As anticipation builds for MachineGames’ upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, fans have been eagerly dissecting every morsel of information about the game. However, a recent interview with the game’s design and creative directors at Gamescom 2024 has raised some eyebrows—particularly when it comes to the studio’s choice to make the game a first-person experience.
While the decision to put players directly in the shoes of the iconic adventurer is certainly intriguing, it also raises some questions about how the game will handle one of the series’ most beloved gameplay elements: puzzle-solving.
The Puzzle of First-Person Indiana Jones Puzzles
In the interview with GameRant, design director Jens Andersson and creative director Axel Torvenius talked about the challenges of translating Indiana Jones‘ iconic traps and puzzles into a first-person game. Andersson admitted that it has been a learning process for the studio:
It’s new for us as a studio, so it’s taking a lot of iterations to really find what that is, especially in the Indiana Jones universe and with our gameplay mechanics.
The concern, of course, is that first-person puzzle-solving can be a tricky beast to tame. Without the ability to see the character’s full body and surroundings, players may struggle to navigate the intricate traps and mechanisms that are a hallmark of the Indiana Jones series.
This is where the specter of other iconic adventure franchises looms large. Games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted, which have long been held up as the gold standard for puzzle-platforming gameplay, have always been third-person experiences.
The reason is simple: when you can see your character’s full body and the environment around them, it’s easier to gauge distances, spot important clues, and generally feel more connected to the world.
Andersson acknowledged this challenge, noting that the team has had to completely rethink their approach to puzzle design:
We chose a path — it’s a first-person game — what does a first-person game with this kind of physical interaction mean for us? What kind of puzzles did we want to see?
The answer, it seems, is a mix of “brainy, cerebral puzzles” as well as more physical challenges that involve “moving things around, plugging cogwheels and stuff like that.” But will this be enough to capture the magic of Dr. Jones’ most memorable moments?
The Importance of Iteration
Of course, it’s far too early to write off Indiana Jones and the Great Circle based on a single interview. MachineGames is a talented studio with a proven track record, and it’s clear that they’re taking the challenge of first-person puzzle-solving seriously.
Torvenius emphasized the importance of iteration in the design process, noting that the team has been working hard to create traps and puzzles that feel true to the Indiana Jones universe without being mere “ripoffs” of iconic moments from the films:
Looking at the existing variety of traps that you would see throughout the movies and then dissecting the key components, iterating upon them, and coming up with new traps that would still have the same flavor without being a ripoff. It’s been interesting, for sure.
This iterative approach is key, as it allows the team to experiment with different ideas and mechanics until they find the right balance. And while first-person puzzle-solving may be new territory for MachineGames, it’s not entirely uncharted waters in the gaming world.
Games like Portal and The Talos Principle have shown that first-person puzzles can be incredibly engaging and rewarding when done right. The key is to design challenges that feel intuitive and satisfying to solve, even without the benefit of a third-person perspective.
What do you think about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s first-person approach? Do you think it will enhance the puzzle-solving experience, or do you prefer the tried-and-true third-person perspective? Let us know in the comments below!
