Image : Bethesda Softworks
Does Indiana Jones’ latest adventure open the doors to a new era for licensed games?
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an ambitious addition to an already beloved, if sometimes inconsistent, film franchise, placing players in the boots of the whip-wielding archaeologist. This is not the first time this has happened; Indiana Jones has been the protagonist of an impressive total of 22 video games inspired by his films, 12 of which feature entirely original stories.
Some readers may remember growing up with a few of these games, like 1999’s Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine or 2008’s Lego Indiana Jones. Unfortunately, the archaeologist’s digital adventures began to falter with the fall of LucasArts in 2013.
However, 2024 brought us a 23rd entry in this revered list of adventure games. The Big Circle represents Indy’s return to his roots, as the character has flourished in interactive media, with or without Harrison Ford. In fact, for some time now, this archeology professor has no longer been limited to the big screen. The franchise has become a classic example of transmedia storytelling, with Indiana navigating across multiple mediums and experiences to unearth new kinds of treasures.
There was a time when this was true of most leading figures in popular culture. From heroes like James Bond to Harry Potter, licensed video games have always offered players a familiar way to interact with beloved characters. That was until film studios stopped investing in creating spin-off video games.
What licensed games once looked like
Image : Titus Interactive
Licensed games were commonplace when the video game industry began to develop. Take the example of Superman 64, often considered one of the worst games of all time, but which is only memorable because it’s a Superman game. Restricted budgets, short deadlines, and a general reluctance to take the gaming industry seriously in its early days led to the production of licensed games with little regard for their quality. We expected to have a heroic experience, but found ourselves floating through an endless series of hoops.
For an even more striking illustration of the bad reputation of spin-off games at the time, let’s cite the licensed video game ET the Extra-Terrestrial from Atari, based on the Steven Spielberg film. Despite the film’s warm reception, its video game adaptation was a colossal commercial failure when it was released in 1982. This failure was so resounding that Atari even had to bury tons of unsold ET cartridges in a landfill for s get rid of it. This failure, both commercially and critically, was then followed by a massive collapse of the video game industry in 1983, attributed to excessive market saturation, where most games, like ET, were not of good quality .
Image : Atari
Obviously, the video game industry has rebounded. Video games have become increasingly ambitious as budgets explode and technology advances. Licensed games once evoked failures like ET, but gradually gained interest, such as with Goldeneye 007 in 1997 or Star Wars: TIE Fighter in 1994. However, over the decades, games based on films became rare. The era of games like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) is over; we are now experiencing that of Hogwarts Legacy, containing original stories featuring characters and universes from major franchises.
Why Indiana Jones and the Great Circle works so well
Image : Bethesda Softworks
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is not a film adaptation, even if it could have been in another era. The game was released shortly after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusader, which seemed to bring an end to the character’s appearances on the big screen. However, a game based on a movie would have been a risky endeavor, considering the games’ development time and The Last Crusader’s rather mixed reception.
Bethesda Softworks chose to take a different route with the Grand Circle, bringing together Wolfenstein developer MachineGames and Starfield director Todd Howard to create an all-new adventure set a year after Raiders of the Lost Ark . This allows the game to explain Indy and Marion’s sudden separation following the events of the first film, while exploring the adventures of the archaeologist in his prime, both superstitious and skeptical. Where spin-off games once served as alternative media, Grand Circle takes a modern approach: telling a new story that enriches the legend of an already revered character.
Image : Bethesda Softworks
The success of the Grand Cercle is also based on MachineGames’ absolute loyalty to the Indiana Jones universe. The breakneck pace of Wolfenstein’s gameplay doesn’t quite translate to this game (considering how careful Indy must be when dealing with enemies), but its immersive sequences, detailed environments, and gripping narrative do. You still face Nazis, but in typical Indiana Jones style, where puzzle-solving, exploration, and finding hidden treasures remain the core of the game.
Although there is no Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford, lead actor Troy Baker manages to blend into his role. Despite a busy career in the industry, he shines here with a convincing performance as the famous archaeologist, who is, ultimately, just an excellent imitation of Harrison Ford.
Future of licensed games
The future of Indiana Jones looks bright, even though its lead actor, Harrison Ford, has announced his retirement from the role. Following the success of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Disney has already *held discussions* concerning the creation of new games around Indiana Jones. What was once a film franchise could now evolve into a video game franchise, adapting to contemporary spectator expectations.
This success could be replicated in other film and television franchises. A dynamic is already observable; the developers of Hogwarts Legacy are working on a sequel, while the creators of Hitman are developing a new game based on James Bond. A second part of Alien Isolation is in preparation, as is a smaller adaptation of The Lord of the Rings called Tales of the Shire.
We have yet to explore the many anime adaptations that thrive in the video game realm or the fact that some franchises, like DC Studios, strive to keep their talent and narratives consistent across the films , television and games. On the other hand, Marvel Entertainment seems to favor a strict separation of its universes. Just recently, Marvel Rivals launched its first season, preceding other games like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Marvel’s Wolverine, Iron Man, Black Panther and Marvel’s Blade, all from separate universes.
Licensed games have evolved a lot over the past few decades, but their future remains bright.
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