Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, is an exhilarating return to the world of everyone’s favorite archaeologist.

No, not Lara Croft. We’re talking about the whip and wise-cracking Indiana Jones, of course, voiced here with uncanny accuracy and panache by Troy Baker, whose game credits include Joel Miller from The Last of Us, Booker DeWitt from Bioshock Infinite, Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and many many more.

Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game plunges players into a richly imagined adventure where danger lurks at every corner, and ancient secrets are waiting to be plundered…. discovered. We mean discovered!

The story kicks off with Indy uncovering a cryptic map that hints at the existence of the “Great Circle,” a series of ancient sites spread across the globe, all tied together by a single enigmatic mystery. What could it all mean? Indy is compelled to find out, even if that means abandoning his archeology students at the university at the drop of a battered fedora.

With Axis forces (We get to punch both Nazis and fascists, fyi) closing in on the same discovery, Indy sets off on a whirlwind race against time to prevent these powerful secrets from falling into the wrong hands.

Indy is aided by the high-spirited and mischievous Gina Lombardi (Alessandra Mastronardi), an Italian investigative journalist searching for her missing archeologist sister, and who acts as Indiana’s ally, foil, and potential love interest throughout the game.

Indy’s nemesis is Emmerich Voss, a powerfully built, fanatical Nazi who wastes no opportunity to tell everyone he’s a far better archeologist than our game’s protagonist. Voss, played with convincing gusto by Marios Gavrilis, may actually be right, because he and his goons are constantly turning up to thwart Indy and Gina’s plans and steal away any number of hard-won treasures at the most inconvenient of times.

This setup, while not groundbreaking, serves as a solid foundation for the game’s globe-trotting narrative, offering players a chance to explore iconic locations such as the Vatican City, the pyramids of Giza, and the lush jungles of South America. True to the movies that spawned the game, Indy’s journey is illustrated by means of a parchment map with dotted red lines that display our hero’s route.

The game strikes a careful balance between exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth, with combat taking a deliberate backseat. Each environment feels painstakingly designed, with an impressive attention to detail that brings the game’s settings to life. I found myself googling the various foods that fill up Indy’s health meter from various locales. There are even complete real-world recipes to be found for those willing to search them out.

Puzzle-solving, a hallmark of the Indiana Jones franchise, shines here. From deciphering ancient inscriptions to triggering complex mechanisms, the challenges feel both rewarding and true to the spirit of Indy’s adventures. The whip, naturally, is an integral part of gameplay. Whether you’re swinging across crumbling chasms, disarming enemies, scaring away attack dogs (the game won’t allow Indy to kill a dog but he can frighten them into submission with a crack from the whip) or even triggering hidden switches, its versatility is a constant delight.

Stealth also plays a significant role, with the game encouraging players to use disguises and sneak past enemy patrols rather than engaging in direct combat. These sequences are tense and satisfying, though the AI occasionally lacks the intelligence to make these encounters truly dynamic. (There’s a lot of: “Hey, I thought I heard something… Must have been a cat,” while our hero waits, crouched at the feet of a guard who is pointedly looking over our head, or squinting into the middle distance, while his interest meter ticks down.)

Although I love a stealthy approach, there were also times in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle when I really wanted to burst in guns blazing, particularly towards the end of the game. However with often just 20 bullets maxing out a selected weapon, and enemies taking many direct hits to kill, stealth was the only and best option.

To boot, when combat does come into play, it’s functional but unremarkable, relying on basic mechanics that lack the finesse seen in other action titles. This can be a little frustrating to players hoping for a more fluid experience, but it ultimately aligns with the game’s focus on brains over brawn.

What truly elevates Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is its commitment to delivering a cinematic experience. Troy Baker’s portrayal of Indy captures the character’s trademark wit, charisma, and occasional exasperation, grounding the story in familiar charm.

While the game has garnered criticism for some of its supernatural elements having a tendency to veer slightly into the absurd, they are no more outlandish than any other supernatural entities from the original movies. And if you can’t recall any, my advice is to go watch the movies again.

Visually, the game is a feast for the eyes. Every location is brimming with detail, from the dust-filled halls of ancient temples to bustling city streets. The lighting and environmental effects are particularly striking, creating a sense of awe and immersion. The soundtrack too, is worth noting, with a rousing orchestral score that riffs on the iconic John Williams theme without overusing it, and brings out the goosebumps at key moments.

However, the game is not without its flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, particularly during extended exposition scenes that slow the momentum. It feels mean to note (but I’m going to do it anyway for the purposes of this review) that despite its lofty cinematic ambitions, some individual cutscenes felt so clumsily put together as to have the effect of jarring us from the make-believe world of a Steven Spielberg-directed movie.

Additionally, while the puzzles are a highlight, some are overly complex to the point of frustration, lacking the intuitive design that makes the best puzzle games shine. And while the overarching story is compelling, a few subplots feel underdeveloped, leaving players with questions that may or may not be answered in future installments.

For all its imperfections though, the game succeeds in capturing the essence of what makes this character such a beloved and enduring figure in pop culture. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a nostalgic, action-packed ride that celebrates the character’s legacy while paving the way for new adventures. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the franchise, there’s plenty here to enjoy. Just don’t expect perfection.

Our score: 9/10. A whip-smart adventure from MachineGames that stumbles in a few places but ultimately delivers the thrills, intrigue, and silly fun we hoped to see from the Indiana Jones name.

Genre: Action Adventure, Stealth

Platform: Windows, Xbox Series X/S (PlayStation 5 coming Q1/Q2, 2025)

Release: December 9 2024

Studio: MachineGames

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks