Bethesda announced a brand new Indiana Jones game is in the works, refreshing the franchise for an updated audience and brand new gaming consoles. As fans wait for the next video game installment -- and the fifth movie -- there's never been a better time to dive into the substantial Indiana Jones history with some of the best games in the franchise.
These five games are the best Indy titles out there and will help get players in the spirit of Indiana Jones as they anticipate Bethesda's new entry into the canon. They offer different styles of gameplay, from platforming to puzzle-solving to standard adventuring, and wildly different graphics. Most importantly, these titles let players don their in-game fedora to think and feel like Indy.
Indiana Jones in the Lost Kingdom
The 1985 Commodore 64 puzzle game Indiana Jones in the Lost Kingdom is the first Indiana Jones game with an original story. Seeking a valuable artifact, Jones must solve a series of puzzles to claim it before his rival. In the days before easy access to playthroughs and guides, Lost Kingdom was widely regarded as punishingly difficult. The game asked players to think like Jones but prided itself in not necessarily giving players all of the rules for each puzzle. The end result is a brand new Indiana Jones tale presented in a format that forces players into the headspace of the series, making it perfect for players looking to get in the Indiana Jones spirit (especially if they're puzzle lovers).
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
The 1999 Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine is the first 3D Indiana Jones game, bringing a whole new style of gameplay to the series. The PC and N64 release followed Indiana and companion Sophia Hapgood excavating the ruins of Babylon and searching the world for parts of the titular machine, which is used to establish a connection with another dimension. The original story is told using platforming sections combined with puzzles and treasure hunting, creating an original story with the right amount of emphasis on Jones' iconic bullwhip. While the graphics feel low-res now, The Infernal Machine was applauded for its visuals at its release. Other aspects of the game stand the test of time much better and make it worth returning to now.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
With the popularity of Lego versions of other beloved series, Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures hit the scenes on all platforms in 2008. The game retreads the ground of the original trilogy, allowing single-player and co-op versions of classic scenes, like the iconic rolling boulder from Raiders of the Lost Ark. In keeping with the targeted younger audience, Lego Indiana Jones also alters some scenes to be more family-friendly. Still, the general gameplay and story are true to the spirit of the franchise. Even with a small number of playable characters, Lego Indiana Jones is still one of the most beloved Lego games and an essential entry in the Indiana Jones video game canon.
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
The 2002 PC/PS2/Xbox game Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb was an ambitious homage to the movies that captured much of the character's adventurous spirit. The Emperor's Tomb is one of the most recent non-Lego installment in the franchise, and despite some outdated graphics, still holds up after nearly two decades. In search of the Mirror of Dreams and the tomb of the First Emperor of China, The Emperor's Tomb takes Jones from 1930's Sri Lanka to Hong Kong to the Netherworld. With a notoriously buggy console version but some issues plaguing even the PC release, The Emperor's Tomb is often forgotten in favor of flashier Indiana Jones games, but is a perfect game for making players feel like Indy.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
An all-time favorite of the classic point-and-click adventure games, the 1992 SCUMM game Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is a must-play for diving into the Indiana Jones canon. Indiana Jones is back to fighting Nazis, this time to uncover the lost land of Atlantis alongside Sophia. The original story is fine and in keeping with much of the rest of the Jones franchise, but what sets this game apart is great puzzle design and a remarkable hinting system.
Most puzzles allow for multiple solutions, depending on how daring and brazen the player wants to be. Solutions exist that rely on fisticuffs or stealth but also for those players eager to team up with Sophia. Randomized solutions to puzzles in addition to multiple paths to victory give Fate of Atlantis good replay value but also make it fun to play through the first time, with choices that feel meaningful. Hinting systems are built into the dialogue that help keep players immersed while still providing guidance.