There is a reason why Indiana Jones remains one of the most iconic adventurers in pop culture. From ancient tombs and hidden relics to globe-trotting action and clever puzzle-solving, the franchise will forever carry a sense of adventure that few others can match.

After making a massive impression on other platforms, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is finally on the Nintendo Switch 2, giving Nintendo players a chance to jump into one of the biggest cinematic adventures in recent years.

Developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game aims to capture everything that made the Indiana Jones iconic while blending it with modern action-adventure gameplay that feels immersive, cinematic and packed with discovery. If you would like to read an in-depth game review, you can find it here.

The story pulls Indy into another globe-spanning mystery involving ancient secrets, dangerous enemies, and a powerful force tied to the mysterious “Great Circle”. As the story unfolds, players travel across a variety of locations filled with puzzles, hidden tombs and cinematic set pieces that pay tribute to the cinematic movie series.

Without diving into spoilers, the narrative does a fantastic job capturing the charm and personality of Indiana Jones, with memorable supporting characters, strong dialogue, and enough twists to keep things interesting throughout the adventure.

It genuinely feels like a lost Indiana Jones movie brought to life. Playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the Nintendo Switch 2 genuinely surprised me with how responsive everything felt. 

One thing I normally struggle with when jumping onto Switch is getting used to the controls again, mainly because I do not play enough on the platform compared to PC or Xbox, so it usually takes me a little while to adjust. Thankfully, the game does a fantastic job easing you into everything during the opening mission, naturally teaching you the mechanics through gameplay, so it does not become overwhelming.

Movement, climbing, combat and using Indy’s iconic whip all feel smooth and well-mapped out, and I never really found myself fighting against the controller. The response times feel sharp, whether I was sneaking around, throwing punches, aiming weapons or interacting with puzzles and environments.

The controls strike the perfect balance between accessibility and depth, making it super easy to pick up. By the time I was a few missions in, the layout felt second nature, which is honestly one of the best compliments for a Switch 2 title.

It absolutely nails the cinematic adventure vibe the series is known for, with a visual style heavily inspired by the classic films. The game leans into those warm, earthy tones, darker underground tombs, dusty ruins and richly detailed historical locations that really sold the feeling of being a globe-trotting adventurer.

All the environments are packed with atmosphere, whether you are exploring ancient temples, sneaking through the enemy compounds, or wandering through busy cities, and the overall presentation does a fantastic job pulling you into the experience.

That being said, the Nintendo Switch 2 does come with some noticeable compromises compared to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions of the game. 

While the art direction still shines through, there are moments when textures look softer, lighting is less polished, and environments and character models don’t quite hit with the same amount of detail as their current-gen counterparts, but it does keep performance stable.

If you have played the other PC/console versions, you will definitely notice the differences, but it does not make the game unplayable by any means. The atmosphere still felt cinematic, and the game continues to capture the adventurous spirit of Indiana Jones.

The audio design does an incredible job capturing the feeling of a classic Indiana Jones adventure. From the sweeping cinematic soundtrack to the quieter environmental sounds inside tombs and ruins, everything works together to make the world feel alive and immersive. The soundtrack especially kicks in during action moments and exploration sequences, which instantly deliver that classic action-packed feeling. I still can’t get over Troy Baker’s performance as Indiana Jones.

He absolutely nailed the role to the point where there were moments it genuinely felt like I was listening to a younger Harrison Ford. The delivery, humour, confidence and the little mannerisms all feel spot on. The game sounded great on the Switch 2, even when using the console’s speakers. If you choose to wear a headset, it sounds no different than if playing it on another console.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the Nintendo Switch 2 is still an incredibly impressive experience despite the expected visual compromises. The cinematic storytelling, satisfying exploration, responsive controls and fantastic audio design all come together to create an adventure that genuinely feels worthy of the Indiana Jones name. While it may not be the definitive version visually, the ability to experience such a massive cinematic adventure on a handheld system is seriously impressive, and it proves just how well the game translates to Nintendo’s latest hardware. 

Written by: Hayden Nelson