Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Switch 2 Review

Indiana Jones may be a cinematic icon, but in gaming, treasure hunting has long been dominated by the likes of Lara Croft and Nathan Drake. With Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Machine Games and Xbox aim to reclaim that space, bringing the beloved professor back into the spotlight.

Launching to a great reception on Xbox Series and PS5, the iconic adventurer now finds his way to the Switch 2, bringing all of his Nazi-punching antics and treasure-hunting escapades to the portable. As with most third-party titles released over the past couple of years, the question now is not whether the console can handle it, but how well it handles the incoming ports.

The answer is that it definitely comes with some obvious visual and performance sacrifices, but as long as you’re willing to take those trade-offs, the overall experience is something that’s rather enjoyable!

A Great Adventure

The game opens in fantastic fashion, as we see Indy through a temple raid that ends in one of those chased-by-a-boulder scenes and transitions to a stolen artifact from Marshall College, sending Indy on a chase that quickly escalates into a globe‑spanning conflict against the Nazis. Based on this alone, you would definitely feel how much the developers leaned into classic Indiana Jones escapades, and it definitely shines through.

Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the narrative pays homage to classic adventures with familiar faces and iconic quotes, all while carving out its own identity. One interesting design choice is the first‑person perspective, a departure from the third‑person style of Uncharted or Tomb Raider. While some may have preferred to see Indy in action, Machine Games’ expertise in first‑person gameplay is definitely the right call, helping the game stand out and avoiding direct comparisons to its genre peers.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle emphasizes stealth over raw encounters, with players relying on disguises, ambushes, and melee takedowns. Indy is not a fighter, so fistfights will be stamina‑based, and firearms will be treated as a backup because of the scarcity of ammo.

Combat, however, is simplistic and occasionally clunky, with the whip feeling underutilized. That being the case, there are many ways Indy can showcase his resourcefulness, especially with items like bottles and other odd objects scattered around. Despite the game lacking flashy mechanics, it makes up for it with authenticity, as seen in instances like Indy struggling to climb, reinforcing his identity as a professor rather than an acrobat.

Exploration is a major highlight in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, with vast zones that encourage puzzle‑solving, side quests, and discovery, and Field Work and Mysteries enrich the world. Areas are vast and hold many secrets and collectibles, and if you choose to look for everything, there’s much to see and do

Progression comes through Adventure Books and points that upgrade abilities across Survival, Fitness, Brawling, Combat, and Packing. Traditional skill trees are not present in this game, so finding these books will be your way of improving Indy’s abilities, such as increasing ammo or health capacity, or improving melee effectiveness. While these won’t make Indy an instant superstar, they are felt incrementally.

Troy Baker’s portrayal of Indiana Jones is another standout, channeling the character’s voice with remarkable authenticity. Ultimately, Machine Games delivers a faithful, immersive adventure that emphasizes exploration and storytelling, proving there’s still fortune and glory to be found in Indy’s world.

Switch 2 Performance

Upon first load, it is easy to see the difference in visual fidelity of the Switch 2 to the Xbox Series/PS5 versions, which is pretty much expected. While the latter has extremely smooth and clean environment textures and character models, the Switch 2 exhibits jagged edges and texture pop-ins, even in docked mode. The Switch 2 version has good-looking character models and lighting, all things considered, but other elements are softer and a bit muddier. That said, it doesn’t discount the fact that the Switch 2 version looks impressive, even at 30 FPS. With 1080p docked and 720p handheld, expect DLSS to improve this.

Playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in handheld mode seems a bit more forgiving, as these impurities are less noticeable. Personally, playing the game on the go was my preferred way to play because the frame rates felt more consistent, and it was great to bring Indy along for bite-sized sessions because some parts of the game, like the Vatican, would be rather lengthy.

And if you choose to do so, you can play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with mouse and gyro controls, adding to the many ways Switch 2 players can choose to approach the game.

Verdict: Buy it!

Overall, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a great time on the Switch 2. Faithful representation of Indy’s escapades, bolstered by superb voice acting and strong performances, ensures that the game captures the spirit of the franchise. While some visual fidelity is understandably lost, the game is still a looker, and getting to play it on the go is always a good thing.

Certain technical limitations and uneven pacing occasionally detract from the immersion, but can be easily overlooked. Still, the Switch 2 outing stands as a worthy addition, offering a portable experience that lets players step into the shoes of the iconic archaeologist.

*Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was reviewed on a Switch 2 with a review code provided by the publisher.