From "Atari" to "The Great Circle": the best Indiana Jones games

The Desperate Professor franchise has been around for over four decades and has offered players of all ages a plethora of media products. Some have been poorly received by critics and players, others have become timeless classics. The range of consoles on which to play as the famous Indy is vast, from the Atari 2600 and Commodore CDTV to the latest. Despite the fact that the last movie in the series was released in 2008 and was frankly controversial, the developers are not guided solely by movie scripts, and create new adventures. In Izvestia's selection there are several excellent games with original plots as well as those referring to the legendary Indiana Jones movies.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Screenshot from the game Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Photo: Atari

Genre: Adventure

Platform: Atari 2600

When released: 1982

Developer: Atari

This project, based on the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, was the first game about Indiana Jones. The graphics are far from the best of what the Atari 2600 console could boast at the time, but the developers managed to impressively implement action and puzzle elements despite the technical limitations. The player controls a very conventionally drawn Indiana Jones figure and overcomes various obstacles to find the Ark of the Covenant. Unfortunately, the game's release coincided with the catastrophic failure of the game based on the movie Alien, which undeservedly had a negative impact on sales.

Indiana Jones in the Lost Kingdom

Screenshot from the game Indiana Jones in the Lost Kingdom

Photo: Mindscape

Genre: puzzle

Platform: Commodore 64

When released: 1984

Developer: Michael J. Hanson

"Indiana Jones and the Lost Kingdom" was released on the Commodore 64 home computer. The developers focused on puzzles that forced players to think like Dr. Jones. Moreover, no hints were given for the walkthrough. This idea was even reflected on the box: "No one told Indiana Jones the rules. And no one will tell you the rules either. Now, the game is considered the hardest to get through, but can be a real challenge and adventure. Plus, luckily, modern players have the internet to search for clues.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Screenshot from the game Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Photo: Atari

Genre: action

Platforms: PC, arcade machines, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

When released: 1985

Developer: Atari

A hit for arcade machines based on Temple of Doom. Nail-biting but addictive gameplay, good graphics and real music straight from the movie collected lines at arcade machines with this game. Later, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" was ported to home consoles. Players were waiting for battles with enemies, rescuing children and traveling on wagons. Despite the difficulty, it's still worth playing today, especially for those who don't mind hardcore gameplay. The biggest disadvantage of Temple of Fate, which was noted by players at the time of its release, is the very short playthrough time.

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

Screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis game

Photo: LucasFilm Games

Genre: Quest, point-and-click

Platforms: PC, Wii

When released: 1992

Developer: LucasArts

The year is 1939 and World War II is just around the corner. Nazi agents are close to obtaining a weapon more dangerous than the atomic bomb. Only Indiana Jones can stop them before they learn the deadly secret that destroyed Atlantis. Fist fights, puzzles, flying, car chases and Indy's trademark humor await players. This project is recognized as one of the best graphic quests of all time, a true classic of LucasArts games on par with The Secret of Monkey Island and Grim Fandango. At the time of its release, there were even rumors that the game's plot would be the basis for a new movie.

Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

Screenshot from the game Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

Photo: LucasArts

Genre: Action

Platforms: PC, N64, Game Boy Color

When released: 1999

Developers: LucasArts, Factor 5

The first attempt to make Indiana's adventures three-dimensional. Also unexpectedly for the series, the action moved to the Cold War. Indiana confronts Soviet spies and searches for the Tower of Babel. In the game, the standard battles and puzzles are supplemented with platforming elements. There are enough innovations for the series: more challenging puzzles, acrobatics, and expansive levels.

Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

Screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb game

Photo: LucasArts

Genre: Action

Platforms: PC, PS2, Xbox

When released: 2003

Developer: The Collective

An ambitious project with an original story and a variety of locations, from historical to fantasy. The game emphasized the combat system, introducing hand-to-hand combat and allowing you to use elements of the environment to defeat your opponents. The eastern setting and the search for the Dragon Heart artifact expanded the world of Indiana Jones movies, games, and comics. Modern gamers may find it challenging that the game doesn't support checkpoints and you can't save in the middle of a level.

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

Screenshot from Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

Photo: Traveller's Tales

Genre: Adventure, Platformer

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS

When released: 2008-2009

Developer: Traveller's Tales

These games combine the creativity of Lego with the trademark humor and action of Indy's original cinematic adventures that captivated audiences. Lego Indiana Jones follows the adventures of Dr. Jones through the jungles of South America to the mountain peaks of India and references the plots of all the movies. These are some of the most successful Indiana Jones games and some of the best projects in the Lego series in general.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Screenshot from the game Indiana Jones: The Great Circle

Photo: MachineGames

Genre: Action, Adventure

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

When released: 2024

Developer: MachineGames

The game is set in 1937, between the events of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. An archaeologist is sent to the Vatican to investigate the theft of an artifact from Marshall College. In the course of his investigation, he discovers that various holy sites around the globe are arranged in the shape of a circle: in Rome, Thailand, Egypt, and the Himalayas. Together with reporter Gina Lombardi, the hero confronts the villainous manipulator Emmerich Foss.

On "The Great Circle" were placed great gamer expectations, and the game met them. This is a quality project - with exciting gameplay, decent visuals and an interesting story. The game is played from the first person, periodically switching to puzzles, varied and optional. You can go through the game in stealth mode or bravely fight your opponents. In fights Indy, among other things, uses his famous whip.