Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 Review

The release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle last year brought the legendary personality back into gaming, offering a faithful take on the beloved character. While Lara Croft and Nathan Drake dominated the treasure-hunting scene in the video game world, Machine Games proved that Indy still has a place in the hearts of many.

Many were skeptical before its release, but what ensued was a well-crafted experience that perfectly captures Indy’s humor and love for adventure. Machine Games’ expertise in first-person gameplay is evident as the game embraced a grounded approach, staying true to the franchise’s spirit.

So, how does it fare on the PS5? It’s about as good as you expect, giving the Uncharted series a run for its money as the treasure-finding action-adventure for Team Blue.

Indy Meets Drake

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers a gripping adventure, beginning with a mysterious individual’s theft of a prized artifact from Marshall College. This sets Indy on a globe-trotting chase, culminating in a race against the Nazis to prevent them from harnessing a dangerous power.

Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game pays homage to the franchise while carving its distinct path. Familiar faces will make an appearance, and the nostalgic opening sequence alone sets the tone for the rest of the game.

If you know Machine Games, these developers are masters of the first-person perspective. Filled with doubt before its release, we’re here to say that it was a wise choice, a departure from the third-person style of Uncharted or Tomb Raider, avoiding inevitable comparisons.

Stealth plays a crucial role in the game, requiring Indy to sneak past foes, use disguises, and rely on melee combat only when necessary. At some point in the game, some higher-ranked enemies will see through Indy’s disguise, prompting our adventurer to be more resourceful with his approach.

Sadly, despite the game’s reliance on staying unseen, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle doesn’t employ many stealth systems players can use. Indy can’t even “take down” enemies from behind unless he has a weapon equipped, requiring a more careful approach from players.

Combat, though simple, is functional, with a stamina-based brawling system and limited firearm options. While it all makes sense as Indy isn’t a master of fisticuffs, players looking for a more action-oriented affair will be disappointed. Firearms aren’t as effective, either, and with ammunition being scarce, Indy will need to utilize his wits and resourcefulness throughout this adventure.

Because of this, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s weakest link is its combat, which may sometimes feel repetitive and unnecessary, as even the whip feels like an afterthought. It is thematically Indiana Jones, which makes the whole feel cohesive, but being unable to handle situations like Drake or Lara might be a friction point for some.

True to his character, Indy isn’t a superhuman action hero. His movements reflect those of an aging archaeologist, so things like climbing and traversal will deplete stamina. It works best as a player to manage expectations and shift their point of view, thinking of the game as something focused on the feeling of adventure rather than something that emphasizes action.

Business Class Travel

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle succeeds in providing players with a refreshing take on the adventure-action genre. Exploration and discovery are at the forefront, and immersion is prioritized over action.

Indy goes on a global expedition to diverse locations like the Vatican and the desert expanse of Gizeh. Each region offers vast environments packed with secrets, side quests, and puzzles, with various areas seamlessly connected without loading screens. Make no mistake, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks fantastic, and the variety of environments on display here really emphasizes the work Machine Games has put into the game.

Players will find that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle greatly rewards curiosity. Through exploration, Indy can take on Field Work and Mysteries that serve as puzzle-solving and narrative-rich side activities. These are mostly rewarding and keep to Indy’s theme quite well, adding richness to the world. Some of these quests will feel required, especially if you’re out to level up your abilities as much as possible.

Character progression relies on Adventure Books, which improve abilities across five categories—Survival, Fitness, Brawling, Combat, and Packing—rather than using a traditional skill tree. Upgrades require Adventure Points (AP), earned through notes, codex fragments, and quest completion.

Traversal remains grounded, featuring climbing, swinging, and swimming without common mechanics like wall-running or a cover system. While some may see this as limiting, the strong storytelling and diverse activities more than make up for it, further reinforcing Machine Games’ objective of treating Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as an adventure game.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the Xbox Series looked fantastic, and the PlayStation version runs equally well. Visually, the game impresses with detailed environments and maintains a steady 60 FPS, remaining virtually bug-free as far as we could tell throughout its 14-16-hour campaign. The haptics provided by DualSense are a nice touch, adding additional immersion to every crack of the whip.

Cast performances are top-notch, but Troy Baker’s portrayal of Indiana Jones is the most impressive. If you didn’t know better, you would undoubtedly mistake Baker as the real deal, and it elevates the whole experience that even the most hardcore of fans would enjoy.

Verdict: Buy it!

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a fantastic addition to the roster of treasure hunters on the PlayStation. Sitting alongside Drake and Lara, Indy elevates the sense of adventure that most similar games tend to lack. This is further enhanced by superb cast performances, especially with Troy Baker as the titular character.

Combat and gameplay are certainly the game’s weakest aspects, and the lack of action may be jarring for some, but if you’re looking for a game that offers an engaging adventure filled with interesting puzzles and side-quests, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers the goods.

*Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.