Indiana Jones' Melee Marvel

MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones title, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will prioritize melee combat over gunfights, according to the development team. Gunplay will take a backseat to a more authentic portrayal of the iconic adventurer.

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

Stealth and Puzzles: Integral Gameplay Elements

In a recent interview with PC Gamer, MachineGames design director Jens Andersson and creative director Axel Torvenius emphasized the game's focus on close-quarters combat, improvised weaponry, and stealth. Their experience with titles like the Wolfenstein series and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay heavily influenced the design.

Andersson stated that Indiana Jones isn't known for gunfights, making a shooter approach unsuitable. Instead, the game will feature visceral hand-to-hand combat, utilizing everyday objects like pots, pans, and even a banjo as improvised weapons. The team aimed to capture Indy's resourceful and somewhat clumsy fighting style, translating his "unlikely hero" persona into engaging gameplay.

Beyond combat, exploration will be a significant component. Inspired by Wolfenstein's blend of linear and open areas, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will offer a mix of guided paths and expansive environments encouraging player agency. Some areas will resemble immersive sims, allowing players multiple approaches to challenges. Andersson described enemy camps where players must infiltrate a main building, offering freedom to explore and strategize.

Stealth mechanics will play a key role, incorporating traditional infiltration alongside a "social stealth" system. Players can discover and utilize disguises to blend in and access restricted areas. Andersson confirmed that each major location will feature various disguises.

Game director Jerk Gustafsson previously told Inverse that gunplay was intentionally minimized. The team prioritized challenging aspects like hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal. The game will also feature challenging puzzles, with some particularly difficult ones being optional to maintain accessibility.