TheIndiana Jonesfranchise has had a rough decade or two. Though it’s not perfect, the originalIndiana Jonestrilogy is widely considered to be some of the greatest adventure movies ever made, with an incredibly charismatic central performance from Harrison Ford, great action sequences, and engrossing mysteries. Butthe last twoIndiana Jonesmovieshave been pretty disappointing, and Indy’s video game outings haven’t fared much better. ButIndiana Jones and the Great Circlehas just broken the curse.
Just like the classic movies it so lovingly hearkens back to,Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehas a very strong lead performance from Troy Baker, some riveting action set pieces, and a captivating mystery at its core. It’s the firstIndiana Jonesproject in years to receive an almost universally positive reception, and it’s exactly the win that Xbox Game Pass needed to propel it through to the end of the year.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Ends Xbox Game Pass' 2024 With a Bang
Xbox Game Pass started 2024 on a fairly high note, delivering bothResident Evil 2and3in the first two months of the year, right alongsideAssassin’s Creed Valhalla,Palworld,Persona 3 Reload, andDead Island 2. March addedDiablo 4to the subscription service, marking thefirst Activision-Blizzard game on Xbox Game Passfollowing last year’s acquisition.
Xbox Game Pass' momentum then slowed down a little in the second quarter of the year. But with major AAA releases taking a break, it gave new Indie games some time to shine, such asAnother Crab’s TreasureandManor Lords. May sawSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2hit Xbox Game Pass, and while it was far from a perfect game, it still had some shining qualities.
The rest ofXbox Game Pass' Summerwas decently busy, withFlintlock: The Siege of Dawn,Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, andCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3all being major additions that dropped within days of one another. And then September arrived, beginning a hot streak that’s managed to stay strong ever since.Age of Mythology: Retold,Frostpunk 2,Sifu,Inscryption,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,Flight Simulator 2024,STALKER 2, andNine Solsdelivered back-to-back wins for Xbox Game Pass these last few months.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Is The Perfect Capstone for Xbox Game Pass' Year
A December release is a risky thing in the gaming industry, butIndiana Jones and the Great Circlehas managed to defy expectations and become Xbox Game Pass' swansong for 2024.Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehas received widespread critical praise, and its day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass once again proves the value of the service.
ThoughIndiana Jones and the Great Circleis set to release on PlayStationin Spring 2025, there’s a very real possibility that the current hype surrounding the game’s launch has convinced some eager franchise fans to purchase an Xbox – or at least buy Game Pass – so that they can play it as soon as possible. Regardless,Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehas rounded out Xbox Game Pass' year with a bang, and the future of the subscription service now feels much brighter.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.YOU ARE INDIANA JONESLive the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITSTravel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, you’ll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces.WHIP-CRACKING ACTIONIndiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isn’t just a weapon, it’s Indy’s most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERYVenture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps ,and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery – or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
