After wrapping up Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I wasn’t quite ready to hang up the whip. Thankfully, MachineGames and Bethesda returned with a new DLC, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants. This story-driven add-on drops Indy back into Rome for another round of puzzles, exploration, and Nazi-punching antics, only this time on a smaller scale.
The Order of Giants is designed as a side adventure that fits into the main game, but it works just fine as a standalone story. You’ll spend around three to five hours here, depending on how much you explore off the main path. It’s a more focused slice of gameplay compared to the globe-spanning journey of the base game, and that keeps things tight without dragging on.
What I appreciated right away was how easy it felt to step back into Indy’s world. The developers keep the controls and systems familiar, so you’re not relearning anything. Instead, you’re diving right into new ruins, secrets, and challenges. For me, jumping back into Indy’s whip-cracking adventure was exactly what I’d been waiting for after finishing the base game.
Secrets Beneath Rome
The Order of Giants throws Indy back into action right away. This adventure takes place during The Great Circle, but you can jump in after finishing the main story without missing a beat. Things kick off in the Vatican, where Indy teams up with Father Ricci, a young priest with a love for archaeology, and his chatty parrot Pio. The pair point Indy toward the legend of the Nameless Crusader, a towering warrior who supposedly never removed his helmet. Of course, that helmet is buried somewhere under Rome, and Indy isn’t the only one looking for it.
From there, the journey sticks to Rome. You’re moving through streets, underground tunnels, and old waterways instead of globe-trotting across continents. The tighter scope works well here, giving the story a clear focus. The mystery leans into Crusader history and Roman lore, adding a different flavor while still connecting neatly back to Indy’s bigger quest in The Great Circle. Italian fascists step in as the main threat, keeping the World War II backdrop front and centre.
Personally, I enjoyed how the story leaned into a smaller, almost pulpy feel. It reminded me more of a self-contained Indy comic than a blockbuster film, and that actually fit the DLC format well. Ricci’s enthusiasm and Pio’s chatter add some levity to the darker ruins, while Indy’s trademark quips land at just the right moments. By the end, I felt like I’d been through a full Indiana Jones adventure, even if it was shorter and tighter than the main campaign.
Whips, Puzzles, and Fists
The Order of Giants sticks close to what made The Great Circle work. You’ll spend your time balancing puzzles, combat, exploration, and some light platforming. The difference here is that the DLC leans harder into puzzles and stealth, which fits the tighter scope of the Rome setting.
The puzzles are easily the highlight. Some are smaller switches or locks, while others span entire chambers. The statue-based challenges stood out for me, especially one where I had to carefully rotate snake carvings to line everything up just right. It had that satisfying “click” moment where you instantly know you got it. Another puzzle with gladiator figures felt even bigger in scale and had me grinning when I finally pieced it together.
Combat is here, but it pushes more toward stealth. Most enemies are busy looking the other way, so sneaking up works best. When I got caught, I just mixed whip cracks, punches, and whatever I could grab to finish the fight fast. One of my favorite moments came when I used a new weapon to clear out a distracted group of fascists before they even realized what was happening.
Exploration ties it all together. The streets, tunnels, and waterways of Rome are linear but wide enough to encourage detours. I found notes tucked away in corners and even stumbled on a cat that I couldn’t resist stopping to pet. Platforming doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the weighted platforms and rope swings add enough variety to keep it fun between fights and puzzles.
Overall, the DLC keeps the gameplay loop tight and satisfying, even if it doesn’t introduce anything drastically new.
Rome in Sight and Sound
The Order of Giants sticks with the same style that made The Great Circle look so good. Rome feels alive, whether you’re walking through cracked stone corridors or watching torchlight bounce across damp walls. It’s not as wide-ranging as the globe-spanning levels from the main game, but keeping it in one city makes the atmosphere hit harder.
On PlayStation 5, performance stayed steady at 60 frames per second. I ran into a couple of small hiccups. One cutscene had some flickering lights, but nothing that pulled me out of the adventure. Overall, it ran smoothly and felt right in line with the base game after its patches.
The sound design seals the deal. Gordy Haab’s score mixes in those familiar John Williams touches, giving puzzles and discoveries that classic Indy feel. Troy Baker continues to nail the voice work, selling both the serious moments and Indy’s quick one-liners. I cracked up when he muttered about needing a bath after falling into the water, then doubled down with even more sarcasm the second time I dunked him.
The visuals, sound, and performance really carry this DLC. You won’t find big setpieces here, but the atmosphere makes up for it. Walking through dark sewers with only Indy’s lighter felt so convincing that I actually stopped just to take it in. It’s the little touches like that that make the adventure land.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Feels Like a Smaller but Satisfying Indy Story
The Order of Giants doesn’t try to outdo the main game, and that’s probably why it works. This DLC is more contained, sticking to Rome’s streets, tunnels, and waterways rather than globe-spanning locations. That smaller scope lets the puzzles, atmosphere, and details take centre stage.
The puzzles are easily the best part here, and honestly some of the most fun I’ve seen in an Indy game. Whether it was rotating statues or solving a gladiator challenge, I found myself hooked until I cracked each one. They’re clever without feeling overwhelming, and they make good use of the setting. Exploration adds another layer, with hidden notes and artifacts scattered in side paths. Even something as simple as petting a cat tucked away in the corner made the journey feel more rewarding.
That’s not to say everything lands perfectly. You’ll notice there aren’t any big setpieces like in the main game, and the final battle comes off clunky after those strong puzzles. A couple of visual hiccups also crept in, but they were minor enough not to ruin the overall experience.
For me, the DLC felt like reading a solid Indiana Jones side story. It may not be the big cinematic event of The Great Circle, but it doesn’t need to be. Spending a few hours solving ancient mysteries in Rome with Indy’s whip and wit was exactly the kind of smaller-scale adventure I was looking for.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants
Summary
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants is a short but fun trip back into Indy’s world. The puzzles steal the show, combat leans more on stealth, and exploring Rome has plenty of little secrets to find. It’s missing the big setpieces of the main game, and the last fight is a bit clunky, but it’s still a solid Indy side story worth checking out.
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