If you don’t know who Indiana Jones is, you can probably skip this one.
This is a game made for fans. For those who remember the awe when the Ark opened in Raiders of the Lost Ark. For those who got a little emotional watching a father and son in The Last Crusade. If any of that resonates — this game was made for you.
I booted it up on Xbox Game Pass with cautious optimism. Anyone who sat through Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny will understand that hesitation.
Honestly, it took some getting used to. The first-person perspective, the stealth-heavy combat, the clunky map — none of it felt natural at first. But then I hit the Vatican chapter. And then Egypt. And somewhere in those pyramids, it clicked.
“This is actually Indiana Jones.”
TL;DR
- Best Indiana Jones game ever made — if you’re a fan
- Exploration and puzzles are excellent; combat gets repetitive
- On Xbox Game Pass, it’s an absolute no-brainer
Game Info
| Title | Indiana Jones and the Great Circle |
| Developer | MachineGames |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Release Date | December 9, 2024 |
| Platforms | PC · Xbox Series X/S · PS5 (April 2025) |
| Genre | First-Person Action Adventure |
| Metacritic | Low 80s |
| Main Story Length | ~15 hours |
| Price | $69.99 |
| Game Pass | Xbox Game Pass Ultimate · PC Game Pass ✅ |
Bottom line up front: if you’re an Indiana Jones fan, this is the best the franchise has ever been in game form. For everyone else, it’s a solid but divisive adventure.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Think stealth-focused infiltration, first-person exploration, and puzzle-driven progression — all layered together. If you’re expecting Uncharted or Tomb Raider-style action, temper those expectations. This isn’t really an action game. It’s more of an Indiana Jones simulator.
The story takes place between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade — an original tale involving Nazis chasing ancient artifacts with mysterious powers. Classic Indy territory, and it feels completely authentic to the series.
MachineGames, by the way, are the people behind Wolfenstein: The New Order. There is no studio on earth more qualified to make a game about punching Nazis.
What Impressed Me
The Opening Scene
The game starts exactly how you’d hope — a jungle temple, a priceless artifact, and a giant boulder. Yes, that boulder. Playing out that iconic Raiders moment firsthand is the game’s clearest signal: this was built by people who love Indiana Jones.
The score, based on John Williams’ original compositions, was re-recorded by a full orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. It shows.
Exploration and Puzzles
Hidden passages, ancient mechanisms, puzzles that actually feel earned — this is where the game truly shines. The difficulty stays accessible without feeling trivial, and solving each puzzle rewards you with a cinematic payoff that feels ripped straight from the films.
Taking on the Nazis
MachineGames knows how to make fighting fascists feel satisfying. Whips, fists, and environmental improvisation keep combat varied enough, and the tone — pulpy, slightly absurd, never too serious — fits the Indiana Jones vibe perfectly.
The Honest Breakdown
✅ What Works
- Nails the atmosphere of the films
- Troy Baker’s performance is outstanding — voice and motion capture both
- Vatican and Egypt chapters are highlights of the entire game
- Free on Xbox Game Pass
❌ What Doesn’t
- Combat gets repetitive — punching and whipping carry you through the whole game, and by the end it starts to drag
- First-person perspective is divisive — you want to see Indiana Jones, but you’re stuck looking at his hands the whole time
- The map UI is genuinely bad — you have to open a laptop just to check your position, and the quest log isn’t much better. This is a near-universal complaint
- Campy villain moments — enemies monologue before throwing a punch. Authentic to the films, but it breaks the game’s pacing
Should You Play It?
If you’re an Indiana Jones fan:
Absolutely yes, no hesitation. This is the most Indy story since The Last Crusade. If you grew up with these films, playing this will bring back that exact feeling from the cinema — it’s genuinely nostalgic in the best way.
If you’re not a fan:
Honestly, the experience suffers. The stealth is shallow, the combat lacks depth, and a big part of what makes this game special is IP-driven nostalgia. Without that, it plays like a fairly average adventure game. My suggestion: watch Raiders of the Lost Ark first, then come back.
Final Score
| Fan Service | ★★★★★ |
| Exploration | ★★★★ |
| Combat | ★★★ |
| Accessibility | ★★★ |
| Overall | 8 / 10 |
A $69.99 game, playable right now on Xbox Game Pass. If you’re a fan, there’s no reason to wait.
© MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks