5 Best Indiana Jones Games Of All Time, Ranked

If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones, the iconic film character played by Harrison Ford across five movies (and by Sean Patrick Flanery for a forgotten '90s TV series). This multimedia saga has spread to video games, of course, starting with 1982's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on the Atari 2600. Since those rudimentary early days, Indiana Jones games have become significantly more sophisticated in their presentation and gameplay while still reflecting the franchise's core aesthetics. Recently, Bethesda delivered a game no one saw coming with "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," the first Indiana Jones video game in over a decade.

For close to 45 years, Indiana Jones has been an ongoing presence in the video game industry, and certainly a major influence on games like "Tomb Raider" and "Uncharted." But just like the movies, not all Indiana Jones games are created equal, with some tremendous highs and embarrassing lows. This time, we're celebrating the video game legacy of Indiana Jones by highlighting the best titles starring the action-oriented archaeologist. Here are the five best Indiana Jones games of all time, ranked, with each providing their own twist on the legendary adventurer.

Your enjoyment of "LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures" hinges entirely on your enjoyment of LEGO games overall, as you can imagine. As the subtitle infers, the 2008 game depicts the events of the first three movies in the series. This is done in LEGO's familiar, family-friendly way along, with the usual building blocks and minifig presentation. LEGO's tendency for self-aware humor that lovingly pokes fun at whatever property it's adapting is certainly present here too.

With 84 playable characters from across the original film trilogy, "LEGO Indiana Jones" recreates the movies' most stirring set pieces and memorable moments. The game retains the action and light platforming elements from previous LEGO titles, with characters each drawing from a pool of special abilities to help them advance. Like most LEGO games, this is best experienced in co-op gameplay with a friend, though it provides a solid solo experience too. A good gateway into the franchise for younger gamers, "LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures" is a no-frills, breezily entertaining time.

After making some of the best "Star Wars" games with the "Super Star Wars" trilogy, LucasArts turned its attention to giving Indiana Jones similar treatment. This culminated in "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures," released for the Super Nintendo in 1994 and using the same engine as the "Super Star Wars" games. Primarily a side-scrolling action platformer, the game also adapts the events of the first three movies as Indy proceeds through the game, defeating enemies with his whip and other weapons. The game occasionally switches perspectives for sequences like minecart chases and evading enemy aircraft in a biplane, often recreating set pieces from the films.

Either as a warning or an incentive, just like the "Super Star Wars" games, "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures" featured a high difficulty level. But all the fan-favorite moments from those classic movies are here, gorgeously rendered in 16-bit and with a score evoking composer John Williams' memorable cinematic music. The Mode 7 sequences during gameplay with a changed perspective really showcases what the SNES is capable of and keeps players on their toes. Another solid movie adaptation from LucasArts, "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures" is an old school joy to play.

If you're a fan of Indiana Jones and aware of his gaming legacy, you knew that "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" would appear somewhere on this list. The 1992 computer game takes place on the eve of World War II after the events of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." After being targeted by Nazis who are after a relic in the college's artifact collection, Indy discovers that the Germans are trying to obtain mythical Atlantean technology for their war effort. Teaming up with psychic colleague Sophia Hapgood, Indy races to discover what happened to Atlantis and to stop its technology from falling into the wrong hands.

The first point-and-click Indiana Jones game was a 1989 adaptation of "The Last Crusade," subtitled "The Graphic Adventure." "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" takes those gameplay foundations and creates something truly spectacular with the property. From branching paths to greater freedom in choosing what to have Indy do, the game takes advantage of its setup to tell an original tale. Worthy of being considered one of the best interactive story games of all time, "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is a true point-and-click gem.

In terms of the most underrated Indiana Jones game, that distinction goes to 2003's "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb." Initially released for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC, the game serves as a direct prequel to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Indy finds himself on another globe-spanning adventure, this time involving the mythical tomb of the first emperor of China and the magical secrets it may contain. Assisted by Mei-Ying, Indy takes on an alliance between the Nazis and a Chinese Triad syndicate based out of Hong Kong.

"The Emperor's Tomb" is a significant improvement over the preceding 3D Indiana Jones game, 1999's "The Infernal Machine." While there are still the occasional issues with the camera, the gameplay is much more intuitive and its environments are richly rendered. The game also successfully brings its own original set pieces to the fore, capturing that film-like sense of spectacle without having to rely on being a remake of the movies to pull it off. A marvelous entry in the franchise and quietly one of the best adventure games of its generation, "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb" deserves much more love than it gets.

It had been over a decade since the last game (a crummy experience called "Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings") was released when "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" launched in 2024. The long wait proved to be worth it because "The Great Circle" is a frank love letter to the franchise in all its parts while still finding fresh ground to explore. Set in between the events of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Temple of Doom," the game has Indy investigate the great flood myths in disparate international cultures. Discovering that the sites involved form a perfect circle around the globe, Indy races to stop the Nazis from triggering another great flood.

The first first-person perspective game in the franchise, "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" offers a thoroughly immersive experience to fans. The game features all the spectacle and action-oriented set pieces that players have come to love, along with a healthy sense of humor. Moreover, the title features a robust mix of combat, stealth, platforming, and puzzle-solving that perfectly suits the titular archaeologist. After several middling releases, "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" rights the franchise once again — at least as far as the games are concerned.