Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Sticks to Melee Combat Over Gun Fights

MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones title, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will prioritize close-quarters combat over gunfights, according to the development team. Guns will play a secondary role, reflecting Indy's character.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Hand-to-Hand Combat, Stealth, and Puzzles

A Focus on Immersive Gameplay

In a conversation with PC Gamer, MachineGames' design director and creative director detailed the game's design philosophy. Inspired by their work on Wolfenstein and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, they emphasized hand-to-hand combat, improvised weapons, and stealth mechanics.

"Indiana Jones isn't known for gunfights," the design director explained. "Hand-to-hand combat is much more fitting for his character." The team drew inspiration from Chronicles of Riddick's melee system, adapting it to Indy's unique fighting style. Expect creative combat using everyday objects – pots, pans, even banjos – as weapons. The developers aim to capture Indy's resourceful and somewhat clumsy heroism in the gameplay.

Beyond combat, exploration will be a significant element. The game blends linear and open environments, offering both guided paths and expansive areas for exploration. Some areas will allow for more open-ended problem-solving, resembling an immersive sim experience. Players will have the freedom to tackle challenges in multiple ways.

Stealth plays a crucial role, utilizing traditional infiltration and a novel "social stealth" mechanic. Players can find and use disguises to blend in and gain access to restricted areas. Each significant location will offer various disguises for players to discover.

In a prior interview with Inverse, the game director highlighted the deliberate decision to minimize gunplay. The team focused initially on hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal, tackling the more challenging aspects of the game design first. The game will also feature challenging puzzles, with some particularly difficult ones offered as optional content to maintain accessibility.