So, you’re tearing through the tombs, whipping Nazis, and grabbing everything that isn't nailed down. Classic Indy. But if you’re looking at your collection and seeing big gaps in the grid, you’ve likely realized that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ancient relics aren't just your typical "collectible-for-the-sake-of-it" filler. They’re actually the backbone of the game’s deepest secrets.
Honestly, most people treat these things like extra credit. Big mistake. Finding all 50 of them isn’t just about getting a shiny trophy or a completionist's pat on the back; it’s the literal key to a secret ending that completely changes the vibe of the game’s finale.
Why You Actually Need Every Single Relic
Let's be real: some of these are a massive pain to find. You’re scanning dark corners in Gizeh or trying not to get eaten by scorpions in Sukhothai. Why bother? Well, once you reach the Ziggurat of Ur in Iraq—the game’s final stretch—you’ll stumble upon a wall puzzle. It’s not just any puzzle. To solve it, you need to slot in every single relic you’ve found across the Vatican, Egypt, and Thailand.
If you’re missing even one? You’re locked out.
The "True" ending revealed behind that wall is wild. It shows Noah’s Ark tucked away in a snowy wasteland, and there’s this lingering shot of giant footprints. It’s a huge nod to the "Great Circle" lore and sets up a lot of questions for the upcoming DLC. Without those relics, you’re basically watching the "theatrical cut" while everyone else gets the "director’s cut" with the extra lore.
Hunting Down the Guidebooks (The Game Changer)
Stop wandering around blindly. Please.
✨ Don't miss: Finding Every Bubbul Gem: Why the Map of Caves TOTK Actually Matters
Before you spend three hours hugging walls in the Vatican, you need to find the specific Relics Guidebooks for each region. These books are the holy grail of your hunt because they actually mark the relic locations on your map.
In the Vatican, you have to solve the "House of God" puzzle box. It’s located in a construction area between the Apostolic Palace and the Borgia Tower. Move the lever, grab the disc, swap the chalice—you know the drill. Once you have that book, the Vatican relics show up as icons.
For Gizeh, it's a bit more "work-for-hire." You’ve got to find six stone steles for a kid in the Workers Area. Hand those over, and he gives you the Gizeh guide. In Sukhothai, the book is hidden in a camp in the northeast. You’ll need to mess with some elephant statues and pressure plates, but it saves you a world of hurt later on.
The Breakdown of Relic Locations
There are 50 in total. They don't just sit on pedestals waiting for you; they're tucked behind puzzles, inside safes, or rewarded for side quests.
- The Vatican (10 Relics): Most are in the catacombs or the library. One is a reward for the "Secret of Giants" quest—you have to take photos of 10 inscriptions for Father Antonio.
- Gizeh (15 Relics): These are spread across the Sphinx ruins, Nazi camps, and ancient caves. One is hidden in a sarcophagus you can only open by placing four specific canopic jars (the human, falcon, jackal, and baboon heads) on their matching pedestals.
- Sukhothai (24 Relics): This is the heavy lifter. You’ll be diving into the Hidden Pyramid, solving "Khmer Cogwheel" puzzles, and even sneaking into Voss’s camp.
- Iraq (1 Relic): The final piece of the puzzle.
That Tricky 50th Relic
This is where the game kinda trolls you. You can find 49 relics during your normal playthrough. You'll scour the maps, check every crate, and feel like a god. But then you get to the end and you're still one short.
🔗 Read more: Playing A Link to the Past Switch: Why It Still Hits Different Today
The 50th relic is inside Voss’s tent in the final level. The catch? As soon as you walk into that tent, a cutscene triggers and launches you into the final boss fight and the credits. You literally cannot pick it up the first time you see it.
To get it, you have to finish the game. Once the credits roll, the game drops you back into a "post-game" free-roam state. You have to backtrack to that camp, walk into the now-empty tent, and grab the relic off the table. Only then can you head to the Ziggurat of Ur and finish that massive wall puzzle.
Skill Points: The Practical Side of Looting
Aside from the secret ending, collecting these things fuels your Adventure Points. In this game, finding stuff is basically your XP. You don't just "level up" by hitting things. You find a relic, get points, and then spend those points to unlock abilities in your Adventure Books.
If you want the "Lucky Hat" skill (which literally gives you a second life if you get knocked out) or the "Brawler" upgrades to actually survive a fistfight with a heavy-duty Nazi, you need the points that relics provide.
Some relics are also tied to "Mystery" quests. For example, in the Vatican, completing the "Secrets of Giants" quest doesn't just give you a relic—it also gives you clues for a skeleton statue puzzle that rewards you with an indestructible melee weapon. It’s all connected.
💡 You might also like: Plants vs Zombies Xbox One: Why Garden Warfare Still Slaps Years Later
Pro Tips for the Relic Hunter
Don't ignore your camera. Seriously. Half the time, the "clue" to a relic's location is a weird carving or a document that Indy needs to photograph first. If the "investigate" prompt pops up, do it.
Also, watch out for the "verticality" icons on your map. If you’re standing right on a relic icon but see nothing, look up or down. A lot of these are hidden in rafters or sub-basements that you can only reach by swinging your whip across a specific wooden beam.
If you miss some, don't sweat it too much during the main story. You can always go back. But if you're aiming for that 100% completion and the secret cinematic, keep a checklist. Sukhothai is usually where people lose track because 24 items in one zone is a lot of ground to cover.
Next Steps for Your Adventure:
Open your map in the Vatican and check if you've triggered the "House of God" mystery yet. If not, head to the construction site near the Borgia Tower to get that first guidebook; it'll make the rest of your hunt ten times easier. Once you have the book, focus on the "Secret of Giants" inscriptions first, as that's the most time-consuming relic to earn in the early game.