Harrison Ford does it again, slipping into the role of Indiana Jones for a fifth time. The new film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, will be in cinemas in 2023 and in the past there have already been a number of video games based on the popular film archaeologist – some from very different perspectives and sometimes more, sometimes less action-packed .
But which of these are the best Indiana Jones games? Like Indy, let’s take a look back at history and see which Indiana Jones-themed games are worth your time. As always, there is no particular order in our list below. Have fun while reading!
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992 – PC, Amiga, Wii, Linux)
Is it the best indiana jones game? For many it is, and many would have wished it would be made into a film. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is a classic point-and-click adventure based on the infamous SCUMM engine and lets you explore adventure-typical environments, interact with objects and characters, and solve puzzles.
The well-known verbs interface is also represented and you can choose one of three paths, which influence the development of the story, the gameplay and the puzzles. As the name suggests, it’s all about the quest for Atlantis, during which you’ll once again face off against the Nazis. Classic Indy material. Incidentally, the game is also available as an unlockable extra in Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings on the Wii.
Interest? For PC there is Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis on Steam and at GOG.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure (1989 – PC, Amiga, Atari ST, Mac)
Adventure again, SCUMM again. Unlike Indy’s Atlantis adventure, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure is unsurprisingly a retelling of the film, but by no means worse. The adventure follows the story of the film and expands it a bit.
Elsewhere, however, a few things are missing, such as the chase in Venice, the fight in the desert and also Indy’s friend Sallah. Nevertheless, the game is always worth an adventure, and not only for fans of the film. Classic adventure fare with a good dose of fist fights and puzzles. In contrast to Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, the game is not available on Steam, but only on GOG.
Interest? For PC there is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure on GOG.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (2008 – PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2, DS, PSP, Wii)
There were Lego sets for the fourth Indy film in 2008 and an official Lego game based on the films was also released. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures lets you play out the first three adventures of the archaeologist alone or in pairs in the usual humorous Lego way.
The main focus is on the films, although scenes have of course been changed here and there in favor of the co-op mode. And of course everything is designed to be a little more family-friendly. But that doesn’t make the game any less entertaining overall. A great Lego game for young and old fans with lots to discover.
Interest? For PC there is Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures on Steam and up GOG as well as for the Xbox in Microsoft Store.
Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb (2003 – PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2, Mac)
Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb is a 2003 action-adventure film by The Collective and serves as a prequel to the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Despite all the camera control glitches and some graphical glitches, the game captures the feel of the movies quite well.
Ten levels await you here, in which you take on Nazis again, among other things. Fight them with your whip and other weapons as you search for the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. If you want to go on a classic Indy adventure, this is a good choice.
Interest? For PC there is Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb on Steam and up GOG as well as for the Xbox in Microsoft Store.
Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures (1995 – SNES)
In 1994, Factor 5’s Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures was released for the SNES and also includes the first three Indiana Jones film adventures. The gameplay was inspired a bit by the Super Star Wars games (same goes for the difficulty level), while the stories are told through cutscenes and text and stay close to the originals.
In the action-packed levels you primarily use your whip or your fists, but you will also find firearms and grenades here and there. You also use the whip to overcome chasms. There are 28 levels in total, which you explore from the side perspective. From the beginning you can only replay the first film. You have to unlock the others by playing them through or by entering a password.
Interest? For SNES there is Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures on eBay.
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