From chasing a Nazi convoy on horseback to bringing a gun to a sword fight, Indy has done it all. The archeologist is hardly a stranger to daredevil escapades, with his witty charm and whip-cracking antics making their way over to the world of video games, dating all the way back to the 1980s.
With Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developer MachineGames is set to deliver a fresh yet familiar experience for modern audiences. The studio has unveiled a new extended look at the game during Gamescom 2024, alongside a firm release date of 9 December.
Coming after a reveal at the Xbox Developer Direct in January, this latest trailer shows Indy in his element, cracking his whip, fleeing from various dangers, taking photos with his trusty camera, which reveals hints and information about the subject, and taking notes in the journal. A pre-event hands-off preview held for select press and creators delves more into gameplay details, opening with Indy’s escape from quicksand in first-person, and the introduction of Emerick Voss as the big bad who steals relics that “are not of this world”.
In the upcoming title, the character’s signature whip serves two purposes: to attack enemies and traverse ruins. Precise timings and combos are required for combat, where combining firearm and whip attacks is also possible. But force won’t always be the answer, so there will be times that call for a disguise, especially when infiltrating restricted areas. Otherwise, stealth gameplay lets Indy distract, stun, and subdue hostiles.
Along the way, players will be able to learn and customise new abilities to suit their play style. True Grit, for instance, grants Indy a second lease of life after his health bar reaches zero, essentially acting as a revival mechanic. Another core element of gameplay is, of course, solving puzzles and avoiding traps, with the video showcasing how it works.
All of these come together in a preview of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, where the fedora-wearing adventurer uses his whip to get close to an enemy, knock him out, and heads into an enclave. Later on, he dons a worker’s disguise in search of a key, finds it, and sneaks into the place of interest with a lighter in hand.
In typical Indiana Jones fashion, he almost falls into a trap and gets saved by his companion, before lowering himself to a crevice in the wall with his whip. The scene cuts to a wall featuring the guardians of the pyramids, transitioning into a puzzle-solving sequence that ends with the pair falling through a collapsing floor and into a pit of not snakes, but scorpions. Lovely.
The occasional sluggish action aside, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is shaping up to be a faithful reimagination of the franchise, complete with a real sense of danger. In a subsequent Q&A session, game director Jerk Gustafsson and creative director Axel Torvenius shared more information about the upcoming adventure, including its place in the film’s continuity.
For starters, the game is described as a “direct sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark“, and marks the team’s biggest project to date. It will feature a linear storyline and a mix of open and contained spaces, so players can visit other locations or pick up side quests along the way. While the disguise system is driven by the narrative, outfits can be changed at any given time. Players are also able to hide bodies during stealth segments, and adjust the difficulty level to match their puzzle experience.
Physical and Digital Editions for Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC are now available for pre-order. All pre-orders include the Last Crusade Pack, which features in-game cosmetics the Traveling Suit Outfit and the Lion Tamer Whip. In addition to the Last Crusade Pack, the Premium and Premium Upgrade editions come with 3-days of early access starting on 6 December, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of the Giants story DLC, the Temple of Doom Outfit cosmetic, and a digital-art book.
And finally, the Collector’s Edition will include an 11-inch Great Circle globe, featuring a puzzle mechanic that can be solved to unlock a hidden storage compartment. The CE also includes an Allmaker Relic replica, Adventure Journal and SteelBook display case, plus all the digital content mentioned above.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases 9 December for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and Spring 2025 for PS5.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kaylyn Lim
