Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has challenging puzzles but also a clever hint system via Indy's cameras: 'We do not want you to go on YouTube to look up a solution because that is immersion-breaking and terrible'

MachineGames is focusing on puzzle solving in the Great Circle, along with improvised brawling and sneaking. I wouldn't expect anything less from a trip with Dr. Jones. Giant stone gears, ancient machinery that is impossible to believe, and cups of all shapes and sizes. Would a carpenter be caught dead with them?

MachineGames' creative director Jens Anderson explained in a conversation with PC Gamer Global Editor-in-Chief Phil Savage, at Gamescom, how these puzzles would challenge us but not necessarily send us to Google to find the solution.

Andersson said, "We need these puzzles be challenging." "We don't need to dumb them down to this kind of cinematic setup: You pull the lever, and the old mechanisms release. It needs to be proper jigsaw puzzles."

Andersson said that the Great Circle would have a variety of these proper puzzles. This should mean we won't feel like we're playing Half-Life Alyx again with its hologram minigame, or BioShock with its blasted pipes. Andersson said that the goal was to "find a balance between making them challenging but not blocking you," adding that "Players shouldn't get stuck in this [game]--then, we have failed."

It's a difficult balance to strike: I enjoy a good puzzle and I love it when a game surprises, but we've also all played games that are so obtuse or slow down the pace that it's only logical to look up a guide or Reddit post. The Great Circle has in-game hints that can be accessed through Indy’s camera to prevent this behavior.

Andersson said: "We use it as a hinting system. If you get stuck, don't go to YouTube for the solution. That would break immersion and be bad." "We want you to stay in the game. We do, however, recognize that skill levels can vary. You can take a picture of the puzzle and Indy can help you, give you suggestions, or you can continue if you want more information."

I like this mechanic because you have to opt in. You can also be stumped if your protagonist or their sidekick is all "Hm... a lever... wonder if it will do anything to the machinery we saw earlier ..."" as soon as you enter a new room. I'm grateful for the tip from Dora the Explorer but I think I could have handled it.

I've gotten used to using my phone's browser or Steam's overlay to play games. It's something like saving scumming, which I dislike in theory but don't mind when I'm playing. I'm curious to see if Great Circle's in game hints can help me with my immersion. This raises another question: Will someone please consider the livelihoods of those YouTubers who are devoted to providing videogame guides?