Xbox is gearing up for a strong finish to 2024, and one of the titles spearheading the year-end push is Machine Games’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which has received much praise since it was first revealed 3 years ago.

Ahead of Gamescom, we were fortunate enough to be invited to a hands-off preview of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, which is launching on December 9, 2024, on Xbox and PC, and Spring 2025 on PS5. In this hands-off preview, game director Jerk Gustafsson and creative director Axel Torvenius of Machine Games talked to us about the gameplay and how it will bring to life this epic adventure of legendary archaeologist Indiana Jones

Extensive research was conducted to ensure authenticity, from Indiana Jones’ appearance to his iconic whip. “While the majority of the cast was scanned, there was a lot of research placed in Indy’s old material and photos to portray the iconic look by Harrison Ford.”

A new trailer was also released, highlighting more of Indy’s adventures as he navigates mythical tombs and labyrinths. The trailer reintroduces us to two main characters: the intrepid Italian journalist Gina and Indy’s rival, Emmerich Voss, who works for the Third Reich.

“The narrative is from Todd Howard where the story takes place after Raiders of the Lost Ark. A big part of the storyline was to continue Raiders. Indy from the game is what people have seen from Raiders,” addressed the devs regarding the rich narrative told from the trailers.

Crafting An Epic Adventure

“Crafting an adventure in a fictional world with daring locations and marvelous environments wouldn’t be possible or at least that much fun if we didn’t invent our own tantalizing and sacred temples,” asserts Torvenius as we’re able to explore the Sun Sparker Temple in a new video showing Indy traversing through the temple’s corridors after he retrieves an artifact.

In true Indiana Jones fashion, players experience these set pieces firsthand as they and Indy escape the temples’ traps and dangers in an exhilarating race. Indy navigates through corridors, escaping rising quicksand with his iconic whip. The seamless transition between first and third person maintains immersion while balancing practicality, allowing players to orient themselves even in the most hair-raising action scenes.

“As for Indy’s whip, getting it right was immensely tricky. We had to get the whip’s physics and animation components to make it work, including the iconic sound. We had to make sure the scenarios and level design to make it work a particular way.“

“Machine Games is strong in FPS and we feel it is best experienced in first person. To get up close with mysteries and artifacts. It is a perspective that we feel very confident in, to step in the shoes of the character in the most important aspect.”

Moving from the temple exploration, we then transition to a gameplay demo narrated by Pete Ward, the audio director of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. The exploratory component of the game balances out the action-packed scenes of temple traversal and combat. In this phase, Indy will be able to gather clues at his disposal to figure out the next step of his journey.

With this, he can utilize his tools of trade including the camera, his journal, and above all, his deductive mind. With this, he can manipulate puzzles that’ll grant him access to secret areas, which will bring him closer to the Great Circle. All these pieces can be collected into his journal, which serves as both a codex and a notebook to gather Indiana Jones’ thoughts, which makes him the world’s greatest archaeologist.

“Puzzles are a mix of smaller and big complex puzzles. We wanted to make sure that there are rewarding and challenging puzzles that will make players feel smart. We drew inspiration from point-and-click and adventure games. There is also a difficulty selection to make the game more accessible.“

Indy’s continued exploration will likely bring him into contact with allies and enemies. He can collect information, charm his way into purchasing clues from shops, or discover restricted areas using disguises to infiltrate and obtain sought-after clues.

Combat is inevitable as Indy explores dangerous locales. He can move stealthily or engage in open brawls, using his whip, fists, pistol, and environmental items to outsmart opponents and aim for quick finishes.

“Players can hide bodies. We wanted to go back to old games like Riddick so players will experience a mix of playstyles. As regards disguises, they are narrative driven, but the game has a system that will allow players to change outfits at any given time.”

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle of Intrigue and Adventure

When asked whether Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a linear game, the developers answered, “it is a linear game with open-world elements. Some levels are linear and story-driven, some will be open areas that will push discovery. Side quests will be in between, but will contribute to the overarching storyline. Revisiting areas will be allowed.”

Indy can earn adventure points along the way and learn skills from skill books such as True Grit, which allows him to get a second chance when incapacitated. These points can be earned through activities that bring him closer to his goal.

Adventure points were also tackled with how skills are allocated. “Adventure points are used in the skill system. This will encourage players to explore and discover items such as adventure books to improve and update Indy. You can unlock skills that the books hold and adventure points are rewarded to players by exploring and completing activities. It is important for progression and players should feel drawn to explore.

In addition to this, the developers addressed that they are making a game and not a film. “We needed to strike a balance to figure out what parts of Indiana Jones will translate well into the game. We have worked closely with Lucasfilm games, we were in creative discussions to make sure that we are hitting the mark creatively, but also making the game that we want. We want to make things feel grounded, to balance between fun and realism.”

Putting it all together, we’re able to see Indiana Jones in action as he explores the Sphinx in Giza. He finds clues on how to solve the locked temple gate, and while inside the temple, he’s able to traverse through the temple until he enters a catacomb full of scorpions.

“We feel that Indiana Jones will bring a breath of fresh air to the first-person genre. The team has been hard at work to make first-person work. We feel that adventure is the primary component with action in it. We emphasize a lot on the adventure.”

What happens next? I guess we have to get the game to find out!

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is launching on December 9, 2024, on Xbox and PC, and Spring 2025 on PS5