Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:43:42 AM Wikipedia source
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a 2024 action-adventure game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is based on the Indiana Jones franchise and features an original narrative set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). The story follows archaeologist Indiana Jones in 1937 as he attempts to thwart various groups who are seeking to harness a power connected to the Great Circle, a group of mysterious sites around the world that form a perfect circle on a map. The game is primarily first-person, with third-person being employed for cutscenes and contextual elements such as environmental interaction. The player controls Jones as he navigates through a mix of linear, story-sensitive areas and wider, exploratory landscapes in locations such as Vatican City, the Giza pyramid complex, and Sukhothai. Todd Howard conceived the game's story and served as an executive producer, considering the game a passion project of his. MachineGames was chosen to lead the project because of their experience creating the modern Wolfenstein games, which also involved Nazis as central antagonists. Development of the game lasted for more than five years. It was designed to be an "adventure-first" video game, and the team was particularly inspired by Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992). Its gameplay structure was inspired by Metro Exodus (2019). Troy Baker provides the voice and motion capture of Indiana Jones, and Alessandra Mastronardi, Marios Gavrilis and Tony Todd are featured in supporting roles. Bethesda and MachineGames jointly announced the game's development in January 2021, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. The game was released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S in December 2024. A PlayStation 5 version was released in April 2025, and a Nintendo Switch 2 version is set for release in 2026. The game received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the game's level design, story, the performance of the cast, and its faithfulness to its source materials. Its gameplay, however, received a more moderately positive reception. It attracted more than 4 million players. The game received multiple year-end nominations, including Game of the Year at the D.I.C.E. Awards. It received a downloadable story expansion titled The Order of Giants in September 2025.
Infobox
Tables
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | Win: 87/100XSXS: 86/100PS5: 88/100 |
| OpenCritic | 94% |
| Publication | Score |
| Destructoid | 8/10 |
| Eurogamer | 5/5 |
| Game Informer | 9/10 |
| GameSpot | 9/10 |
| GamesRadar+ | 5/5 |
| IGN | 9/10 |
| PC Gamer (US) | 86/100 |
| VG247 | 5/5 |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
| 2025 | New York Game Awards 2024 | Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year | Nominated | |
| Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game | Nominated | |||
| Statue of Liberty Award for Best World | Nominated | |||
| Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game (Troy Baker) | Won | |||
| 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Game of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Adventure Game of the Year | Won | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Character (Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones) | Won | |||
| Outstanding Achievement in Story | Won | |||
| Outstanding Technical Achievement | Nominated | |||
| NAVGTR Awards 2024 | Art Direction, Period Influence | Won | ||
| Gameplay Design, Franchise | Won | |||
| Game, Franchise Adventure | Won | |||
| Original Dramatic Score, Franchise | Won | |||
| Performance in a Drama, Lead (Troy Baker) | Won | |||
| Performance in a Drama, Supporting (Alessandra Mastronardi) | Won | |||
| Performance in a Drama, Supporting (Marios Gavrilis) | Nominated | |||
| ASCAP Award | Video Game Score of the Year | Nominated | ||
| International Film Music Critics Association Award | Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media | Won | ||
| 17th Nordic Game Awards | Nordic Game of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Audio | Won | |||
| Golden Joystick Awards | Ultimate Game of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Lead Performer (Troy Baker) | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Performer (Marios Gavrilis) | Nominated | |||
| Best Game Expansion (The Order of Giants) | Nominated | |||
| 16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Score – Video Game (Console & PC) | Nominated | ||
| The Game Awards 2025 | Best Action/Adventure Game | Pending | ||
| Best Performance (Troy Baker) | Pending | |||
| 2026 | 68th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media | Pending |
References
- The Last of Ushttps://ew.com/indiana-jones-troy-baker-the-great-circle-exclusive-8426963
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/thank-god-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-is-first-person/
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-accessibility-options-let-you-tweak-how-many-enemies-you-face
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-hands-on-preview
- PCGamesNhttps://www.pcgamesn.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/missions-quests
- Hardcore Gamerhttps://hardcoregamer.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-tips-and-tricks-we-wish-we-knew-sooner/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/before-googling-for-a-guide-in-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-give-the-in-game-hint-system-a-try-its-genuinely-the-best-one-ive-ever-seen-in-a-game/
- Polygonhttps://www.polygon.com/gaming/500739/indiana-jones-great-circle-burn-fascist-propaganda-lighter
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/gallery/indiana-jones-great-circle-serpents-chest/2900-6061/#3
- VentureBeathttps://venturebeat.com/games/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-an-old-school-adventure-with-action-stealth-preview/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/after-three-hours-with-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-i-dont-think-its-the-grand-adventure-machinegames-is-pitching-its-just-a-fairly-basic-stealth-game/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/gallery/indiana-jones-great-circle-tips-to-know-before-you-play-beginners-guide/2900-6016/#3
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/games-of-2024-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-had-this-years-most-approachable-high-stakes-stealth
- Rock, Paper, Shotgunhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review-a-grand-adventure-that-keeps-faith-with-the-movies
- GamesRadarhttps://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-tips/
- Hardcore Gamerhttps://hardcoregamer.com/indiana-jones-great-circle-how-to-fight/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/first-pitched-game-lucas-2009-todd-howard-talks-indiana-jones/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/todd-howard-indiana-jones-game-george-lucas-machinegames
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/elder-scrolls-boss-todd-howard-clarifies-his-involvement-in-new-indiana-jones-game/1100-6497886/
- Polygonhttps://www.polygon.com/23486642/bethesda-indiana-jones-video-game-machinegames-todd-howard
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/todd-howard-says-bethesdas-indiana-jones-game-is-a-definite-love-letter-dating-from-2009
- Polygonhttps://www.polygon.com/2016/8/18/12514296/disney-game-industry-history/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-preview-video-game-plot-details-1236233902/
- Gameindustry.bizhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/disney-hires-former-playstation-portfolio-boss-to-head-up-games-licensing
- Wiredhttps://www.wired.com/story/lucasfilm-games-star-wars-ubisoft-indiana-jones-bethesda/
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/bethesda-indiana-jones-gaming-classics
- Video Games Chroniclehttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-darkness-chronicles-of-riddick-director-joins-indiana-jones-team/
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/the-darkness-and-chronicles-of-riddick-lead-designer-joins-machinegames-indiana-jones
- Nocliphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsxTQvo5QhM
- Wiredhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/how-machinegames-filled-a-gap-in-indiana-jones-history-interview/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-devs-say-an-indy-game-could-never-be-a-shooter-should-never-be-a-shooter-so-they-re-embracing-his-signature-whip-improvised-brawls-and-disguise-based-stealth-instead/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/whipping-up-a-storm-how-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-took-big-last-minute-changes-on-the-chin-to-become-a-hit-with-critics-and-players
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-dev-explains-decision-to-go-first-person-over-third-person
- GamesRadarhttps://www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-devs-put-a-focus-on-the-danger-level-of-using-guns-because-indy-doesnt-have-superpowers/
- TechRadarhttps://www.techradar.com/gaming/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-let-me-pelt-nazis-with-bottles-shovels-and-various-foods-in-short-it-absolutely-rocks
- GamesRadarhttps://www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/from-playing-dress-up-to-whipping-everything-in-sight-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-is-driven-by-one-question-what-would-indiana-jones-do/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/wolfenstein-developer-is-doing-more-than-just-making-an-indiana-jones-game/1100-6526313/
- Gameindustry.bizhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circles-jens-andersson-on-defining-a-machinegames-adventure
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-hands-on-preview
- Game Developerhttps://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/in-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-machinegames-wants-players-to-improvise-like-indy
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-will-have-challenging-puzzles-but-also-a-creative-hint-system-through-indys-camera-we-dont-want-you-to-go-to-youtube-to-look-up-the-solution-because-thats-immersion-breaking-and-bad/
- Xbox Wirehttps://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/12/02/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-puzzles-interview/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2024/12/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-director-interview-1236240994/
- VentureBeathttps://gamesbeat.com/how-machine-games-balanced-action-and-comedy-in-the-indiana-jones-video-game-interview/
- Xbox Wirehttps://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/11/25/indiana-jones-great-circle-recreating-movie-magic-interview/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-has-a-face-melting-4-hours-of-cutscenes-this-is-the-biggest-and-longest-game-that-machine-games-have-ever-done/
- Video Games Chroniclehttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-includes-warning-denouncing-nazis/
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/indiana-jones-todd-howard-bethesda-troy-baker-1235146294/
- BBChttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn08epwy152o
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-devs-interview-machine-games-lucasfilm-games
- How Troy Baker became Indiana Jones in MachineGames' The Great Circle | BAFTAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqCa62gLW8c
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/becoming-voss-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-marios-gavrilis-interview
- Sounds of Adventure: The Making of Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3foAfyNHQEM
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-trailer-breakdown-setting-timeline-and-easter-eggs-explained
- VideoGamerhttps://www.videogamer.com/news/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-is-the-official-name-of-machinegames-indy-game/
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/2023/6/22/23770141/bethesda-indiana-jones-game-xbox-pc-exclusive
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/machinegames-indiana-jones-game-was-originally-planned-for-release-on-ps5
- Pure Xboxhttps://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/12/disney-addresses-xbox-exclusivity-questions-for-indiana-jones-and-marvels-blade
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/2024/8/20/24224284/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-ps5-release-date
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/news/610817/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-ps5-release-date
- Pure Xboxhttps://www.purexbox.com/news/2024/08/xbox-boss-phil-spencer-comments-on-indiana-jones-ps5-and-microsofts-plan-moving-forward
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-boss-phil-spencer-explains-decision-to-launch-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-on-ps5
- Nintendo Lifehttps://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/08/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-will-launch-on-switch-2-in-2026
- Video Games Chroniclehttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circles-collectors-edition-includes-an-11-inch-globe/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-preorder-guide/1100-6524003/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-dlc-the-order-of-giants-coming-in-september/1100-6532248/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-developers-detail-clever-system-that-increases-the-dlcs-difficulty-based-on-how-much-of-the-base-game-youve-played
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-getting-free-update-with-new-game-plus/1100-6535341/
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/critic-reviews/?platform=pc
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x
- OpenCritichttps://opencritic.com/game/17732/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle
- Destructoidhttps://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review
- Game Informerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/review/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/worthy-of-a-museum
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/reviews/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review-im-making-this-up-as-i-go/1900-6418322/
- GamesRadar+https://www.gamesradar.com/games/adventure/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review/
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review
- The Vergehttps://web.archive.org/web/20241223015322/https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/5/24314376/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review-bethesda-machinegames-xbox
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/feb/12/how-harrison-ford-brought-a-strike-over-use-of-ai-in-video-games-to-the-worlds-attention
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-the-order-of/critic-reviews/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-the-order-of-giants-review
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/reviews/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-the-order-of-giants-dlc-review/1900-6418404/
- Push Squarehttps://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-the-order-of-giants
- GamingBolthttps://gamingbolt.com/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-was-the-2nd-best-selling-game-in-the-us-in-its-launch-week
- Gamereactor UKhttps://www.gamereactor.eu/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-was-the-second-best-selling-game-in-the-us-during-launch-week-1472993/
- Video Game Chronicleshttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-has-been-played-by-over-four-million-players-microsoft-says/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-whips-up-4-million-players-before-ps5-debut/1100-6529145/
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5s-indiana-jones-was-the-weeks-top-seller-but-it-wasnt-in-the-top-15-most-played/1100-6531178/
- VGChttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indiana-jones-is-selling-well-on-ps5-but-isnt-in-the-top-15-most-played-games/
- GamingBolthttps://gamingbolt.com/gamingbolts-game-of-the-year-top-30-games-of-2024
- Associated Presshttps://apnews.com/article/best-video-games-2024-f44b073817595b741e714b1968101e45
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/dec/19/the-20-best-video-games-of-2024
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/the-50-best-games-of-2024-ranked
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/new-york-game-awards-2024-nominations-nominees-1236268416/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/new-york-game-awards-2025-winners-the-full-list
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/dice-awards-2025-winners-the-full-list
- interactive.orghttps://www.interactive.org/awards/i92j428th_annual_dice_awards_results_93io35.asp
- NAVGTRhttps://navgtr.org/2024-indiana-jones-and-metaphor-refantazio-tie-for-most-wins/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2025-ascap-composers-choice-awards-nominations-list-1235908506/
- IFMCA: International Film Music Critics Associationhttps://filmmusiccritics.org/2025/02/ifmca-award-winners-2024/
- Gameindustry.bizhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-wins-big-at-the-nordic-game-awards-2025
- GamesRadar+https://www.gamesradar.com/games/events-conferences/clair-obscur-expedition-33-leads-the-golden-joystick-award-2025-charge-for-most-nominations-nudging-out-death-stranding-2-ghost-of-yotei-and-kingdom-come-deliverance-2/
- Push Squarehttps://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/11/clair-obscur-ghost-of-yotei-and-more-battle-for-golden-joysticks-ultimate-game-of-the-year-award
- TheGamerhttps://www.thegamer.com/golden-joystick-awards-2025-all-winners/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2025/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2025-winners-list-golden-sinners-1236623914/
- VGChttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/clair-obscur-and-playstation-leads-the-game-awards-2025-nominations/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/music/news/grammy-nominations-2026-complete-list-kendrick-lamar-gaga-1236572363/
- Retbithttps://www.retbit.com/2024/12/18/will-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-get-a-sequel-theres-a-lot-of-space-in-between-the-films-where-we-could-tell-more-and-more-stories-lucasfilm-says/