Indiana Jones & The Great Circle Could Be The Start Of A Forgotten Game Genre's Comeback

Popularized in the 90s and early 2000s, the imsim prioritizes player agency through gameplay and an array of simulated systems. Video game designer Warren Spector was one of the major figures in creating some of the finest imsims, such as System Shock (which was recently remade into its definitive version), Deus Ex, and Thief: Deadly Shadows. These games allow the player to approach combat, missions, and various miscellaneous tasks in almost limitless ways. While the genre has seen some modern success in titles like Dishonored, immersive sims are generally received well critically, but not commercially. The Great Circle may have revived the imsim through financial and critical success.

Indiana Jones & The Great Circle Is An Imsim At Heart

Taking Inspiration From Open-Ended Philosophies

On paper, the concept of an Indiana Jones game in 2024 brought to mind the template of adventure games like Uncharted. Players expected some thrilling and action-packed sequences, but to be generally limited to linear sequences, cinematic storytelling, and restricted gameplay. While The Great Circle does feature some of those aspects, and can certainly feel like Uncharted at moments, it features more complex gameplay comparable to the works of Arkane Studios, like Dishonored or the gorgeous and experimental Deathloop. It shouldn't be considered a fully-fledged immersive sim, but The Great Circle certainly borrows many aspects from the genre's array of traits.

The essence of an imsim concerns the player's agency in detailed environments, where the systems all organically interact with one another, often unpredictably, and The Great Circle frequently captures the heart of this, as players can approach challenges as desired. Indy can charge through a large group of enemies, fist fighting them all until he is the only sole conscious character. Alternatively, he can stealthily take out enemies by distracting them and knocking them out with an improvised piece of weaponry, like a broom. In addition, Indy's whip can be deployed to swing across gaps, or manipulate the environment.

This is just a brief outline of what players can expect from The Great Circle and its appreciation of immersive sims. Exploration, experimentation, and agency are all actively encouraged through the systems presented to the player. By capturing the essence of imsims through its gameplay, The Great Circle reminds players of why immersive sims are engaging.

2025 Could Bring More Immersive Sims To The Table

The Godfather Of Immersive Sims Returns In 2025

Despite this reminder of why imsims are so compelling, the genre has fallen short of commercial expectations on many occasions, especially in recent years. One of the largest voices to dedicate itself to immersive sims recently was Arkane Austin. Despite the critical acclaim for Dishonored 2 and Prey, they failed to reach the level of commercial success that was expected. The notorious Redfall was seemingly the end of Arkane Austin unfortunately, leading to the closure of the studio. While this may have felt like the end of an era, the legacy of the immersive sim looks to continue in 2025.

A huge moment for immersive sims next year may be the reboot of Perfect Dark. While it is important to note that there is no confirmed release date, the gameplay trailer revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in summer 2024 suggested a strong emphasis on environmental interaction, as Joanna Dark was seen using technology to sneak past enemies, and parkour to scale buildings.

Warren Spector's newest project, Thick as Thieves, was also revealed recently at The Game Awards, which looks to combine the immersive sim genre with PvPvE online gameplay. If these projects meet commercial and critical success, immersive sims could see a deserved return in gaming.

The Great Circle’s Design Choices Should Inspire Other Games

Players Love Creative Gaming Opportunities

The warm reception to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a reminder that players are willing to engage with complex systems, amid a recent trend of straightforward AAA experiences. The Great Circle blends accessible action gameplay and the Hollywood adventure narrative of the Indiana Jones movies with the systemic gameplay of imsims. By crafting a niche combination of mainstream and independent gaming philosophies, The Great Circle embraces its unique formula. This approach should be noted by other AAA developers, as players are embracing the complex and creative opportunities that The Great Circle presents with its open-ended sequences.

While it is still important to reflect on The Great Circle as inspired by imsims, as opposed to a complete interpretation of one, its adaptive approach to exploration should be noted by other developers. The Great Circle places Indy in large open areas in its levels, letting the player choose how they want to interact with the narrative. They can simply choose to follow the main story, or take a look at all the side quests, completing so-called Fieldwork first and picking up collectibles and upgrades on the way by scouring the map. Deeper engagement is presented freely.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's creative philosophy should be noted by developers to reconsider linear design. The game's surprising blend of swashbuckling adventure with systemic interaction highlights that players thoroughly enjoy immersive sim experiences. While this genre has suffered from a poor commercial response and appreciation from developers, experiences like The Great Circle challenge this notion to suggest that an appreciative audience exists in the modern gaming landscape. 2025 could see similar titles take on the imsim genre once more, as the Perfect Dark reboot and Thick as Thieves are set to provide their own interpretations of open-ended gameplay.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's critical response and fan acclaim underscore an important part of modern gaming: players love when they are empowered through creative and immersive experiences. Baldur's Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, some of the best video games released so far in the 2020s, both allow the player to engage with the world as they see fit. Immersive simulators could jump on this trend to see the revival of one of the most influential genres in the history of video games.

Sources: Bethesda Softworks/YouTube, Xbox/YouTube, PlayStation/YouTube, Metacritic