Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Delivers Nostalgic Thrills with Mixed Execution

The new video game captures the spirit of the iconic franchise but struggles with pacing and gameplay consistency.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda, is the first major Indiana Jones game since 2009 and is available now on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 release planned for spring 2025.
The game combines first-person exploration and melee combat with puzzle-solving, evoking the adventurous tone of the original film trilogy while introducing new characters and settings like Vatican City and Thailand.
Critics praise its cinematic storytelling and faithful homage to the Indiana Jones franchise but note that the gameplay often feels uneven, with clunky traversal mechanics and overly padded open-area exploration detracting from the experience.
Highlights include a standout sequence involving a giant snake in a Thai temple, which effectively blends Indy’s iconic fear of snakes with tense gameplay and supernatural elements.
Players can complete the main storyline in 10-12 hours, but optional side quests, collectibles, and mysteries can extend playtime to 30+ hours for those seeking a deeper dive into the game’s world.