Indiana Jones and The Great Circle: Let’s first start with showing y’all the trailers shall we?

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle: A Review

In Memory of Tony Todd (1954–2024)
Tony Todd was a towering presence in genre cinema, his voice alone enough to send chills—or command reverence. Best known to many as the iconic Candyman, his legacy goes far beyond the hook. With each role, he brought gravitas, mystery, and intensity—making even the smallest scenes unforgettable. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, his performance reminded us why he was one of the greats: a legend who could make mythology feel alive.
A true icon. Gone, but never forgotten

We finally have a new Indiana Jones game, following the long hiatus since Lego Indiana Jones 2. As a huge fan of Indiana Jones, this franchise introduced me to Tomb Raider, Uncharted, and even Tintin, and has fostered a deep respect for ancient Egypt. Also, I think a reason I also connect to Indiana Jones so easily is because like me he’s terrified of snakes

Now, let’s dive into the game. Before its release, I was skeptical after seeing the first-person view announced in 2021. But after playing the game, how do I feel?

Tony Todd’s performance in this game is fantastic—his final role before passing away. If you’re hesitant because of the game’s first-person perspective or the title, The Great Circle, don’t let that stop you. The game is worth your time, regardless of those concerns.

The game delivers a truly authentic Indiana Jones experience. Troy Baker nails every aspect of Indy, from mannerisms to voice. The plot is original, with action-packed sequences, puzzles, and the iconic whip swinging across treacherous landscapes. It’s a perfect homage to the franchise.

One of the game’s strengths is its immersion. You get to explore gorgeous locations like the Vatican, Egypt, and the Himalayas. You’ll also engage in fun puzzles and use items like pots, pans, and wrenches to defeat enemies, adding to the slapstick humor that defined the original trilogy.

The villain, Emmerich Voss, is a brilliant Nazi archeologist who feels like the evil twin of Indiana Jones. The game also uses German for dialogue with the Nazis, adding a layer of realism.

The game’s combat, while focused on stealth and puzzles, is satisfying. Guns are a last resort, and you’ll often have to rely on your wits and surroundings to get by. The game even has a mechanic where you take pictures to unlock upgrades, a nice touch for players who enjoy exploration. You can use your whip to disarm enemies or yank enemies to you so u can do an endless punch cycle until they collapse onto the floor. You can also pick up bodies and move them, but it does drain stamina, as stated there are upgrades to improve stamina.

There are upgrades to also add more health.
There’s a bit of criticism, though. The game has minor bugs, like graphical issues and AI inconsistencies. Sometimes the enemy AI is too smart, and other times it’s completely clueless. There’s also the stamina bar, which can be frustrating early on but is improved with upgrades.

The game may feel repetitive at times, but the free-roam feature after completing the story offers replay value. The visuals are stunning, with incredible attention to detail. You’ll even find teleportation points to help you quickly explore new areas.

Also last issue is u can’t go in ur inventory and view the pics u take in this game, essentially that camera in the game only works as a glorified XP machine.

Despite its flaws, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a worthy successor to the franchise. It captures the essence of the 80s films while adding new mechanics. It’s an immersive experience that feels like a missing fourth film.

I highly recommend it for fans of Indiana Jones and action-adventure games. I’d rate it an 10/10.

BTW here’s some concept arts from The Great Circle, hope y’all enjoy these images.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle Spoilers:

So, the game kicks off with a one-to-one recreation of the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Yes, that’s right—you get to play through the opening of the first Indiana Jones film. I already love this game.

It’s impressive that they were able to keep this a secret as well. By the way, this opening serves mainly to disguise the fact that it’s a tutorial; usually, players dislike tutorial missions.

However, the fact that you get to play through the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark will leave you giddy. I recommend that when you’re playing this tutorial, you go off the trail and explore.

There are three items you can find and collect. The reason I mention this is because if you do, those three items will appear on your shelf in Marshall College, in Indy’s office. Also, no, you can’t free roam in this tutorial mission after the story is done, unfortunately.

By the way, I say this entire opening is a one-to-one recreation, but there are two slight differences. One of the character models seems a bit off—very slightly. It almost has a wax figure look, which is the best way I can describe it.

And that iconic scene where Indy slides under a closing door and grabs his whip before the door closes? In this game, he instead grabs his hat. I’ll post a video of a side-by-side comparison of the opening here.

The game begins when Indy wakes up from a dream, triggered by hearing a break-in during a stormy night at Marshall College. He leaves Marcus, passed out in his office from drinking. Indy discovers a 6-and-a-half-foot man in the museum, speaking Latin and wearing a Vatican black coat with an emblem around his neck. Played by Tony Todd (may he rest in peace), the man knocks Indy out with a single blow.

When Indy regains consciousness, Marcus denies seeing a giant, but Indy insists it is tall. After restoring some museum displays, Indy deduces the man stole the cat’s mummy and finds the Vatican emblem on a shard of glass from the broken window.

Indy plans to head to the Vatican, but Marcus warns that the College won’t approve, especially during midterms. Indy finds a note from Marion in his luggage, which he quickly discards after Marcus asks about it. Indy avoids discussing the breakup between him and Marion, revealing it was because she felt he was too focused on the past to embrace the present.

Marion and Indy had a dinner date planned, but he went on an excavation to retrieve the cat’s mummy, and when he returned, she was gone.

In the Vatican, Indy sneaks in by taking out some fascists and meets Father Antonio Morello, who’s going deaf and wears hearing aids. Antonio tells him about Father Venturo, who disliked his ties with Mussolini. Indy gives Antonio a record album, and he learns that the Vatican is overrun by Nazis and fascists, but their presence remains a mystery.

Antonio gives Indy a priest disguise and a task to buy a camera and gather clues. Indy’s mission is to find out why the giant stole the cat’s mummy. Father Venturo is suspicious and warns Antonio about Indy.

Indy discovers a secret chamber in Antonio’s office, accessible using the emblem he found. He buys a camera from a janitor and photographs engravings on fountains around the Vatican. The photos lead to a bottle of “Jesus’ blood,” which Indy uses to solve a puzzle in a secret chamber.

In the chamber, Indy finds a tomb with a giant’s body. The place collapses, and a bulldozer crushes the tomb. Indy escapes through an excavation site, where a Nazi helps him out, only for Indy to punch him into a hole.

Indy then follows a nun who’s picking a lock into a restricted area. She leads him to the top of a building, where she looks out with binoculars.

The nun, named Gina, says she’s just birdwatching, but when a blimp appears overhead, Indy jokes, “That’s one big bird.” Through binoculars, he spots Father Venturo with the Nazis and sees Emmerich Voss disembark from the blimp. Indy identifies Voss, and Gina, realizing Indy isn’t a real priest, steals his book. She reveals she’s a reporter searching for her missing sister, who disappeared during an excavation involving Voss. They agree to work together and part ways, with Indy needing to return an ancient scroll he found in the giant’s coffin to Antonio.

Now for a couple of amusing side quests:

Indy helps Professor Savage, an elderly archaeologist, who tells him the Nazis took his apprentice, Sidney after they discovered a stone. Indy rescues Sidney from a Nazi camp, and the young man suggests checking the excavation site for clues. There, Indy finds a note telling him to steal a key from a miner in Mine E. Indy does so, unlocking a cellar where he discovers the stone, marked with clues about the “Great Circle.”

After fighting off a Nazi, Indy returns the stone to the library, handing it back to Savage and Sidney.

Indy shares his thoughts on the stone, and Professor Savage quips, “Father should have become an archaeologist.” Indy responds, “Yeah, I was never that adventurous,” adding a humorous moment that feels right at home in the franchise.

In the second side quest, Indy helps Gina find a missing nun. They meet in a confessional booth, and as they’re about to leave, a fascist guard approaches Indy, believing he’s Father Antonio. He asks to confess his sins, and Indy, playing along, simply says, “You’re forgiven” and closes the booth window. The humor continues as the guard then confesses an affair with his mother-in-law, revealing his wife is about to have a child. Indy’s shocked response, “Jesus Christ, what have you done,” exposes him as a fake priest. Indy punches the guard and walks away, saying, “Sorry pal, but you deserved it.”

Later, Indy finds a note from the guard’s mother-in-law, confirming his confession. Indy dryly remarks, “Yeah, he’s going to hell for this.”

Indy and Gina track down the nun in a tower. Before leaving, the nun tells Indy that Father Venturo has been watching him since his arrival, with spies keeping tabs on him.

Later, Indy visits a fountain with a potential secret entrance. To open it, he must adjust gargoyle statues on the towers to a specific angle, unlocking the passage.

One of the gargoyles is missing a foot, which Indy finds nearby on a scaffolding. As he picks it up, Gina startles him, causing him to fall. Despite his attempt to send her away, they solve the puzzle together. They head to a secret chamber with two trials to complete. The trials involve building two keys, using lava to fill a mold, and then using Indy’s whip to activate a switch that pours water to solidify the keys.

After passing through the door, they find a hidden treasure room in the Vatican, and Indy discovers the cat mummy. Just then, Locus, the giant, appears. Indy tries to talk to him, but Locus attacks, forcing Indy to fight and defeat him. It’s unclear how Indy learns Locus’s name, but they hide the giant’s body when Mussolini and Father Venturo enter. Emmerich Voss arrives and threatens Father Venturo, forcing him to hand over the cat’s mummy. Voss smashes it, revealing a stone with carvings related to the Great Circle. He puts the stone into a briefcase.

Indy and Gina follow Voss back to his blimp. Gina wants to find her missing sister, while Indy aims to find the Great Circle before Voss does. On the way to the blimp, Indy encounters Father Venturo, who vents about spies and liars, but Locus knocks him out. Indy escapes by swinging onto the blimp, which is attacked by Locus and his men, along with more giant figures.

The blimp lands in Giza, Egypt, where Indy explains the Great Circle to Gina, using her lipstick to draw a diagram. Upon arrival, they see Voss toy with Viktor Gantz, a Nazi officer, who is ignored when he greets Voss with “Heil Hitler,” sparking tension between them. Indy and Gina meet her contact, Nawal Shafiq-Barclay, in Giza.

While talking to Nawal, Indy nervously stumbles into her pet snake’s cage. She asks him to feed it, and he awkwardly responds, “I would make me happy to feed it,” before quickly jumping back and saying, “I fed it!” in a hilarious moment.

Indy and Gina then explore a chamber beneath the Sphinx. Indy finds a disguise in the chamber, but it’s too dark, so he heads back to town to buy a lighter. They return, solve puzzles involving moving lights and mirrors to open a door, and discover a golden mask, but the chamber leads them in a circle.

Now, a side quest: Indy bumps into Professor Savage again in town, who reveals his assistant Sidney has been kidnapped by Emmerich Voss. The professor says Voss was kind to him, but Indy sarcastically questions his generosity. Indy rescues Sidney again at a Nazi campsite near the pyramids, following a note to a dig site where Sidney is found unconscious. After getting Sidney to safety, Indy and the professor share a funny exchange.

Indy asks if he can keep the stone tablet, to which Sidney humorously responds, “Sure, it ain’t mine.” Professor Savage tells Indy not to tell his mom and Indy jokes that Sidney will make a great archaeologist. Sidney then asks, “You mean like Professor Indiana Jones, sir? The one who works at that college in Connecticut?”

Professor Savage, amused, laughs at the mention of Indiana Jones, saying, “Sidney, he’s not a real archaeologist! Your mother would see me hanged if you turned out like that swashbuckling gasconader!” The humor is heightened because he doesn’t realize Indy is standing right next to him.

Moving on, Nawal Shafiq-Barclay provides Indy and Gina with fake IDs and disguises for a mission to sneak into a dig site, reach Voss’s campsite, and infiltrate his fort. They make their way inside the 2-3 story fort and spy through a peephole, where they see Voss examining a dead giant with markings on its chest and cloth covering its eyes. Voss is berating Viktor Gantz, who threatens to kill him, but Voss laughs and mocks Viktor with monkey noises, calling him a monkey.

This clever writing makes Voss appear completely unhinged. Viktor pins him down, ready to kill him, but the ceiling collapses on Viktor, knocking him out—thus, Indy unintentionally saves Voss. Voss, surprised, greets Indy, but Indy sarcastically replies, “Well, that makes one of us.” He then has Gina hold Voss at gunpoint while Indy examines the corpse. When Indy removes the cloth from the giant’s eyes, they reveal pale, lifeless eyes staring back at him.

Voss tries to taunt Indy, asking if he came here because of a woman. He mentions how Indy’s relationship didn’t work out because she believes he’s stuck in the past. Indy stays unfazed, so Voss shifts focus to Gina, questioning if she’s here for her missing sister. He suggests her sister might be happy working for him, causing Gina to slap him in the nose.

Viktor gets up, and Indy fights him. Just as Indy aims to punch Viktor, he accidentally hits Voss in the nose, creating a comedic moment. Gina, on the floor, twists Voss’s nose, a childish move, and then shoots at Viktor, but only grazes his cheek. As she tries again, she hits her head on a shelf and accidentally shoots a picture of Hitler.

A hammer falls into Voss’s hands, and Viktor, thinking Voss saved him, thanks him in a tone reminiscent of the green alien toys from Toy Story—“You saved our lives, we’re eternally grateful!” Indy then knocks both men out with a chair. They escape to a tunnel, where Nawal Shafiq-Barclay is waiting, knocking down beams with a sledgehammer. Gina gets separated, so Indy and Nawal go to a chamber to translate hieroglyphs.

Indy and Nawal part ways, and Indy ventures into another secret chamber, where he finds a blindfolded giant. After fighting the giant by letting light into the room, Indy locates another cat statue. He reluctantly breaks it, finding another stone inside. A trap activates, filling the room with sand. Indy uses the sand to propel himself toward a hole in the roof, but he gets partially buried as the sand catches up.

Voss appears in a car and takes the stone from Indy, taunting him. Indy, struggling, reaches for the stone and flicks his hand to grab it. Voss mocks him, saying Indy could’ve had a life but will now die buried in the sands of Africa. Indy responds by headbutting Voss in the nose, ending the encounter with Voss having a very bad day.

Voss leaves Indy for dead, but Gina and Indy are eventually found, though not before being surrounded by scorpions. They head to the Himalayas, following Gina’s sister’s last known coordinates. Nawal Shafiq-Barclay offers them a ride on a boat but doesn’t join them on the mountain journey. The duo’s tour guide abandons them, citing danger.

While trekking up the snowy mountains, they discover a giant submarine hanging on the edge of a cliff. Inside, they find frozen corpses with terrified expressions, revealing the grim horrors of the situation. Indy opens a door in a snow pile, only to find a severed hand and the frozen corpse of a dead person staring back at him. The developers pull no punches in this intense scene.

As they move through the submarine, they find Gina’s sister, now dead. Gina is devastated, and Indy tries to comfort her. They reach the control room, where a dead body holds a stone. But before they can act, Nazis—including Viktor—arrive.

Viktor threatens Indy and demands the stone, mocking Americans and their “silly old cartoons,” in an over-the-top villainous speech. Gina tricks them by tossing a grenade overboard, which causes the submarine to start sliding down the mountain. Indy fights the Nazis, knocking one off the edge, and the classic Wilhelm scream is heard during the chaos.

Indy and Gina must escape the collapsing submarine. As they cling to a pole, Indy, out of ideas, realizes the stone might have brought Gina’s sister here. He reads the carvings aloud in its native language, and—just like that—a portal opens, transporting them to Shanghai during a chaotic war. This is when things get truly wild.

Viktor, seemingly immortal, is struck by falling glass shards and dies—or does he? Meanwhile, Indy and Gina head to a crashed plane. Gina starts the engine while Indy uses his whip to latch onto it. He’s flung around in mid-air, embracing the craziness of their situation. They manage to escape and fly to Sukhothai, Siam, where they book a hotel room.

Indy talks to Marcus over the phone, who informs him that the school is about to fire him, adding to Indy’s stress. Then, Locus shows up behind Indy, shoving him around and warning him to leave. Indy, unfazed, replies, “Is that a warning?” Locus responds, “It’s courtesy.”

Later, Indy and Gina share a heartfelt conversation. Indy apologizes for her sister’s death, and Gina asks about Indy’s love life. He mentions Marion but admits it didn’t work out. Suddenly, fascists attack, and the two escape with the help of a woman named Pailin, who takes them to her village.

Pailin is wary of Indy, assuming he’s after artifacts like Voss. However, after Indy shows them one of the stones, they trust him and agree to help. They provide a boat for Indy to use in his quest to stop Voss and the Nazis. Indy buys an underwater breather so he can swim in the water-filled region that lies ahead.

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Side Quest:

Indy investigates some explosions and discovers the Nazis are digging faster with explosives. He finds a blonde-haired archaeologist who insists she knows him, but Indy doesn’t recognize her. They explore together, and she reveals she works for Voss. Indy isn’t impressed, calling Voss a Nazi and a sloppy archaeologist. The archaeologist is surprised, noting that Voss was extremely interested when she mentioned Indy’s name.

Indy and the archaeologist locate the statue she was after. After receiving a compliment from Indy, they have to work together to turn two levers, but when Indy turns his, he falls into a trapdoor. He tries to hold on for dear life, but she doesn’t help him up. Instead, she berates him, saying that if he had recognized her skills, he wouldn’t be in this situation. “Class dismissed, Professor Jones,” she adds before stomping on his hand, causing him to fall.

Indy escapes the cave and reaches a door, but hears someone screaming in pain. To his horror, he finds a severed hand and the statue. The woman had lost her arm because of her cockiness. Indy returns the statue to town, and Pailin asks about the missing woman. Indy cryptically replies, “She bit off more than she could chew.”

Meanwhile, Indy and Gina discover an underground chamber with a tower. Indy climbs it, only to find a giant snake, which he battles. Eventually, he reaches the top and opens a door for Gina. They solve a puzzle involving moving stones and wooden poles to open another door.

Suddenly, Locus appears, and they begin to fight. Just then, the giant snake attacks them. Locus grabs the snake, but Indy throws a trident at its mouth to stop it. The fight continues until Locus has Indy in a chokehold. Gina interrupts, telling them both to stop acting like children.

Indy and Locus, despite their differences, realize they must team up to stop the true enemies. Locus insists she must atone for her ancestors, but Indy argues they’re both stuck in the past. After a brief struggle, Indy knocks out Locus and praises Gina for the distraction, though she is serious about her stance.

As they approach the climax, Indy and Gina discover a hidden chamber beneath a temple. Inside, they find an ancient board game that requires more players. Indy recruits the townsfolk to help, and they manage to unlock a door, retrieving one of the stones. However, the temple begins collapsing, and they rush to escape.

Once outside, Locus confronts them, demanding the second stone. Indy reluctantly hands it over, and just as Locus speaks of his envy, Voss arrives with his men. Voss mocks Indy and the loss of Gina’s sister before ordering his men to fire on them. They take cover behind pillars. Locus, unexpectedly, sides with Indy, lifting a giant stone to block the gunfire and telling them to escape through a small hole. The trio narrowly avoids the bullets and is rescued by a resistance group, who begins firing at the Nazis.

The group escapes to a boat, with Gina steering while Indy uses the boat’s guns to shoot at the Nazis. During the chase, Gina asks Locus why he helped them, and he reveals he chose the lesser evil—preventing Voss from obtaining the stones.

However, things take a turn when they reach a waterfall. Gina, unable to swim, is swept away and captured by Voss and the Nazis. Indy rushes to save her but is too late. Locus arrives and vows to help Indy retrieve Gina. They head to the Nazi campsite in Iraq, where Locus silently takes out a Nazi guard, impressing Indy with his strength.

Indy jokes, but Locus remains focused, telling him to save Gina and leave. As Indy sets off to rescue her, Locus hears a familiar whistle and says, “My people have come,” leaving Indy to wonder what’s next.

Indy and Locus sneak into a mine to stop Voss’s plans, where they open a giant door to reveal Noah’s Ark, connecting the Great Circle to biblical legend. Inside, Indy finds Voss, who has knocked out Locus. Voss confronts Indy, holding a gun to his head, and mocks him by claiming to be trained in karate. He reveals that while Indy found the Ark of the Covenant, he has found Noah’s Ark and intends to use it for his purposes.

Voss explains his plan, but Indy remains skeptical. He presses Voss for information about Gina, leading to the revelation that her sister chose to die rather than let Voss have the stones. As Gina arrives with Voss’s empty gun, the Nazis capture both Indy and Gina. Voss taunts Indy, declaring he’s always in control, before dragging Noah’s Ark out to the ocean using trains, though how it’s done is left unexplained.

Voss plans to use the Ark to teleport Nazis anywhere, including potentially to Indy’s college, ensuring their victory in the war. He begins inserting the stones into the Ark’s wheel and recites the incantations. At first, nothing happens, but soon a storm brews, and lightning strikes, signaling the awakening of the Ark’s power.

As the storm rages, Voss frantically demands to know what’s happening. Locus reveals it’s the Great Flood, and Voss, unable to take responsibility, blames Indy for ruining his plans. He accuses Indy of sabotaging him out of jealousy.

A fight ensues between Indy and Voss, and the flood forces them onto the side of the Ark, where they dangle from a whip. Voss boasts about his karate skills as they exchange kicks, but eventually, they’re both pulled back onto the Ark. Voss moves to the Ark’s wheel, where Locus is absorbing the power of the Ark.

A confrontation ensues between Voss and Locus, with Voss shouting, “This is my Ark!” Locus warns him again, but Voss refuses to back down. Suddenly, a laser shoots out from the wheel, hitting Voss and levitating him. The energy burns his eyes and skin, transforming him into a mummy-like figure before the laser dissipates. Voss falls, lifeless, onto the Ark.

Locus tells Indy to get off the Ark before jumping into the water. Indy and Gina escape just as Locus steers Noah’s Ark into a bright portal, disappearing into another dimension.

The game ends with Indy and Gina washed ashore. She asks if Locus survived, and Indy answers he has no idea. They part ways, with Gina heading off to continue her work while Indy boards her plane. Before leaving, Gina kisses Indy and encourages him to find her after the war. As Indy walks away into the sunset, the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark music swells, bringing the story to a close.

All the while the credits start rolling, the end. Woah I loved this experience, I hope y’all enjoyed it as well. Please go buy this game, we need more Indy games like this, I’d be down for the future of Indiana Jones to be games.

Anyway, that’s all folks, hope y’all enjoyed this review.