blow). If it looks old or important, snap a picture.
- Don't skip the "Order of Giants" DLC. If you have the Premium Edition, this extra story content fleshes out the Nephilim lore which can feel a bit rushed in the main campaign.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle succeeds because it understands that Indy is a scholar first and a brawler second. It’s a game about the "Spirit of Discovery," and for the first time in decades, it actually feels like we’ve found the real Dr. Jones again.