1. Game Overview
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a first-person action-adventure game developed by MachineGames, known for the Wolfenstein series.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action-Adventure / Puzzle / Stealth |
| Platform | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 |
| Game Pass | ✅ Included from day one |
| Release Date | PC/Xbox: December 9, 2024 / PS5: April 17, 2025 |
| Playtime | Main story ~12–15 hrs / Full completion ~50 hrs |
| Setting | 1937 (between Raiders and The Last Crusade) |
2. What You Need to Know Before Starting
This Is Not Uncharted
Many players jump in expecting Uncharted-style action and are caught off guard. The core of this game is puzzle + stealth + exploration. You are not here to gun down enemies.
■ “It’s honestly quite a unique game, and I’m happy they didn’t just copy Uncharted/Tomb Raider.”
Difficulty Can Be Changed Anytime
You can adjust difficulty at any time from the settings menu. Combat and puzzle difficulty can be set separately — hard puzzles with easy combat is a valid choice. Starting with Action Experience: Moderate is recommended.
Embrace the First-Person Perspective
The first-person view makes puzzle-solving with your own hands, the crack of the whip, and the impact of punches feel overwhelmingly immersive. Slowly looking around and absorbing the world is a core part of the experience.
3. Game Locations — 8 Areas
The game spans 8 locations, each with an open sandbox structure you can freely explore.
- Marshall College — Tutorial, Indy’s university
- Vatican City — Largest early area, get the camera here ★ Highest-rated area
- Gizeh, Egypt — Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, Nazi excavation site
- Himalayas — Unique setting featuring a Nazi battleship
- Shanghai — Plane heist sequence amid Japanese bombing
- Sukhothai, Thailand — Ruins submerged in jungle, underwater exploration
- Iraq — Sumerian ziggurat, large Nazi camp infiltration — effectively the final area
- Rome — The journey’s conclusion
■ Vatican is widely considered the best-designed area. Gizeh and Sukhothai tend to divide opinions.
4. Understanding Core Systems
The Whip — Indy’s Signature Weapon
The whip is more than just a weapon. Use it in every situation from combat to traversal:
- Disarm enemies → immediately counter with their own weapon
- Stun enemies
- Cross gaps / pull switches
- Temporarily repel attack dogs
■ Finding whip-related Adventure Books unlocks additional skills like stunning small enemies.
Adventure Points & Adventure Books — The Leveling System
This game has no traditional XP system. Instead:
- Finding Adventure Books opens new skill slots
- Collect Adventure Points (AP) to actually unlock those skills
- AP is earned through completing quests, finding notes, taking photos, burning fascist posters, and more
■ Don’t hoard AP. Invest in skills aggressively from the start — it makes the game much more manageable.
Camera — Get It as Early as Possible
The camera can be obtained early in Vatican City. Look for a male NPC drinking morning coffee.
- A camera icon in the upper left signals a photo opportunity
- Photograph artifacts, historic architecture, and special NPC scenes to earn Adventure Points
- Taking a photo in front of a puzzle activates the hint system
Disguise System
| Outfit | Effect | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Priest Robes | Move freely inside Vatican | Doesn’t guarantee full access |
| Blackshirt Uniform | Access Nazi military zones | Nazi Captains will see through it |
| Wehrmacht Uniform | Use its dedicated pistol | Ammo only found in specific locations |
■ Always carry Repair Kits while wearing a disguise — they are essential.
5. Top 4 Early Game Skills
| Skill | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Punch Out | 25 AP | Instantly recover stamina when an enemy is stunned — essential for early combat |
| Lucky Hat | 125 AP | Self-revive chance when downed; nearby enemies briefly forget Indy |
| Brawler | — | Increases all melee damage (3 tiers) |
| Block Head | 400 AP | Enhances melee weapon blocking — essential for boss fights |
■ Prioritize Fitness / Survival Adventure Books first. HP and stamina expansion is the most fundamental foundation.
6. Combat Tips
Guns Are a Last Resort
Drawing your gun puts all nearby armed enemies on alert. Indy cannot survive a sustained gunfight. Default to whip + fists, and save guns for bosses and emergencies only.
Use the Environment
- Enemies near cliffs — push them off for the fastest takedown
- Exploit positional advantages from dark corners and high ziplines
- Nearby objects can all be used as improvised weapons
Stamina Management
Running, climbing, and combat all drain stamina. Eating food (fruit, bread, etc.) increases stamina regeneration speed.
7. Stealth Basics
- Crouch with Ctrl (PC) / Left Analog Stick to move silently
- Approach from behind; when two lines appear on the reticle, press LClick (PC) / RT for a stealth takedown
- Stealth takedowns are instant kills and won’t trigger nearby alarms
- Being in dark areas reduces detection chance
- Throw objects like bottles to distract enemy line of sight before being spotted
- Downed enemies can be carried and hidden
- Nazi Captains see through disguises — handle them with stealth or go around them
8. Exploration & Puzzle Tips
Find the Mystery Note First
Mysteries have all needed clues located nearby. Finding the Mystery Note first leads to natural puzzle solutions. Rewards include Adventure Books, artifacts, and more — well worth pursuing actively.
Torch Management
- Always carry a lit candle or torch when entering dark areas
- Unlit torches can be dipped in a brazier or oil to light them
- When crossing a gap, throw the torch first, then swing across to save time
White Cloth / Paint = Climbing Points
White sheets, paint marks, and curtains indicate spots where Indy can climb. If you’re stuck, look for white markings nearby and get into the habit of looking up often.
9. Consumable Management
| Item | Effect | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit / Vegetables | Stamina boost | Keep them maxed out at all times |
| Bread / Snacks | HP boost | Consume before combat |
| Medicine Bottle | Trade with NPCs for permanent HP/stamina increase | Exchange with Vatican NPC for Shaping Up / Moxie Adventure Books |
| Repair Kit | Restores weapon durability | Essential with disguise; use sparingly as they’re rare |
10. Common Beginner Mistakes
- Pulling out the gun too often — Gunfire puts the entire area on alert. Use guns only when truly necessary.
- Hoarding AP without buying skills — AP is meant to be spent. The game’s economy is built around consistent skill investment.
- Getting the camera too late — It’s available early in Vatican. Every moment without it is lost AP.
- Getting stuck at locked doors too long — Many restricted areas open naturally as the main quest progresses. Move on and come back.
- Walking past Medicine Bottles — They exchange for permanent HP/stamina increases. Never leave them behind.
Recommended Beginner Play Order
- Grab the camera in Vatican first
- Collect Fitness / Survival Adventure Books early
- Invest in Punch Out → Lucky Hat → Brawler in that order
- Run main quests and Mysteries in parallel
- Stealth first, combat as a last resort
Final Thoughts
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a game that divides opinion. The stealth AI can feel inconsistent and puzzles are on the simpler side — but the immersion of living the Indiana Jones universe in first-person is unmatched. It’s included in Game Pass, so there’s no reason not to give it a shot.