One of my favorite games released in 2024 was easily Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. As someone who’s a massive fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, it’s hard to deny just how well it does in immersing players in the life of the world’s greatest archeologist. Everything, from the first-person perspective that switches to third-person in select instances, to the narrative and how it fits into the broader franchise, to the thrilling gameplay, is brought to life so lovingly by MachineGames.
Since the game was released, I have repurchased it on PlayStation 5 and eagerly awaited the release of the DLC, Order of Giants. I finally got my hands on the DLC recently, which adds a brand new and exciting questline to The Great Circle. After almost five hours, while I had a great time with the Order of Giants, there’s a part of me that wonders if it should’ve been included in the base game from the beginning.
Unraveling Another Intriguing Mystery
Right off the bat, it’s worth noting that the process of starting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants is actually more complicated than you might expect. The good news is that, even if you haven’t beaten the game yet, you can still access the DLC. So I figured I would use this opportunity to test out the game on the PlayStation 5, only to realize that in order to actually start the DLC, you have to progress through six hours of the game before the quest randomly appears in your journal. It’s an odd process, but it could’ve been worse.
As you’re exploring the Vatican, you’ll meet Father Ricci, a self-proclaimed conservator who is accompanied by his parrot, Pio. Ricci is attempting to learn more about a figure known as the Nameless Crusader, a giant warrior who fought in the Siege of Antioch. As you unravel the mystery further, you learn that the Nameless Crusader was a member of an order of giants that is very key to the story of The Great Circle. This four-to-five-hour quest focuses on the history and legacy of the order of giants, as well as some new threats you will encounter along the way.
To start with, I really enjoyed the narrative of Order of Giants. It feels like a perfect extension of the story of The Great Circle, as it expands on the mysteries that were left unanswered in the base game. Namely, those of the Nephilim Order, who you learned a little bit about through Locus, played by the late Tony Todd. However, in this DLC, they are the main attraction as you begin to understand who these people were, what their purpose is, and what their past is.
There are some pretty fun twists and turns throughout the story as well. The final act is especially exciting, as you are greeted with the typical “0-100” escalation of the stakes that fans have come to expect from the Indiana Jones franchise. While there aren’t as many side characters in focus compared to the base game, I did really enjoy Father Ricci’s aloof character. Of course, Indiana Jones continues to be brought to life wonderfully by Troy Baker, who captures the intelligence, wit, and heart of the iconic character brilliantly.
This is also a good time to talk about the PlayStation 5 version of the game. When I initially reviewed The Great Circle, I noted some graphical issues due to the Xbox Series S version. I’m pleased to report that all of these issues are null and void with this new version. Even though I played the game on an older 1080p TV, the graphics and performance were absolutely sublime. I had a blast playing with this version of the game, and it allowed me to appreciate the best parts of this game even more.
I also really enjoyed fiddling around with all of the different costumes included in the season pass. It was great being able to see Indy in his Temple of Doom and Last Crusade outfits, and I’m really glad that they were rendered accurately in the cutscenes. Overall, the presentation and narrative of the DLC were absolutely fantastic, and in general, all the additions with the $35 season pass are almost enough to justify the price.
I say almost because, in terms of the actual gameplay and pacing of Order of Giants, it comes up short in several ways. This is mainly due to the fact that the DLC is so short and feels like just another side quest that should’ve been included in the main game.
A Journey That Doesn’t Fulfill Its True Potential
When I initially reviewed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I noted just how brilliant the gameplay loop was. The balance between exploration, puzzles, and combat was handled extremely well, with each phase of gameplay forcing you to experiment in new and creative ways. For the most part, that loop has stayed intact with Order of Giants, save for a lesser emphasis on combat.
You’re going to be solving a lot of puzzles throughout Order of Giants. A lot of these are far tougher than a lot of the riddles you would find throughout the main game, and truly force you to observe your surroundings. I found myself using the camera function more to get some hints, which only made me admire the feature even more. If you’re like me and you struggle a lot with puzzles, you may have some trouble with Order of Giants, but there are thankfully plenty of accessibility options for players.
Exploration, however, is easily the best part of the DLC. In my review of the base game, I mentioned how I wished areas in the Vatican and Egypt allowed you to use vehicles, much like how Thailand lets you use a boat. As you’re exploring outside the Vatican, the game miraculously allows you to use a boat to navigate through the lakes and sewers of Rome as you try to unravel the mysteries of the Nephilim Order. It’s a great addition that really helps to streamline exploration, though I wish it were added to the main game.
As for combat, there isn’t as much emphasis on it compared to the main game, nor are there any new notable additions to the formula. Combat is exactly the same as it is in the main game: there are no new upgrades, no new weapons, and no other shake-ups if you’ve already played through the game. The good news is that, regardless of whether you’re playing the DLC from the beginning of the game or after beating it, the difficulty balances out based on where you’re at in the narrative. Other than that, though, I was fairly disappointed with how the combat was handled in the DLC.
This brings me to my biggest issue with Order of Giants. Despite the cool sequences that you will encounter throughout the narrative, the DLC still feels like just another of the big side quests that are offered in each area of The Great Circle. The quest only lasts four hours, and once it ends, you just move on with the rest of the story. There are no new unlocks, no new features, nothing at all.
This wouldn’t be a problem if this were just a free update or a side quest that was included within the main game from the start. However, the DLC costs $20, and if you buy the season pass, you will be paying $35. This is quite a lot of money for a quest that offers very little extra content beyond Order of Giants itself, especially if you compare it to other DLCs of the same price.
I wish there had been additional new cosmetics or a new feature offered after completion, but alas, beyond the four-hour quest itself, there is no other replayable content that is enough to justify the purchase. As such, I find myself struggling to recommend purchasing Order of Giants.
A Great Adventure Lacking Substance
When I beat Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for the first time last year, I wanted more. I couldn’t wait to see what MachineGames had planned next for the franchise, and I was thrilled when I found out there would be DLC on the way. In many ways, I got exactly what I wanted: more gameplay, more exploration, more puzzles, more story. However, beyond that, there was nothing else of substance within Order of Giants.
There are some massive high moments throughout Order of Giants, don’t get me wrong. I loved the narrative, the new mystery of the Nephilim Order, as well as the new characters that were introduced. Additionally, Troy Baker continues to impress as Indiana Jones himself. Plus, the new puzzles and exploration features are absolutely thrilling and do a great job of making the DLC feel special. Everything else, however, does just the opposite.
The combat is the same as it is in the base game, with no new additions to the formula that differentiate it from the main game. Additionally, even after completing the DLC, there are no further unlocks or incentives to make completion feel satisfying. While Order of Giants fits neatly into the rest of the main story, as such, it feels like just another side quest that should’ve been included in the main game from the beginning.
These issues would be meaningless if the DLC were, in fact, included in the beginning or released as a free update. Instead, Order of Giants costs $20, and if you bought the season pass, you’re paying $35 for content that has no meaningful substance beyond four extra hours of playtime. While you’ll never hear me complaining about another adventure in the Indiana Jones franchise, Order of Giants just feels like a case of wasted potential.
Unless you’re truly desperate for more adventures in the Indiana Jones series, then maybe this purchase will be worth it for you. Otherwise, you may be better off waiting for the inevitable sequel to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Disclaimer: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants was reviewed on PlayStation 5 and purchased by the reviewer.
