Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 Review

Let’s get this out of the way — I’ve waited years for an Indiana Jones game that felt like the real deal and is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle everything I wanted and needed? Not a clunky tie-in, not a half-baked mobile cash grab, but a genuine, heart-pounding adventure. So when MachineGames, known for the story-rich Wolfenstein reboots, took the helm, I was cautiously optimistic.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve finished Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5 — and wow. Not only does it capture the magic of Indy’s cinematic legacy, but it also delivers a rock-solid, immersive gameplay experience filled with brilliant puzzles, smart storytelling, and iconic whip-cracking action. The game is an unapologetic love letter to the golden age of adventure films, and I loved nearly every minute of it.

Story – Between the Arks and Crusades

Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game smartly places Indy in his prime. He’s still the daring professor we know, but there’s a weariness to him — a man who’s seen too much lost a bit, but hasn’t lost his fire. The plot in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle revolves around the Great Circle — a mysterious theory linking sacred ancient sites like Stonehenge, the Pyramids, and others in a hidden pattern. Naturally, there’s an artefact tied to it, and naturally, there are Nazis (because who else would Indy be punching in the face?) trying to uncover its secrets for sinister reasons.

The story unfolds like a cinematic epic. You’re globe-trotting from Cairo to the Himalayas to Vatican catacombs and beyond. Each location feels distinct, both narratively and visually. What struck me most was how the plot balances spectacle with personal stakes. There are emotional layers here — especially in the quiet moments between Indy and Gina Lombardi, the game’s breakout character.

Gina is brilliant. She’s got sass, brains, and a bit of a mysterious past that unravels throughout the journey. Their chemistry feels earned — never forced — and there’s a real emotional crescendo toward the final acts that gave me goosebumps.

As for the villain? Emmerich Voss is terrifying in the best way. Imagine if Werner Herzog and Rasputin had a baby — that’s Voss. Obsessed with ancient power, he’s not just a standard “evil Nazi” trope — he’s calm, intelligent, and absolutely unhinged by the end. He’s the kind of baddie who gets under your skin.

Gameplay – Tomb Raiding With a Purpose

Mechanically, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a confident mix of exploration, puzzles, combat, and stealth. It doesn’t reinvent the action-adventure genre, but it does nearly everything with style and substance.

Exploration

From the moment I stepped into the first tomb, it was clear: the level design is exceptional. Each environment is layered with hidden pathways, lore, and secrets. I spent nearly 45 minutes just in one early Roman ruin section because I had to uncover every detail — every inscription, every dusty relic. It wasn’t just about loot; it was about understanding the culture MachineGames had painstakingly brought to life.

Puzzles

Let’s talk puzzles — the backbone of any great Indy adventure. Here, they shine. I had to rotate obelisks to match the positions of stars, decode ancient languages using clues found halfway across the world, and align sound frequencies to unlock sealed tombs. These puzzles make you feel clever without being frustrating. One standout sequence had me combining maps from two continents to unlock a vault hidden beneath the Vatican — I genuinely felt like a historian-turned-adventurer.

Combat

The combat is where things get a bit more grounded. Melee is punchy but a little clunky when facing groups. That said, it feels like Indiana Jones — messy, improvisational, and desperate. You’ll grab chairs, throw rocks, use your whip to disarm enemies — it’s scrappy in the best way. You’re not a superhero. You’re a college professor who takes a beating and keeps going.

Stealth adds some much-needed variety. Sneaking through Nazi camps or ancient libraries, hiding in the shadows and knocking out guards, was deeply satisfying. You can also choose how you want to approach encounters — go loud, go silent, or whip your way through it all.

The Whip – Not Just a Gimmick

The whip is more than a tool — it’s an extension of Indy’s identity. You use it for traversal (swinging across gaps, climbing), in combat (disarming or stunning enemies), and in puzzles (flipping switches, snagging hard-to-reach levers). Mastering it felt rewarding — especially when I chained together a whip swing into a takedown, then yanked a Nazi off a ledge in one smooth combo. It never got old.

DualSense and Technical Polish

On PS5, this game absolutely sings. Ray-traced lighting brings every crypt and catacomb to life. Dust swirls in torchlight. Ancient murals shimmer with detail. Water reflections in underground temples are eerily realistic. It’s a visual feast.

And then there’s the DualSense controller — a game-changer. Haptic feedback lets you feel every collapsing wall, each cautious step on unstable ground, and the weight of pulling open heavy stone doors. The adaptive triggers tighten when you draw your whip, and you feel tension build as you hold it taut. I can’t imagine playing this on anything but PS5.

Personal Moments That Stuck With Me

• The Vatican heist: Not only a brilliant puzzle sequence but narratively powerful, revealing deeper truths about Indy’s regrets.
• Snowstorm in Tibet: I was genuinely tense as I inched along a crumbling ledge in a whiteout. A masterclass in atmosphere.
• Final confrontation with Voss: Without spoiling anything, this scene was haunting. A mixture of awe, fear, and sadness.

Character Work

MachineGames did a brilliant job creating strong female characters without turning them into clichés. Gina is smart, resourceful, and emotionally complex. There’s also great diversity in the cast and side characters, from Middle Eastern scholars to Tibetan monks. It never feels forced — just authentic and respectful to the global scope of the story.

Final Verdict – A Whip-Smart, World-Class Adventure

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is more than a great licensed game — it’s one of the best action-adventure experiences I’ve had in years. It nails the Indy tone while carving its own path, offering deep gameplay, memorable characters, and a rich, globe-trotting narrative that never overstays its welcome.

Whether you’re a diehard Indy fan or just someone looking for a fantastic narrative-driven game, this belongs in your collection. Not in a museum.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Trailer

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The code was provided by the distributor.

I reviewed it, and then it was edited by my partner.