Check out the first trailer below. Set between the first and second movies in the franchise, it sees famed archaeologist Indiana Jones (with Harrison Ford’s likeness and Troy Baker’s voice) involved in a new mystery. It’s called the Great Circle and encompasses the entire globe, with the Nazis led by Emmerich Voss after its power.

Racing against time, Jones must uncover it first or die trying. While taking place from first-person (with the occasional third-person view), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is more of an immersive sim shooter. You can sneak around, distract enemies with environmental objects, engage in fisticuffs (or use his signature whip), and platform across structures.

Pre-orders start today for Nintendo Switch 2 – check out our review of the PS5 version for more details, or learn more about The Order of Giants DLC. Even if you don’t pick up the latter, there are still updates such as New Game+ to dive into.

While you wait for its arrival, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is out now for cloud, PC and Series X/S players, with Monster Train 2 coming tomorrow to Game Pass Premium alongside Spray Paint Simulator. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be available on December 4th with Premium.

On the same day, Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can get their hands on Routine, a long-delayed procedural horror title first announced in 2012. December 9th sees the arrival of A Game About Digging A Hole, Death Howl, and Dome Keeper for all three tiers. Bratz: Rhythm and Style on December 11th caps off Wave 1.

Several titles will be leaving on December 15th, and in an intriguing twist, Microsoft has confirmed those which won’t be available post-31st.

December 15

• Mortal Kombat 11 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Still Wakes the Deep (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Wildfrost (Cloud, Console, and PC)

December 31

• Carrion (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hell Let Loose (Cloud, Console, and PC)

30. Dynasty Warriors Origins

After the terrible open-world approach of Dynasty Warriors 8, it felt like curtains for the franchise. Fortunately, Dynasty Warriors Origins goes back to basics, focusing more on the large, cinematic battles that have defined the franchise. While the ability to play as multiple iconic heroes (at least for more than a few minutes) is sorely missed, it nails the combat and the sheer wonder of systematically tearing through armies.

29. Atomfall

As much as Fallout lays claim to the post-nuclear apocalyptic crown, Atomfall offered its own unique take on the formula. Set in the aftermath of the Windscale Fire, it’s full of mysteries to pursue, but you’ll need to actually gather the clues – combing the landscape, interacting with (and maybe trusting) untoward characters, and ultimately escaping. Or just kill everyone in your path. Either approach works.

28. Mafia: The Old Country

Family matters, especially in the Mafia series, where it can both unite and destroy. Much like Dynasty Warriors – which isn’t a comparison I would have made in this life, but here we are. The Old Country doesn’t try for a massive open world, nor does it waste your time. It tells a gripping story about family, loyalty and betrayal in early 1900s Sicily, presenting complex characters with excellent performances and more than enough fun gameplay (especially the new knife fights). No more and certainly no less.

27. South of Midnight

Hazel’s journey through the Southern Gothic world of South of Midnight may not be the most memorable among this year’s stories, but it’s certainly unique. Told through stunning stop-motion visuals, its combination of exploration and combat feels solid while keeping the focus squarely on the magical realism of its narrative and characters.

26. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Leenzee’s first action RPG is heavily inspired by the first Dark Souls with its world design, and it shows. But it’s the customization, combat and mechanics – including madness – that set it apart. Wuchang’s late Ming Dynasty setting and lore also offer more than terrifying threats to combat – and more than enough options, both in melee and magic, to fight back. PC performance remains a stickler, but it’s surprisingly substantive for its price.

25. Starfield

So Bethesda’s latest doesn’t offer the best story or the best use of procedural generation or proper interplanetary or the most beloved companions – alright, I’ll stop by. But the gunplay, especially with the addition of zero gravity, is solid and that “just one more” feeling of discovering a new planet, laden with strange creatures and gorgeous vistas, is present. There’s still room for improvement, but it’s a solid base, if nothing else.

24. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

“Suffering builds character” is seemingly Senua’s arc at this point. As she ventures to Iceland to save her people, the Furies return, and the Shadow remains as oppressive as ever, but it’s all par for the course, especially when caught in desperate battles for survival. Hellblade 2 isn’t a massive overhaul of everything its predecessor did well, instead enhancing the cinematic presentation for an even bloodier narrative. And that’s alright.

23. Ninja Gaiden 4

Speaking of bloody, Ninja Gaiden 4. Thank you for coming to my pseudo-review. But in all seriousness, for a series that ended as controversially as it did after the third game, it’s just so good. The exploration, the movement, the combat, the new Bloodraven techniques – even controlling Ryu Hayabusa, limited as his weaponry was, turned out to be a lot of fun. There are plenty of nitpicks, but Ninja Gaiden is officially back, and I couldn’t be happier.

22. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

“Wake up, Sleeper,” you’ll hear when starting. A familiar phrase, carrying far more weight this time as you traverse the Helion System’s asteroid belt. The clock is still ticking on your body, and it’s all you can do to take on jobs, hire companions, roll the dice, and try to survive. Additional mechanics such as Push and Stress offer even more twists and turns, but the series’ sharp writing and characterization remain as incredible as ever.

21. Dying Light: The Beast

I’ve missed Kyle Crane and seeing him move past the righteous but naive courier of the first game into the “My anger is healthy” protagonist in The Beast feels right. Techland wisely offers much more, though, from smarter enemies and a more perilous night with much more dangerous Volatiles to silky-smooth parkour and melee combat that could give Dead Island 2 a run for its money. All this combines for a fulfilling experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

20. Lies of P

NEOWIZ took us by surprise when it revealed Lies of P, a Souls-like take on the classic tale. Perhaps even better is the fact that it went above and beyond expectations, offering incredible combat and parrying mechanics with fun weapon customization and challenging bosses. As dangerous and devious as Krat felt, it was also alive, capturing that ruined beauty that defines so many of FromSoft’s greatest.

19. Cronos: The New Dawn

A new Dead Space may never happen, yet Chronos: The New Dawn is a surprisingly solid substitute. The story of the Traveller, their eventual shift from rigid and robotic to actually feeling emotions in this post-apocalyptic landscape of Cronenbergian horrors, is a compelling one. Throw in some classic limb dismantling and time traveling, and you have one of the more underappreciated horror games of the year.

18. Monster Hunter Wilds

The successor to Monster Hunter World. The mainline Monster Hunter for current-gen consoles that we’ve all waited for. Perhaps the best-selling Monster Hunter to date in terms of controls and actual combat…is also one that’s been perpetually on fire this year when it comes to performance, end-game, lack of “Monster Hunter-ness,” take your pick. Nevertheless, it’s only improved ever since, packing tons of worthwhile challenges and rewards with even more – like its first Elder Dragon, Gogmazios – on the way.

17. The Outer Worlds 2

Taking everything it learnt from the first game, The Outer Worlds 2 is a sleeker, smarter, and arguably more entertaining role-playing game as a result. Factions and companions remain the centrepiece, whether you’re deciding who to stab in the back (and hear complaining about you on the radio) or who to give up. But between all its branching decisions and multiple quest approaches, The Outer Worlds 2 is equally content to let you go on a killing spree.

16. Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is officially in maintenance mode – what’s a fan to do without any campaign DLC? Quite a lot, thankfully, thanks to Forge Mode, new multiplayer maps, Exchange updates, and much more. For all its faults, from the controversial reveal to launch, it still offers some of the best gameplay in the series. Best to appreciate it all now before the player counts plummet for good.

15. DOOM: The Dark Ages

Credit to id Software – even after finding a formula that inspires utter joy and mixed emotions alike, it’s not afraid to create another that somehow, inexplicably, does the same. So yes, The Dark Ages is much slower than Eternal, but the methodical gameplay, punctuated by the incredible Shield Saw and more in-depth melee combat, still feels so good.

14. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

It’s kind of crazy that Shadows turned out to be one of 2025’s most controversial releases. Once you get past all that, its depiction of Japan is actually quite beautiful, while Naoe’s parkour and stealth remain some of the best in the franchise. Sure, there are qualms over the story, voice-acting and pacing, but infiltrating castles and assassinating your target – or breaking down the front door to challenge everyone to a fight – is fun, and backed by tons of other in-depth systems.

13. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Call it nostalgia that harks back to the days when Bethesda could craft a compelling world, but Oblivion Remastered is just such a breath of fresh air in so many ways. Interesting side quests with multiple outcomes, an intriguing story where you’re decidedly not the chosen one, numerous secrets – there’s so much to take in. Much of the quirkiness and bugs remain (with Virtuos sadly adding some new ones), yet it remains one of this year’s better open-world RPGs.

12. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

What is the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone if not a microcosm of humanity itself, boiled down to our most base instinct? Depending on who you are, it can be a place of wonder, of Anomalies dancing about and causing havoc. It can be a place of community as various factions, friendly and hostile, go about their business without your input. Maybe it’s all of these things, wrapped in an unforgiving veneer, but at least there’s plenty of guns to go around. Whatever your reason for venturing into the Zone, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 promises an experience unlike anything else out there.

11. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Despite all the contemporary movie flops, adventure really does have one name, and it’s still Indiana Jones. The Great Circle, is an original tale through Indy’s eye. And while that first-person perspective may seem like the antithesis to an Uncharted or Tomb Raider, MachineGames pushes stunning locales where observation is as important as platforming and reflexes. Where stealth is optional and going in, fists swinging, is as viable as whipping enemies unconscious. With a lengthy campaign, immersive environments, sharp writing and phenomenal set pieces, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a standout in gaming as a whole.

10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

From the very first hour, Clair Obscur pulls you into its bold, beautiful world and doesn’t let go. It dazzles with its brutality, enveloping you in a combat system that’s tactical yet active and oh-so-satisfying – especially when nailing every single parry and counter-attacking as a squad. The constant push ahead accompanies phenomenal art direction, an unforgettable soundtrack, and – my favorite – ten or so new mysteries to go with every answer. Sandfall Interactive has crafted more than an ode to the greatest turn-based RPGs of yore. It introduced us to a whole new world, full of possibilities, even if all roads lead to tragedy.

9. Blue Prince

This year saw no shortage of excellent rogue-like experiences, but from out of nowhere, Blue Prince emerged with a gameplay loop that had no business being as fun as it was. The premise is simple: As the heir to a massive estate, you must find the 46th room. Easy enough, right? Except you have to create the actual blueprint to reach it, pulling from a pool of rooms like architectural gacha. Will you put down that Observatory for the sake of something good? How about a coat check to carry over a tool to the next run? With a limited number of steps and a clean slate daily, Blue Prince is wholly addictive while challenging you to ponder every single possibility.

8. ARC Raiders

We’ve said a lot about why ARC Raiders is so good, even if you’re not an extraction shooter fan, but it’s still fascinating. Even after so many runs top-side, you never know what to expect, whether it’s a friendly Raider who could end up stabbing you in the back or a desperate struggle for survival against a Rocketeer. As varied as the experiences can feel, the fact that it’s backed by such great presentation and gunplay is just the cherry on top.

7. Split Fiction

Like many games, Hazelight Studios’ biggest, most expensive title to date was kind of buried beneath all the other great games this year. The curse of launching early, perhaps, but regardless, this is the co-op experience of the year. Between the simply awesome co-op setpieces, spanning futuristic settings with mech suits and fantasy worlds with giants and dragons, is the simply bizarre and borderline concerning. What more do you need?

6. Hollow Knight: Silksong

Even after all the other games that have been released this year, Silksong continues to call to me, its subtle tones belying the sheer humiliation that its toughest bosses wish to inflict. Despite the abundance of two-mask damage sources, the punishing platforming, the surprisingly dangerous enemies, and the runbacks, I still want to keep exploring Pharloom. I want to take in its sights, serenade strangers and friends with the Needolin, find some solace in our shared struggle, and conquer the lands. It’s an unhealthy obsession, sure, but such is the lure of song and silk.

5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Henry’s latest visit was more than customary – it’s also one of the freshest RPG experiences in ages. Everything in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 feels so organic and detailed, right down to identifying plants and cataloguing them or the entire blacksmithing process. There’s plenty to be had in terms of questing and testing your mettle or your sword against all kinds of opponents, but it’s just so refreshing to see a game react so naturally to your choices. The way you dress, how you address people, even whether you’re covered in blood or not – it all matters, and it’s amazing.

4. Forza Horizon 5

Racing games come and go, but only a few truly stick around, much less cement their legacy among tens of millions of players. Forza Horizon 5 is one such title, and if you haven’t journeyed to its version of Mexico, replete with stunning locales and heart-pounding races, you’re missing out. Everything about the Horizon experience feels fresh thanks to the revamped progression and Accolades system. Even if you aren’t chasing the Hall of Fame, however, there are hundreds of cars to collect and customise to your heart’s desire while rocking out to some incredible tunes.

3. Baldur’s Gate 3

The game that introduced – and reminded – millions of the magic of Dungeons and Dragons. However, it’s just so much more in every way, whether you’re seeking a reactive role-playing game where almost every decision can lead down a path of possibilities or an incredible cast of characters, penned to perfection and voiced beyond. Then there’s the turn-based combat, which doesn’t just reward build-crafting but environmental awareness and an urge to experiment. From a paragon of virtue to the truly evil at heart, from blade-singing wizards to a magical archer and everything in between, this is a role-playing title that truly lets you live out your fantasies, and then lets you loose in an unforgettable world.

2. Elden Ring

Almost four years and an expansion later, and we’re still thinking about The Lands Between. The realm where mythical figures collapsed – or did they? An easier task than most, laying claim to the Runes and ruins, but this is FromSoftware’s wheelhouse on a scale unlike anything ever seen before. It’s a journey of strength and madness – of overwhelming bosses and buried secrets. Where a simple jaunt down an elevator can lead to a vast underground city with a roof of stars and a palace devoted to blood. To say that Elden Ring is a Souls-like masterpiece would be selling it short. An experience that supplements the addictive challenge with a thirst for exploration, and an unending burrow of secrets – it’s simply essential for anyone and everyone.

1. Cyberpunk 2077

Future conversations about consumerism and technology overriding humanity to the point of utter dystopia? A typical day in Night City, where gun vending machines are found across from gangs across every corner, Arasaka owns the uptown districts, and a deranged rocker/revolutionary is running around in the player’s head. Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t deviate too much from the action RPG/immersive sim-lite genre so much as drown you in Mike Pondsmith’s vision of a completely hopeless future, and it’s an unbridled success. But even with that pedigree, that attention to detail and the oh-so-invasive advertising that’s looking less like a parody every day, Cyberpunk 2077 is a phenomenal game in its own right, with excellent combat, incredible side quests, extensive build-crafting, and a memorable story. Whether you become a legend or never fade away, the Night City odyssey is a trip and a half.

New Game+ is available for those who completed the story and allows for starting a new playthrough with Medicine Bottles, Adventure Books, currency and Adventure Points carrying over. Complete this, and a new post-credits ending sequence becomes available. As for Voice Language Select, it allows separate voiceover and texture languages based on one’s preference.

If that wasn’t enough, Xbox Series X/S players have a new Power Saving mode, which activates if the controller is idle for a period, resulting in a lower resolution and frame rate. Additional outfits are planned for the future, and the Power Saving mode will be coming to other platforms, so stay tuned.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with a Switch 2 version coming next year. Check out our review for the PS5 version and the recent The Order of Giants expansion.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

When Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was announced as a first-person title, many fans would have understandably been skeptical as to how such an action-adventure-focused title would work within the context of a first-person game. But those skepticisms were pleasantly washed away when the game actually came out. In addition to a very engaging story with memorable characters, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle features intriguing puzzles and a great deal of flexibility in how you choose to go about quests.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Remember when this was just supposed to be a second playable character and DLC for Hollow Knight? Over six years since its announcement, Silksong is indeed real, and based on Team Cherry’s own admission, it’s as big, perhaps even bigger than its predecessor. Because you weren’t planning on anything for the rest of the month? Over 200 enemy types, more than 40 bosses, numerous new abilities – and based on demo impressions from Gamescom, best-in-class movement. Hollow Knight: Silksong releases on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and at this point, we’re beyond ready.

Hell is Us

If you’re in the mood for a different kind of action-adventure, one that very adamantly won’t hold your hand, there’s Rogue Factor’s Hell is Us. A dark horse of sorts, it’s semi-open-world-ish, focusing on peacekeeper Rémi, who explores Hadea in search of his parents. The country has seen better days – it’s devastated by war and Hollow Walkers emerging in the wake of the Calamity. With just the bare minimum, you have to gather clues and ultimately unravel the mystery behind Rémi’s parents while uncovering the mysteries of Hadea. With Souls-lite gameplay and a mysterious yet foreboding vibe, Hell is Us could very well make a name for itself when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Cronos: The New Dawn

For a different flavor of horror – the sci-fi survival third-person shooter kind – there’s Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn, where players control a Traveller under the mysterious Collective, tasked with extracting the essence of key individuals. Or not – you don’t really have to, though that could affect the ending. Between these choices, you’re exploring run-down buildings and structures infested with monsters born from the mysterious Change, using shotguns, SMGs and flamethrowers to bat them back, while casually manipulating gravity and the environment to progress forward. It’s very Dead Space-esque on first appearance, but the mysterious narrative and time travel elements help set Cronos apart when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion

I’m not the biggest Daemon X Machina fan out there, but credit to Marvelous Inc. for doing something different with the sequel. You’re still in this world of Arsenals and Outer factions, destroying similarly armored foes and extracting their parts for your own usage, but Titanic Scion veers hard by turning Arsenals into power armor. The vast open world also facilitates new traversal methods, such as horseback riding, which is as hilarious as it looks, and even a larger Arsenal frame for dealing big damage in a limited window. Launching on September 5th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion could very well be the standout mecha title of the year.

Borderlands 4

It’s funny to think we’ve gone from…whatever Borderlands 3 was meant to be to this epic tale of resistance against a dictatorial figure on an unknown planet that Gearbox promises is its biggest yet. And yet, from everything showcased thus far and against all odds, Borderlands 4 doesn’t look half-bad. The four new Vault Hunters – Vex, Rafa, Amon and Harlowe – all look great in their own ways; the prospect of Licensed Parts for combining different gun manufacturer pieces into one weapon is great; and the addition of grappling, dashing, double-jumping, and more feels just right. Whether the story will stick the landing remains to be seen (I still haven’t forgiven you for Maya, Gearbox), to say nothing of the endgame, but as a co-op looter shooter with slightly classier mayhem, Borderlands 4 could excel. It’s launching on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Silent Hill f

As the newest mainline title in the Silent Hill franchise since 2012’s Downpour, Silent Hill f ventures into unknown territory. It’s the first title set in Japan, specifically the fictitious town of Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, and features Ryukishi07 as the writer (with artist kera behind the creature designs). As Hinako Shimizu, who finds herself swallowed up by the fog, players embark on a more action-packed journey, one with a heavier emphasis on melee combat. Don’t let that fool you, though, as it offers some of the most disturbing creatures and sights in the franchise yet. After the success of Silent Hill 2 remake, here’s hoping Konami can pull off another when Silent Hill f launches on September 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

NBA 2K26

Another year, another NBA 2K and even if last year’s iteration sported solid gameplay, one has to wonder if NBA 2K6 is worth the upgrade. Outside of the improved player and arena visuals, you can embark on The Playoffs online; a new MyCareer mode sees you working up the ranks to the NBA, with The City returning; and all the usual modes, including MyTeam and The W, return with various improvements. Maybe it’ll be enough to hold one over till next year, but for now, NBA 2K26 launches on September 5th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland has been on a venerable marketing overdrive for Dying Light: The Beast, promising its “most diverse world,” a fairly lengthy experience (about 40 to 50 hours for the story and side content), and much more. And based on the gameplay thus far, it seems like a return to everything that made the Dying Light franchise great while continuing the story of Kyle Crane, who now possesses powerful beast-like abilities. Whether it can redeem the series after the whelming second entry or not, the call of the night is hard to resist. Dying Light: The Beast arrives on September 19th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

EA Sports FC 26

With how underwhelming FC 25 turned out, EA is listening in a big way with the latest entry. Various gameplay improvements include faster overall gameplay and two experiences – Competitive and Authentic, each determining the style of play and pace. Archetypes are also debuting and will be added to Clubs to shake things up. There’s honestly a lot more, and it could be the most exciting sports offering from EA in years when it launches on September 26th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, PC, PS4, and PS5.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

If you thought the title was a mouthful already, this is actually Part 1 of Survios’ VR title-turned-regular-first-person shooter. It follows Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks as she investigates a Weyland-Yutani black site. Which, to no one’s surprise, is full of Xenomorphs. While it may seem like a running and gunning affair, Rogue Incursion also features classic tools like the Motion Tracker, creating a familiar wave of dread when a Xenomorph periodically shows up. Launching on September 30th for PS5 and PC, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will support 60 FPS and DualSense functionality.

EA Sports NHL 26

Not one, not two, but three sports games in September? What a deal! NHL 26 launches on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, packing several changes, including reworked X-Factors (now with three tiers), goalie size and style now affecting how they play, a new Goalie Crease Control System with over 80 new animations, and more. EA Vancouver has its work cut out after last year’s release, but thus far, it’s looking decent.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants

Everyone’s favorite archaeologist returns in a new story DLC, building on the stellar base experience by returning to Rome, as players venture deeper underground to learn more about the Cult of Mithras and the legendary giants. Based on the latest trailer, it seems the undead are also involved. In terms of puzzle-platforming goodness, The Order of Giants should be another compelling adventure for Indy when it launches on September 4th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Metal Eden

Metal Eden launches on September 2nd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and sees ASKA, a Hyper Unit, venturing into Moebius to save humanity’s rapidly decaying cores. All the usual weaponry, from a pistol, shotgun, SMG and whatnot, awaits. However, Aska’s main calling card is ripping out enemy Cores and either consuming them for a boost (and rocket punch) or tossing them back to deal explosive damage. Paired with a Brutalist aesthetic, extensive mobility and an intriguing narrative, we’re keen to see how deep the cyber-punk rabbit hole goes.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Everyone has their dream remake, and for a subsection of role-playing game fans, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is pretty much it. A ground-up remake of the 2004 classic, it offers fully 3D environments and characters alongside Daybreak’s dual turn-based/real-time combat system. And while there are new voicovers and localization, the tale of Estelle and Joshua, who venture across Liberl, changing lives along the way, remains as timeless as ever. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter launches on September 19th for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with a free demo currently available.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac

This may or may not fall under “dream remake” – really, it depends on how much you love Pac-Man – but Pac-Man World Re-Pac wasn’t half-bad. Re-Pac 2, launching on September 26th for every platform, follows in the same vein, remaking Pac-Man World 2 with gorgeous new visuals. However, its latest comparison trailer highlights noticeable differences in levels (which have also been expanded) and Bandai Namco promises quality-of-life improvements, updated bosses, and even a two-player mode.

At the core of the new system is the fact that players that have already finished Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shouldn’t find The Order of Giants too easy. In the same way, those that haven’t gotten to spend too much time with the adventure game shouldn’t be stuck because of an incredibly difficult encounter in the expansion. This largely comes down to the fact that players don’t have to have finished the base game in order to access the expansion.

“Players who are at the end of the game don’t need to worry about the difficulty [being too easy] as actually we have a new system in place where players are dynamically scaled based on how far they progressed,” explained Virant. “We know a lot of players are coming back from the endgame and would like to have a continuation of that difficulty, especially if they have health upgrades and a lot of abilities.”

Fundamentally, this new difficulty system works on a sort of tier-based logic, with a player’s difficulty tier for The Order of Giants depending on how far into the base game they are. For example, reaching Giza will bump up the difficulty to its second tier. Getting to Sukothai will similarly bring up to the third tier.

“We tried a few different things, but the one that was simplest and actually just what felt right was that if you’ve progressed to the Vatican but you haven’t gotten to Giza yet, we keep it on a first tier of difficulty,” said Virant. “If you’ve gotten to Giza, then we adjust it up to a second tier. And then once you’ve gotten to Sukhothai, we adjust to a third tier. From there we [can tune] the different amount of combos enemies can use, different amounts of health and also how many will gang up on you at the same time.”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – The Order of Giants was officially unveiled back in June. The expansion will take Indiana Jones to Rome, with the catacombs under the city serving as the primary setting for the new adventure. The expansion is slated to add a lot more of the same gameplay that made the base game so beloved, ranging from stealth and platforming to puzzle solving and even a hint of combat.

The expansion will be coming to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on September 4. The expansion will also bring with it technical improvements to the base game, including the addition of the latest Nvidia technologies like RTX Hair for more realistic hair rendering for key characters. For more details, check out our review of the base game.

All of this seemingly culminates in a giant Colosseum where a spear-wielding enemy readies to fight. Fans can still expect plenty of puzzle-solving, exploration, and platforming en route to solving this new mystery. Best of all, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, alongside the expansion, will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

As for The Order of Giants, it’s out on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out our review for the PS5 version, released this past April, here. Alongside the DLC, PC players can look forward to RTX Hair support in September, which brings even more fidelity to Indy’s hair. You can learn more here.

According to Nvidia, RTX Hair will make use of strand-based hair techniques to render hair effects in games. Through this technology, developers can make hair that looks more geometrically detailed. This hair will also interact with the in-game lighting in more realistic ways, complete with realistic light and shadows.

To achieve this high-computation technique, Nvidia makes use of Linear-Swept Spheres primitives, which allows the game engine to render the hair complete with path traced lighting in more performant ways.

It is worth noting that, since RTX Hair needs an Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards, the enhanced hair won’t be available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game. Rather, it will be exclusive to the PC version, and even then only for players that are running on a current-gen Nvidia graphics card.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – The Order of the Giants was announced back in June during an Xbox Games Showcase. The expansion will take protagonist Indiana Jones to underground catacombs beneath Rome in a quest to “uncover the dark legacy of the Nephilim giants.” The DLC was announced with a trailer.

Back in July, design director Jens Andersson spoke about why MachineGames opted to go with a first-person perspective for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. In a talk at Develop:Brighton, Andersson said that going with a first-person camera for the game “was a given” for the studio.

“If you’re going to be Indiana Jones, you need to look through his eyes, you need to feel like him,” he said.

“How would we make you as a first-person player feel like Indiana Jones? We knew that would be really hard, but actually it was one of the things that we felt we hit,” he said. “It took years, of course, but it wasn’t the hardest part making this game. It was a lot of the other things that I would highlight as ‘we didn’t get this right until at the very end.’”

Interestingly, MachineGames has a history of telling narratively-rich stories in single-player games while never leaving the first-person camera angle. This could be seen in the studio’s Wolfenstein titles – The New Order from 2014 and The New Colossus from 2017. Even the VR-only Wolfenstein spin-off Cyberpilot, as well as co-op spin-off Youngblood never left the first-person camera behind.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was originally released on PC and Xbox Series X/S, ultimately making its way to PS5 back in April. The title quickly became quite successful on Sony’s console, with reports indicating that it was on track to be one of the fastest-selling releases of all versions of the game, with around 117.2 thousand copies sold in its first week.

For more details, check out our review.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Keeper, Grounded 2, and the ROG Xbox Ally (which will allegedly receive a release date) make up day one, as previously announced. However, you can also look forward to Cronos: The New Dawn, Hotel Barcelona, Invincible VS, World of Warcraft: Midnight, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Dying Light: The Beast, Starsand Island, PowerWash Simulator 2, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Outbound, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants.

Day 2 is also just as packed. Previously confirmed titles include The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Overwatch 2, but Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Jurassic World Evolution 3, FragPunk, Mistfall Hunter, At Fate’s End and Age of Empires 4 are also present. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice, Silent Hill f, LEGO Voyagers, and High on Life 2 will also appear. If that wasn’t enough, you can expect to see Silent Hill f and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater in action.

Before all this unfolds, Gamescom Opening Night Live will take place on August 19th at 11 AM PDT and promises its own stacked lineup. Then there’s Future Games Show on August 20th, featuring Phantom Blade Zero and Little Nightmares 3. Stay tuned for live coverage throughout all this.