Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's PS5 debut is a reminder that licensed games are in rude health

The whip-smart Indiana Jones game from last year is now available on PlayStation, so no player need to miss out on one of the generation’s best licensed games.

This week saw the best |S game come to . Period. But not only is a perfect example of what first-party magic can be achieved when an Xbox Game Studios team is given the time and support it requires, it’s also bona fide evidence that, for the most part, video games based on a movie, TV, and comic book license are currently in a very good place. As a result, alongside and players, owners can enjoy roleplaying as cinema’s most beloved treasure hunter in what is ostensibly a newly unearthed Indiana Jones movie.

I was already sold on developer Machine Games’ take on Indy back when it first launched late last year, dubbing it “an incredible achievement” and “about as faithful a video game translation as you can get” in . Much of the reason why purely comes down to the game’s incredible attention to detail, whereby whipping your way over ledges and across ravines feels snappy, solving environmental puzzles is satisfying, and bonking enemies over the head with blunt objects equally so. Rather than just make a humble exploration game with a bit of stealth thrown in, Machine Games has clearly taken the time not to adapt these otherwise typical gameplay cornerstones in ways that are unexpected – and undeniably Indiana Jones.

Needless to say, if you haven’t played Indiana Jones and the Great Circle already, then the PS5 version that has just released plays and looks just as well. Taking it for a spin again myself, I was especially surprised by just how well haptic feedback and adaptive triggers have been utilised within the console’s controller – something that not every game these days tends to take advantage of. However, here the gamepad will pulse and vibrate accordingly whenever you crack your whip, brush leaves aside, or trade fists with whichever Nazi you bump into next. Such welcome DualSense integration previously wasn’t available even when using the controller on PC, so it’s great to see them added here.

Even as someone who wouldn’t particularly identify themselves as an Indiana Jones fan, the Great Circle’s exceptional treatment of the IP is tough to deny. From the opening sequence that serves as a great bit of fan service as well as a tutorial, to Troy Baker’s uncanny impression of a younger , almost every aspect of the game is judged perfectly. The result is what can easily be considered one of the best licensed games ever. One that not only wonderfully serves existing Indy fans who were there in 1981 when the adventure first began, but also a whole new generation of video game enthusiasts who will definitely be encouraged to at least check out the original Indiana Jones trilogy.

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Fortune and glory

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s PS5 release is emblematic of where the industry is at in terms of licensed video games right now, which I would describe as particularly good. Admittedly, in 2025 we stand decades removed from when underfunded and cash-strapped third-party developers were forced to make cheap tie-ins with the hopes of timing its game’s release alongside a movie or TV show. : Arkham Asylum proved what was possible when games based on beloved franchises were given the time to gestate and intended to stand alone. However, it’s still impressive just how good games have gotten in letting us explore these worlds ever since, especially considering the industry’s recent volatile nature.

Alongside Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we’ve also had the likes of , , and release as evidence that there’s plenty of ways to explore (and in some cases expand) on what fans of these franchises could only experience on a book or screen. And true, while there are still plenty of misjudged stragglers – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League comes to mind – pushed out every so often, for the most part, AAA developers and publishers have realised it’s no longer possible to pull the wool over players’ eyes simply by slapping a logo on a box. Not to mention how much more expensive licensed games tend to be versus original video game franchises… In this sense, the investment is too big for a publisher to simply have it fail.

Every so often, a literal treasure like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes along to prove how an existing universe or brand can be built upon for the better. It’s a game that is unabashedly better because of the IP it’s based on rather than in spite of it, serving as the quintessential Indy experience by serving the best interests of the character through the inclusion of several engrossing city hubs, pitch-perfect audio design, and inventive gameplay. I’m not sure what lies in Machine Games’ future, but I honestly wouldn’t be mad if the studio left this world behind in favour of something else. That way, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could forever stand alone as the true gem it is – now, on all platforms.