Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was an instant hit for developer MachineGames, as the blockbuster Hollywood film franchise was faithfully adapted into an engaging stealth action adventure. Critics and fans praised it for its stunning visuals, open-ended gameplay, and adoration of the Indiana Jones character. In addition to providing the unusual concept of an original film-to-game adaptation, The Great Circle may revive an extremely influential video game genre that deserves a comeback in 2025 – the immersive simulator, also known as imsim.
Popularized in the 90s and early 2000s, imsim prioritizes player agency through gameplay and a series of simulated systems. Video game designer Warren Spector was one of the key figures in creating some of the best imsims, such as System Shock (which was recently remade into its definitive version), Deus Exand Thief: Deadly Shadows. These games allow the player to approach combat, missions, and various miscellaneous tasks in almost unlimited ways. Although the genre has seen some modern success in titles such as Dishonored, Immersive sims are generally well received critically, but not commercially. The Great Circle may have revived imsim through financial and critical success.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an Imsim at heart
Drawing inspiration from open philosophies
On paper, the concept of Indiana Jones game in 2024 brought to mind the model of adventure games like Unknown. Players expected some exciting, action-packed sequences, but these were generally limited to linear sequences, cinematic storytelling, and restricted gameplay. While The Great Circle presents some of these aspects and may certainly seem Unknown in moments, features more complex gameplay comparable to the works of Arkane Studiosas Dishonored or the beautiful and experimental Deadly cycle. It should not be considered a complete immersive simulator, but The Great Circle it certainly borrows many aspects from the genre's range of characteristics.
The essence of an imsim concerns the player's performance in detailed environments, where all systems interact organically with each other, often in an unpredictable way, and The Great Circle often captures the core of this, as players can approach challenges as desired. Indy can attack a large group of enemies, fighting them all until he is the only conscious character. Alternatively, he can stealthily eliminate enemies by distracting and knocking them out with an improvised weapon such as a broom. Additionally, Indy's whip can be used to cross gaps or manipulate the environment.
This is just a brief summary of what players can expect The Great Circle and your appreciation for immersive sims. Exploration, experimentation and agency are actively encouraged through the systems presented to the player. By capturing the essence of imsims through its gameplay, The Great Circle reminds players why immersive Sims are engaging.
2025 Could Bring More Engaging Sims to the Table
The godfather of Immersive Sims returns in 2025
Despite this reminder of why imsims are so attractive, the genre has fallen short of commercial expectations on many occasions, especially in recent years. One of the biggest voices recently dedicated to immersive simulators was Arkane Austin. Despite critical acclaim Dishonored 2 and Prey, they failed to achieve the expected level of commercial success. The notorious Red Fall It was apparently the end of Arkane Austin, unfortunately, leading to the studio's closure. While it may seem like the end of an era, the immersive simulator's legacy looks set to continue into 2025.
A big moment for immersive sims next year could be the reboot of Perfect Dark. While it's important to note that there is no confirmed release date, the game's trailer revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in summer 2024 suggested a heavy emphasis on environmental interaction, how Joanna Dark was seen using technology to sneak past enemies and parkour to scale buildings.
Warren Spector's newest project, Thick as thieveswas also recently revealed at The Game Awards, which seeks to combine the immersive simulator genre with online PvPvE gameplay. If these projects achieve critical and commercial success, immersive simulators could see a well-deserved comeback in gaming.
Great Circle's design choices should inspire other games
Gamers love creative gaming opportunities
The warm welcome to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle it's a reminder that gamers are willing to engage with complex systems, amid a recent trend toward simple AAA experiences. The Great Circle combines accessible action gameplay and the Hollywood adventure narrative of Indiana Jones movies with the systemic gameplay of imsims. By creating a niche combination of mainstream and indie gaming philosophies, The Great Circle embraces its unique formula. This approach should be noted by other AAA developers, as players are embracing the complex and creative opportunities that The Great Circle presents with its open sequences.
Although it is still important to reflect on The Great Circle inspired by imsims, as opposed to a complete interpretation of one, its adaptive approach to exploration should be noted by other developers. The Great Circle puts Indy in large open areas in his levels, letting the player choose how they want to interact with the narrative. They can simply choose to follow the main story or take a look at all the side missions, first completing so-called Fieldwork and collecting collectibles and upgrades along the way by scouring the map. Deeper involvement is presented freely.
Indiana Jones and the Great CircleCreative philosophy must be observed by developers to reconsider linear design. The game's surprising mix of swashbuckling adventure with systemic interaction highlights that players enjoy immersive simulated experiences. Although this genre has suffered from a poor commercial response and appreciation from developers, experiences such as The Great Circle challenge this notion to suggest that there is an appreciative audience in the modern gaming landscape. 2025 could see similar titles take on the imsim genre once again, as the Perfect Dark restart and Thick as thieves are prepared to provide their own interpretations of open-ended gameplay.
Indiana Jones and the Great CircleThe critical response and fan acclaim underscore an important part of modern gaming: Gamers love it when they are empowered through creative, immersive experiences. Baldur's Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomsome of the best video games released so far in the 2020s, both allow the player to engage with the world as they see fit. Immersive simulators could follow this trend to see the rebirth of one of the most influential genres in video game history.
Sources: Bethesda Softworks/YouTube, Xbox/YouTube, PlayStation/YouTube, Metacritic