Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Will Prioritize Problem-Solving Over Combat

Indiana Jones will rely on his brains more than his brawn in the upcoming game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, developers revealed this week.

The latest installment in the Lucasfilm Games franchise was shown off at the Xbox Games Showcase last weekend, featuring a new trailer and details about the story and gameplay.

“‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’ is a proper adventure game,” said Jerk Gustafsson, Game Director at MachineGames, the studio behind the game. “This is a little bit different” from their previous work on the fast-paced shooter franchise Wolfenstein.

In Great Circle, players take on the role of Indiana Jones in a first-person perspective, solving puzzles and exploring exotic locations around the globe. While combat is an option, the developers are emphasizing a more thoughtful approach.

“He solves problems with his mind first and really relies on smarts,” Gustafsson explained. “Choosing the more authentic stealthy Indy route… will be a benefit to the player more times than not.”

The focus on puzzles and exploration reflects the classic Indiana Jones films, where the archaeologist relies on his wit and resourcefulness to overcome challenges.

“We wanted to avoid turning the character we know into a superhero,” Gustafsson said. “He is flawed, he makes mistakes… but he’s also an excellent fighter, and he also has an enormous amount of luck as well.”

The trailer also revealed a new companion for Indy, Gina, and hinted at appearances by familiar faces from the franchise like Marcus Brody. Troy Baker will voice Indiana Jones, with the developers praising his ability to capture the character’s spirit.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is expected to launch later this year for Xbox Series X/S and PC.