Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the Indiana Jones films or stepping into this world for the first time, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an excellent game. Fans will love the nods to the series, but even those unfamiliar with Indy’s adventures will likely find something to enjoy.
Gameplay-wise, it feels like a mix of Far Cry, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and even LA Noire – a blend of exploration, puzzles and cinematic action. The game takes you across a striking range of global locations: the Vatican City, Peru, Connecticut, the Sukhothai temples of Thailand, the Egyptian pyramids, Shanghai, and the snowy Himalayas. Each place feels distinct and well-designed, offering a refreshing variety in pace and tone. Some maps are bigger and more intricate than others, but there’s plenty to do if you’re avoiding the main missions.
I was sceptical at first about Troy Baker voicing Indy. Not because he lacks talent, but because he’s everywhere – it’s easy to hear him and think of Booker (BioShock Infinite), Joel (The Last of Us), Pagan Min (Far Cry 4) or Higgs (Death Stranding). But any doubts quickly faded. Baker nails the role, capturing Indy’s mix of sarcasm, grit and weary charm. The late Tony Todd also delivers a memorable performance with his deep, gravelly presence. Marios Gavrilis as the villainous Voss evokes serious Klaus Kinski vibes – over-the-top, theatrical and appropriately despicable.
Controls are straightforward, though I occasionally found myself accidentally throwing food or bandages instead of using them – likely more a me problem than a game issue.
As a casual gamer who prefers story over difficulty, I found the easy mode just right. Challenging enough to stay fun, but never frustrating or dull. The game strikes a solid balance between puzzle-solving, combat and exploration – exactly what you’d hope for in an Indiana Jones adventure.
The story is genuinely engaging, peppered with plenty of humour and larger-than-life moments. Take a drink every time Indy yells “Jesus!” or mutters a sarcastic insult.
Checkpoints and auto-saves are generous, so there’s very little backtracking or frustration after death. When you die, the game simply drops you back into the action rather than throwing up a game over screen. There’s no messy skill tree system either – just a set of upgradeable abilities tied to books you can collect or buy.
Pacing is solid. I never felt like any section overstayed its welcome. The enemy AI is a little quirky at times. For example, you’ll drop a glass bottle in front of a possibly enemy and he will say “hmm, what was that sound? Better go check it out” and go into suspicious investigation mode.
The developers also deserve credit for avoiding in-game consumables tied to microtransactions – a welcome change in today’s industry, and something that puts them ahead of the likes of Ubisoft.
On Xbox Series X, the game runs smoothly with a steady framerate and no major drops. Visually, it’s impressive and proves the console still has plenty of power in 2025. In terms of stability, I encountered no crashes and only a bit of light audio stuttering during a late-game cutscene. One misstep: the cinematic mode setting feels unfinished, adding black bars even to the main menu rather than just during gameplay. That aside, the menu interface integrates beautifully with your in-game progress when you return to continue the story.
Outside of the main storyline, there’s a fair bit to do and a tonne of collectibles to be found across the various global locations that feature in the game. Collecting 50 of a certain item will unlock a secret ending. I chose the lazy route of watching the short cutscene online and found it rather underwhelming.
In short, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a strong, well-rounded action-adventure that honours the spirit of the films without leaning on them too heavily. It’s cinematic, fun, and filled with moments that make you feel like you’re right there alongside Indy. Game writers have proven to me that they can do better than Hollywood in recent years.