Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2024. MachineGames’ latest title sends the famous archaeologist around the world for another exhilarating adventure, combining elements of stealth, combat, and puzzle gameplay.
If you’ve just finished Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and are looking for something similar to satisfy the same urge, why not try out some of these action-adventure games from over the years?
Wolfenstein: The New Order
MachineGames doesn’t have a monopoly on the “fighting Nazis” niche, but it does it as well as any developer out there right now. Before Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the studio was putting a modern spin on a classic franchise with Wolfenstein: The New Order.
This 2014 game spawned several sequels, but the original is well worth revisiting. Wolfenstein: The New Order takes place in an alternate timeline where Nazi Germany won WW2, and you’re there to fight back. In this sense, it scratches the same itch as the new Indy game.
Tomb Raider (2013)
Lara Croft is the closest thing we have to a female Indiana Jones, but there’s a lot more than that to her, too. Nothing shows this off better than 2013’s Tomb Raider, a gritty reboot that sees Croft fight to survive on the dangerous island of Yamatai. In classic adventurer fashion, you’ll also raid ancient tombs and solve complex puzzles, making it a great complement coming off the back of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider is the start of a trilogy, but I recommend starting at the beginning. In terms of tone, it’s most similar to Indiana Jones, but all three titles hold up extremely well if Tomb Raider tickles your fancy.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End has you solving puzzles from a third-person perspective with a mix of stealth, melee, and firearms combat while hunting for treasure on a worldwide adventure. It’s an Indiana Jones game in all but name.
While I’d recommend playing the first three Uncharted games, you can definitely jump in with A Thief’s End. You’ll learn more about the overarching story and characters by revisiting the older titles, but if you’re after something similar to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, you’ll still have plenty of fun with this as a standalone title.
The Last Guardian
After years of delays, The Last Guardian was finally released in 2016. It was worth the wait, telling the touching story of an unnamed boy and his adventure with his huge dog-like companion, Trico.
There’s almost no typical combat in The Last Guardian. Instead, you must use your wits to solve puzzles to keep the boy and Trico alive throughout the trials they face on their adventure. It’s a change of pace from something like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but the puzzle gameplay gives them a surprising amount in common.
Dishonored
Dishonored is a game that will make you think about every action you take. Every situation has multiple solutions and gives you ample time to prepare before you make your move. Will you meticulously eliminate your enemies stealthily or go in swinging? It’s up to you to decide.
While 2012’s Dishonored embraces a grittier aesthetic and more fantasy elements than Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s difficult to imagine liking one and not the other. They share many strands of DNA.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
While Assassin’s Creed Origins is technically an RPG, it has all the hallmarks of an excellent action-adventure game. Explore the beautifully rendered Ancient Egypt as Bayek, founder of the Hidden Ones, as you attempt to avenge the death of your son.
Indy fans will find the tomb and pyramid exploration here a lot of fun, but that’s only a minor part of what Assassin’s Creed Origins has to offer. Some might even say it’s too big, given the enormous size of the open world to explore.
Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb
If you’re craving Indiana Jones, what better way to scratch the itch than to play another Indiana Jones game? In terms of style, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb is the closest you’re getting to The Great Circle, a third-person action game that takes Indy through a series of dank crypts around the world.
With clunky controls and a camera that is a nightmare to control, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb feels every bit like a game released in 2003. But it captures the spirit of Indiana Jones as well as anything, and isn’t that what really matters?
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order offers a surprising amount of puzzles to solve using the Force. It’s a key pillar of the game’s exploration, which also takes heavy inspiration from Metroidvania games. It’s a surprising mix, but one that works extremely well with the game’s Soulslike combat mechanics.
The Lucas connection between Star Wars and Indiana Jones is clear. If you’re looking for a fresh action-adventure game to lose yourself in off the back of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, you shouldn’t look further than Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, is a blast, too.
Published: Dec 12, 2024 04:24 pm