Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got a deep gameplay dive on Monday, detailing the game’s combat, exploration, and puzzles. Publisher Bethesda also shed more light on the story’s premise, which sees Indy join the hunt for a priceless stolen relic. The action-adventure, which tells the original Indiana Jones story inspired by the movies, is set to launch on PC, Xbox Series S/X and Game Pass on December 9.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The nearly 15-minute deep dive begins with Indy finding a relic in the crypt. In typical Indiana Jones fashion, removing the relic from the pedestal causes a collapse as the crypt begins to cave in. With the help of his trusty whip, Indiana Jones escapes from the collapsed cave.
The game’s story begins with a break that informs Indy of a stolen relic, said Pete Ward, audio director for developer MachineGames, in an in-depth video. We also get to know the other heroes of this adventure – Gina, an Italian journalist who is looking for her missing sister, and Indy’s rival Emmerich Voss, who is relentlessly searching for mysterious artifacts around the world.
Although there is a lot of action, Indy will have to look for clues and trinkets that will guide him on his way to adventure. We see the titular archaeologist walking through snowy mountains, exploring ancient crypts, and jumping across sections of platforms. According to the developer, solving environmental puzzles will be key to advancing or finding optional hidden secrets.
Trusted Indy Tools
The deep dive also details the various tools Indy will have at his disposal, from a multi-purpose whip to a torch that aids exploration and lights new paths. Indiana Jones’ camera can take pictures to reveal historical landmarks and find key clues. It can also provide clues for puzzles. Indy is also helped by his journal, which starts with a blank page and fills in with clues, photos, maps, and notes as you progress through the story.
In some story chapters where Indiana Jones has access to restricted areas, he can wear a mask and walk around undetected – very reminiscent of the Hitman games. In addition to smaller environmental puzzles, the game will also feature grand and more challenging puzzles.
Finding clues will be key
Photo: Bethesda/MachineGames
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The deep gameplay immersion also showcases the game’s combat, with players deciding which approach to take to outsmart their enemies or take them down with brute force. In addition to the whip and pistol, players will have access to environmental weapons that will help quickly end a confrontation before it turns ugly. And if nothing is lying around, you can always fight. In close combat, Indiana Jones can land strong combos, block incoming punches, and parry attacks to gain openings.
Stealth is also an important part of combat. Indy can sneak up on an enemy, take them out and hide the body so as not to alert the other guards. Players can also unlock new skills and moves by spending adventure points accumulated during missions.
As expected, the game has a heavy emphasis on exploration. “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” will have several open areas where players can go off the main path and uncover side quests and mysteries. The game also features an underground fight club where players can test their fighting skills.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases on December 9 for PC and Xbox Series S/X. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. The game will be released on PS5 in the spring of 2025.