MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will prioritize close-quarters combat over gunfights, according to the development team. This design choice reflects the iconic adventurer's character.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Focus on Hand-to-Hand Combat

Stealth and Puzzles: Key Gameplay Pillars

In a recent interview with PC Gamer, MachineGames' design director and creative director detailed the game's gameplay mechanics. Inspired by their work on titles like Wolfenstein and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, the developers emphasized hand-to-hand combat, improvised weaponry, and stealth.

"Indiana Jones isn't known for gunfights," explained the design director. "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. Players can expect to utilize everyday objects – pots, pans, even banjos – as makeshift weapons. The goal is to capture Indy's resourceful and somewhat clumsy heroism in the game's mechanics.

Beyond combat, exploration will be a significant component. The game blends linear and open environments, similar to the Wolfenstein series, offering a mix of guided paths and expansive areas for exploration. Some areas will allow for more open-ended problem-solving, approaching the style of immersive sims. Players will have the freedom to approach challenges in various ways.

Stealth plays a crucial role, incorporating both traditional infiltration and a novel "social stealth" system. Players can acquire disguises to blend in and access restricted areas. The design director confirmed that numerous disguises will be available in each significant location.

In a prior interview with Inverse, the game director highlighted the deliberate downplaying of gunplay. The focus from the outset was on hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal. The team tackled these challenging aspects first. The game will also include challenging puzzles, with some particularly difficult ones offered as optional content to maintain accessibility.