Is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle frustrating to play? In James Whitbrook’s December 5, 2024, Gizmodo/io9 review, yes: he argues that a compelling Indiana Jones story and satisfying puzzles are undermined by sluggish, awkward moment-to-moment play. That is one critic’s forceful verdict, not a consensus view of the game.
What Whitbrook’s headline means
“Every Moment You’re Playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Feels Like Torture” is a deliberately sharp review headline, not a claim that every player will dislike the game. Whitbrook’s central distinction is between watching and playing: he enjoyed the adventure the game tells, but found the actions required to move through it frustrating. Read Whitbrook’s review at Gizmodo.
What the game gets right for this reviewer
Set in 1937 between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the story follows Indy after a break-in at Marshall College. He pursues artifacts connected to the Great Circle with journalist Gina Lombardi, facing rival archaeologist Emmerich Voss. The review describes a globe-spanning adventure that includes Vatican City, Thailand, Giza, and Shanghai.
Whitbrook praises the story’s performances, characters, humor, romance, and cinematic cutscenes. He also singles out the temple puzzles as a strength. Players can take in-game photographs that provide graduated hints, and the game has separate difficulty settings for action and puzzles. His estimate of around 15 hours is a reviewer’s playthrough estimate, not a guaranteed completion time; play style and optional content can affect how long a run takes.
#1 Best Overall
- YOU ARE INDIANA JONES – Live 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 humo
- A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS – Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. 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 ACTION – Indiana’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.
- THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY – Venture 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
Why the play itself wears him down
The critique is aimed at the connective tissue between the story’s highlights. Whitbrook describes interactions that can demand awkward button presses and traversal that feels slow across semi-open areas. Stamina limits constrain both movement and combat, while he finds stealth and the melee and gunplay systems basic rather than engaging.
He also objects to checkpoint punishment and frequent shifts from cutscene to a short playable action and back again. In his view, those interruptions make it harder to feel in control of the adventure. He reports that some puzzle triggers failed to activate even after he had solved the puzzle; that is an account from his review, not an independently verified issue affecting all players.
Rank #2
![Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants - Xbox & Windows 10 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41PiUy++3eL._SL160_.jpg)
- An all-new story chapter takes Indiana Jones to the ancient streets of Rome where forgotten catacombs twist into something far more sinister. Indy must outwit a dangerous cult and decipher intricate puzzles designed by emperors to uncover the dark legacy of the Nephilim giants.
- MYSTERIES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AWAIT When Indiana Jones encounters Father Ricci, a young priest desperate for help to track down a Roman artifact, a standard treasure hunt soon turns into a perilous journey. Along the way Indy must face the sinister plots of Emperor Nero and his gladiator games, the enigmatic Cult of Mithras, and whatever else lurks in the shadows. Can Father Ricci's cryptic knowledge guide Indy through these treacherous passageways? Only Indiana Jones can piece together this breathtaking mystery.
- EXPLORE THE SHADOWS OF ROME Danger awaits as The Order of Giants takes Indiana Jones beyond the walls of Vatican City and into a brand new open-area map in the bustling city of Rome. Adventure through the crumbling ruins of the Colosseum to the pristine Vatican Gardens. The mystery will also take you into Rome’s ancient sewer system, the Cloaca Maxima, and deeper below ground to foreboding crypts.
- A DANGEROUS CULT The secretive, centuries old Cultists of Mithras are everywhere, striking from the shadows. Their dark red robes reflect the blood oaths to their cause, and they’re willing to kill or die to protect the ancient power they serve.
Why other players may weigh the trade-offs differently
Reviews did not converge on one interpretation of the game. In a December 2024 roundup, updated October 27, 2025, Aftermath’s Riley MacLeod highlighted disagreement over how many cutscenes the game has, whether its puzzles are too simple, and whether it works better as an adventure game or as a movie-like experience. Those differences matter: a player who values story, performance, and set-piece presentation may accept stretches that frustrate someone looking for responsive movement and sustained control. Read the Aftermath review roundup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the game is listed and how to check access
Bethesda Support currently lists Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Bethesda describes a digital or physical base game and says the standard edition is included with Xbox Game Pass on its Xbox/Steam edition information. Platform and edition availability can vary; check Bethesda’s current platform and edition information and the applicable regional store or subscription catalog before buying or relying on access through a subscription.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Collector's Edition – Xbox Series X|S and Windows Store [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/511dS3WWolL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Collector’s Edition includes the Allmaker relic replica with game code (base game), The Great Circle 11” Globe with hidden storage, New Adventure journal, jumbo SteelBook, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Story DLC (upon release), digital artbook, and the Temple of Doom Outfit.
- 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.
- Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles.
- Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond.
- Indiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies.
Rank #3
- Discover 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.
- Experience the adventure as Indy in an exciting story filled with exploration, immersive action and intriguing puzzles.
- Journey from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai and beyond.
- Indiana's signature whip remains at the heart of his equipment and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies.
- Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative gameplay and open area maps.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
