For over four decades, Indiana Jones has been synonymous with adventure. Lucasfilm’s Raiders of the Lost Ark thrilled moviegoers back in 1981 with the globe-trotting adventure of archaeologist Indiana Jones and his quest for the Ark of the Covenant, and fans left the cinema eager for the next instalment of the adventures of Doctor Henry Jones Jr., which they would receive in a rather unexpected way…

In 1982, a year after the release of Raiders and two years before 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Raiders of the Lost Ark for the Atari 2600 home video game console released. Designed by Howard Scott Warshaw, the game adapted the blockbuster into 8-bit form to much success and praise.

With the films seemingly concluded with last year’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, history has coincidentally repeated itself with this year’s upcoming video game release; Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, releasing on December 9 for Xbox Series S and X and Windows, and early 2025 for PS5.

ACROSS THE GLOBE

The story is set in 1937, between the events of Raiders and The Last Crusade, after separating from Marion Ravenwood. Indy uncovers a conspiracy connecting historical sites worldwide, called The Great Circle.

After falling asleep at his desk in Marshall College, Indy wakes up to the sound of a sudden crash. He finds a bulky intruder named Locus stealing an artefact of insignificant value. After a brief altercation, Indy sets off to Vatican City to start the search for truth.

His journey will take him to several locations, such as the aforementioned Vatican City in Italy, the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, and the ruins of the Sukhothai Kingdom in Thailand. Indy must contend with Emmerich Voss and his forces, who will stop at nothing to claim the ancient power connected to The Great Circle. Voss and Gina Lombardi, an investigative journalist who joins Indy’s quest, are new characters to the franchise, made exclusively for the game.

It is highly speculated that beloved characters from the franchise will appear due to the 1937 time period and the featured locations. This speculation is fuelled by the surprise appearance of Indiana’s close friend and Dean of Marshall College, Marcus Brody, in the initial reveal trailer. Hence why it’s not far-fetched that Sallah (hopefully voiced by the great John Rhys-Davies) may cameo when Indy visits Egypt, for example.

BEHIND THE ADVENTURE

The Great Circle is a collaboration between Lucasfilm Games, publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer MachineGames. Bethesda Game Studios Game Director Todd Howard (parent company of Bethesda Softworks) serves as Executive Producer. The team at MachineGames, best known for the recent entries in the Wolfenstein franchise, is the perfect choice for crafting a playable cinematic period piece based on the famed archaeologist.

Voice talent and music are crucial to delivering an authentic Indiana Jones experience. The cast includes Supanova alum Troy Baker as Indiana Jones, the late Tony Todd as Locus, Alessandra Mastronardi as Gina Lombardi and Marios Gavrilis as Emmerich Voss. The soundtrack is in good hands with composer Gordy Haab, who previously conducted the game scores for the Star Wars Jedi series and 2009’s Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings.

After the reveal trailer went live, MachinesGames Co-founder and Game Director Jerk Gustafsson sat down with Lucasfilm.com to discuss the project and its inspiration. “One of our goals is to bring Indiana Jones to the high-quality gaming experience of today, while still maintaining the mood and style of the movies made back in the 1980s.”

When asked about the significance of The Great Circle, Gustafsson explained the concept. “A ‘great circle’ is any circle that divides a sphere in half. On Earth, the most well-known one is obviously the equator.” He elaborated, “It turns out there is a very real and mysterious great circle that is not the equator, but one that connects many of history’s greatest historical sites such as Giza, Easter Island, Sukhothai, Nazca, and many more. Their connection has remained a mystery, and this provides the perfect adventure for our game.”

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle promises an immersive globe-trotting experience that captures the essence and authenticity of an Indiana Jones adventure. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, it seems that Dr Jones will have his fortune and glory with this video game blockbuster.