Indiana Jones Sticks to Melee in Latest

MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming action-adventure game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, prioritizes close-quarters combat over gunfights, according to the development team. Guns will play a secondary role.

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 Jens Andersson and creative director Axel Torvenius highlighted the game's emphasis on melee combat, improvised weaponry, and stealth. Drawing inspiration from their work on titles like Wolfenstein and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, they emphasized Indy's unconventional fighting style.

Andersson explained that Indiana Jones isn't a gunslinger; hand-to-hand combat, however, is perfectly in line with the character. While Chronicles of Riddick's melee system served as a foundation, it's been adapted to reflect Indy's unique approach, incorporating everyday objects like pots, pans, and even musical instruments as improvised weapons. The developers aim to capture Indy's resourceful and lucky nature within the gameplay experience.

Beyond combat, players will explore environments blending linear and open areas, similar to Wolfenstein's design. Larger, more open sections offer immersive sim-style gameplay, allowing for multiple approaches to challenges and enemy encounters. Andersson described these areas as containing enemy camps where players must infiltrate buildings, offering freedom of exploration and problem-solving.

Stealth plays a crucial role, combining traditional infiltration techniques with a novel "social stealth" mechanic. Players can discover and use disguises within locations to blend in and access restricted areas. Andersson confirmed that numerous disguises are available in each major location, granting access to otherwise inaccessible areas.

Game director Jerk Gustafsson previously told Inverse that gunplay was deliberately minimized. The team focused on hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal, acknowledging their expertise in shooting mechanics but prioritizing more challenging aspects of first-person gameplay.

The game will also feature complex puzzles, some designed to challenge even experienced players. Gustafsson confirmed the inclusion of difficult, optional puzzles to maintain accessibility while catering to puzzle enthusiasts.