Indiana Jones and the Great Circle [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle finally whips its way onto the PlayStation 5, and it’s a triumphant debut for the iconic archaeologist in the modern gaming era. With MachineGames at the helm – best known for their work on the Wolfenstein series – this globe-trotting adventure captures the sense of daring adventuring that the movies were best known for, with the blend of action-focused gameplay, clever puzzling, and tantalising storytelling ensuring that it’s a real treat for PlayStation gamers to get stuck into.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, The Great Circle throws players into a brand-new story that ticks all the right Indy boxes: a stolen artifact, a shadowy Nazi plot, and ancient mysteries begging to be uncovered. What more could you ask for? The central narrative, whilst not especially groundbreaking or original, captures the charm and momentum of a proper Indiana Jones movie, delivering a satisfying blend of heroic action, globe-trotting spectacle, and light-hearted banter.

The plot kicks off with the theft of an artifact from Indy’s college, but of course, leads into a showdown with a Nazi threat across varying locales across the world where the mysteries of each discovery you make slowly unravel. The game perfectly captures an absorbing sense of discovery from the get-go that pushes the story forward, bolstered by engaging dialogue and a genuine sense of wonder in each new location (it’s a gorgeous game but more on that later). While some story beats may feel familiar to longtime fans, the adventure still finds ways to surprise – especially in its later chapters, where the stakes and scale escalate in classic Indiana Jones fashion.

I won’t lie, when I first discovered that the game took a first-person perspective, I was sceptical as to how effective the adventuring would feel. I mean, it felt like the perfect chance for Microsoft to get their own Uncharted, so why would they go first-person? But you know what? MachineGames have made it work exceedingly well. From the detailed environments to the physicality of the combat and exploration, the perspective draws players in perfectly and makes them really feel like they’re taking on the role of Indy himself. The ability to examine every relic, inscription, or trap up close adds to the immersion, whilst the developers even include plenty of cinematic touches to keep things visually reminiscent of the movies.

It feels like Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones would be irreplaceable, but Troy Baker steps into Indy’s boots and absolutely nails the performance. His delivery captures Harrison Ford’s dry wit and grumbling charm perfectly, with the portrayal feeling natural and believable throughout. Credit also goes to the excellent supporting cast, particularly Marios Gavrilis as the villainous Emmerich Voss, who delivers the right balance of menace and madness to be the perfect Nazi villain (what else would you expect from MachineGames though, right?).

“Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures the spirit of the films with flair, delivering a brilliant puzzle-filled adventure that looks the part on the PlayStation 5.”

One thing that’s clear throughout is that MachineGames absolutely nail the whole Indiana Jones-vibe across the presentation of the game. The atmosphere oozes reverence for the movies, from the sound design and musical flourishes to the beautiful locations within the likes of dense jungles or ancient tombs, which don’t only feel like they are lifted straight from Indy’s previous escapades but are also brought to life with a level of visual detail that’s consistently impressive. The PlayStation version showcases this beautifully, running at a steady 60fps with ray-traced lighting and crisp 4K resolution. With minimal bugs, zero crashes, and impressive use of the DualSense controller’s features to help bring the world to life, it’s clear to see it’s a very polished experience that makes the most of what the PlayStation 5 has to offer.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle nails its sense of cinematic presence and visuals then, but what about the gameplay? The campaign is structured around both linear missions and larger open-ended hubs that reward those who venture off the beaten path, with these open areas packed with secrets, side missions, and optional puzzles that add depth to the world. Some of these side quests even enhance the main narrative, giving more context to characters and locations for those who want to invest themselves further in the world (and further incentivising players to get stuck into them).

The puzzling is a real treat too, whether that’s when completing light reflection challenges, decoding ancient scripts, navigating massive stone mechanisms, or simply scouring the environment for hidden secrets to open up pathways. They’re consistently clever without becoming frustrating and help reinforce Indy’s identity as a scholar as much as an adventurer. Solving them genuinely feels rewarding, and whilst I’d never say there was anything too challenging in the game, each enigma kept a smile on my face when playing.

The combat is effective too, though this is where the game can show some signs of weakness. Beating up enemies is fine and there’s a decent set of weaponry to use to your advantage (some conventional, some not so much), but the mechanics themselves can feel a little shallow at times, with melee combat a little clunky in larger encounters and firefights often more chaotic than strategic. Going in guns blazing usually spells disaster, with limited health and imprecise gunplay making combat the least refined aspect of the game. Melee on the other hand could be a little by the numbers, and whilst there is a sense of finesse to one-on-one showdowns, it could feel a little formulaic by the end.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Stealth fares a bit better thanks to its forgiving nature, but it’s also undercut by weak enemy AI that’s easy to predict and exploit. Guards often take far too long to react to your presence, making sneaky takedowns almost too easy, whilst their movement patterns never feel like that of someone who is trying to carefully patrol and watch over an area. Whilst this does play into the light-hearted feel of the franchise, it can also take away some of the tension when stealthily moving through a level.

Does it weaken the experience? Not at all, and there are plenty of set pieces and showdowns where combat can really shine through and make for some of the game’s best moments. It just isn’t always consistent, and whilst there’s nothing bad at all, there will be times where it feels more limited when comparing Indy to the likes of Lara Croft or Nathan Drake.

Developer: MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC
Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/