How Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's level design enhances its world

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Usually, the past Indiana Jones Video games are very linear. From early LucasArts point-and-click adventures to action games like Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tombwho Lego Indiana Jones games, most adaptations have seen the player control the indie through a set of linear objectives. Many have expected the same Indiana Jones and the Great CircleBut this is a game unlike anything fans of the franchise have seen before.




Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Essentially an immersive sim that sees players dropped into several large, open-ended areas. While players can choose to stick to their main objective and head to each quest marker in a linear fashion, they are given free rein in this open area, an area that contains side quests, collectibles, disguises, and upgrades. And if the quality of those alternative activities wasn't enough to motivate, Indiana Jones and the Great CircleThe interconnected level design is sure to nudge players over the edge.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Great Circle reference

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's level design reinforces the game's immersion


The interconnected nature of the levels of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle seems logical

World design is an important part of the immersive sim genre. For players to thoroughly enjoy its setting, the world of an immersive sim needs to feel like a real living and breathing space that adheres to in-universe logic and rules that are clearly defined through gameplay or plot. An immersive sim's setting cannot feel like it revolves around the player-character and their actions.

Indiana Jones and the Great CircleDifferent settings follow these immersive SIM rules. To combine the game's natural light and shadows, NPC and enemy AI behavior patterns, physics system, and its overall environment The Great CircleThe world feels like a real living and breathing place. Indiana Jones and the Great CircleThe interconnected level design reinforces this feeling.

The layout of Indiana Jones and the Great CircleThe open field seems logical. For example, in indieIn the Vatican, the central courtyard leads to two main areas, which themselves branch off into different alleys and building interiors that players can explore. These areas are then connected by various passages such as underground tunnels, surface-level doors, and rooftop balconies that can be climbed up. All of these connecting paths feel completely natural within the context of the setting, furthering players' immersion in the game world.


The interconnected levels of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gradually make connections with players

A major benefit of good interconnected level design is that it gradually builds a strong connection between the player and the game world. As more players explore an open area and walk down the same connective paths, the level layout they commit to memory. Eventually, players will have enough knowledge of the area's layout to navigate the world without needing to look at the world map themselves.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
A great map is helpful in initially building players' confidence and connection to these open areas.

After exploring the Vatican's chapels, courtyards, gardens, and connecting alleys during the game's opening hours, players will likely know the fastest route to a handful of memorable locations. For example, to get from the courtyard to the excavation site, players who have developed a connection to the game's level design can approach the scaffolding behind the courtyard, climb through the window, and head to the left of the lockbox. Do the puzzle, take a right through the door, and hop onto the balcony on the left.


Because it has a strong connection Indiana Jones and the Great CircleInterconnected level design goes a long way to cementing these locations in the player's mind, and making them memorable video game settings for a long time.

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