2-Paragraph Review: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Based upon one of the most iconic cinematic universes to date, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could have easily been a game thrown together for praise off of recognizable film elements and good will alone. But, to the delight of myself and pretty much everyone else who’s played it since its December 9th release on Xbox Series X|S and Windows, The Great Circle has quickly proven itself to be very, very far from that breed of underwhelming adaptation. It’s safe to say it stands alone in asserting its quality as an action-adventure-puzzle game, while still tying into the film franchise in all the right ways. 

In fact, it’s hard to avoid rambling when reflecting on everything The Great Circle did well, but here are some of the most standout elements in my eyes. To start, I can’t help but praise the first-person perspective: it has a sort of VR-like quality to it, accentuating the way the environment absorbs you. The phenomenal graphics never lose their magic either, as every room you enter seems made to show off the game’s aesthetics at their full potential. I also have to mention the puzzle elements– since I love atmospheric games, I appreciate that the game’s riddles are just hard enough to get you thinking without being so far-fetched and tedious that you lose all sense of engagement with the story and environment. I would say the exploration and mystery-solving even take precedence over action as far as actual gameplay goes, but in my opinion the swift flow and high quality of the driving story make that discrepancy feel trivial. 

That’s my mini-review of one of the most fun and noteworthy games I’ve honestly ever played! With nearly every detail honed to brilliance and a level of immersion that just can’t be ignored, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a modern masterpiece from every angle, and I think it’s destined to go down in history with the same great legacy as Indy himself.