Published Nov 13, 2026, 3:00 PM EST
Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.
There's arguably no adventure franchise out there that has stood the test of time quite like Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford's quick-witted, snarky archaeologist (snark-aeologist?) first burst onto the scene in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, kicking off one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. From the unforgettable opening sequence and "bad dates" in Raiders to the mine cart chase in Temple of Doom and the father-son dynamic with Sean Connery in The Last Crusade, the original trilogy is packed with moments that have become permanent fixtures of the cultural zeitgeist.
Although the franchise's more recent installments have proven divisive, there's a reason the original films are still held in such high esteem more than four decades later. Indiana Jones remains one of cinema's greatest action heroes, though the franchise's future is uncertain as Harrison Ford gets older and recapturing the magic of the original films becomes increasingly difficult.
Now, however, Indiana Jones is officially returning in The Emperor's Tomb, an adventure set in 1935 that serves as a prequel to Temple of Doom, exploring another chapter of Indy's legendary career.
Indiana Jones is officially back in Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, with the classic 2003 action-adventure joining Xbox's newly expanded backward compatibility lineup on PC (via PureXBOX). As part of Xbox's 25th anniversary celebrations, Microsoft announced that 21 original Xbox games became available on PC on November 12, bringing the total to 25. While The Emperor's Tomb has been available on PC for years, this marks another way for players to experience the nostalgic classic.
Originally developed by The Collective and published by LucasArts in 2003, The Emperor's Tomb takes place in 1935, serving as a direct prequel to Temple of Doom. The story follows Indy as he searches for the Heart of the Dragon, a mystical black pearl buried alongside China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Naturally, the Nazis are also after the artifact, setting up another globe-trotting adventure packed with ancient mysteries and danger.
The game kicks off in the jungles of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), exploring ancient temples before traveling to a medieval castle in Prague. From there, the adventure takes Indy to Istanbul, the bustling streets of Hong Kong, and the fictional island of Peng Lai, and eventually he reaches the Emperor's Tomb itself.
Interestingly, the connection to Temple of Doom goes beyond the setting and timeline, with Indy's companion Wu Han making an appearance, while the game's ending directly sets up the assignment involving Lao Che and Nurhachi's remains that lead into the film's iconic opening sequence in Shanghai.
The Emperor's Tomb is just one of several nostalgic classics returning through Xbox's expanded PC backward compatibility program. Other major additions include The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, both original Star Wars Battlefront games, and TimeSplitters 2 and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. All supported titles now offer mouse-and-keyboard controls, while select games are also receiving achievements.
Although The Emperor's Tomb wasn't universally acclaimed when it launched, it was generally well-received, earning a respectable 73 Metascore on Xbox. Critics praised how faithfully it captured the atmosphere of the original films, even if some technical issues held it back. More than two decades later, it's a welcome opportunity to revisit a nostalgic adventure that remains a charming piece of Indiana Jones history.
English (US) ·