So, you’re looking for the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle big board game. You’ve probably seen the photos of that massive box, the 11-inch globe, and the weathered journal. It looks like the kind of thing you’d spend four hours playing on a rainy Sunday with a bottle of wine and some friends who are way too into archeology.
But here’s the kicker.
There isn’t actually a "Great Circle" board game. At least, not in the way you’re thinking.
The confusion is totally understandable. When Bethesda and MachineGames announced the Collector’s Edition for the 2024 video game, the packaging was so huge it looked exactly like a premium tabletop experience from Kickstarter. People saw the "Big Board Game" aesthetic and the term started trending. In reality, what everyone is calling the "big board game" is actually a collection of high-end physical props bundled with the video game.
The Collector’s Edition Confusion
Honestly, the box is a beast. If you bought the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Collector’s Edition (which launched for around $189), you got something that occupies the same shelf space as a Gloomhaven or a Twilight Imperium.
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It feels like a game because it’s tactile. You get an 11-inch globe that actually has a "Great Circle" mechanic. There’s a little magnet plane you move around the surface to find secret locations. When you hit the right spot, a hidden storage compartment pops open. That’s a "game" in its own right, sure, but it’s a physical puzzle meant to house your digital game code and some trinkets, not a set of rules for a 4-player strategy night.
What’s Actually Inside the Big Box?
If you're hunting for this because you want a physical artifact to display, here’s the actual inventory. No fluff.
- The Allmaker Relic: This is the centerpiece. It’s a 1:1 scale replica of the main MacGuffin from the game. Crucially, this is where they hid the game code. If you’re a physical media purist, this might hurt: most of these "big board game" boxes didn't actually come with a disc. They came with a code on the back of this relic.
- The New Adventure Journal: This is probably the coolest part for lore nerds. It’s a physical book that mirrors the one Indy uses in the game. It’s filled with sketches, notes, and clues.
- The Globe with Hidden Storage: As mentioned, this is the "game" part people get confused by. It’s a legit piece of desk decor.
- The Jumbo SteelBook: A massive metal case for... well, for the code you already used.
Why Everyone Thinks It's a Tabletop Game
The timing was weirdly perfect for a misunderstanding. Right around the time Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was being teased, Funko Games (now part of Goliath) released a string of actual Indiana Jones board games.
You might have seen Indiana Jones: Sands of Adventure or Indiana Jones Cryptic. Those are real board games. Cryptic, in particular, uses a "journal" mechanic very similar to the video game's Collector's Edition. When you search for "Indiana Jones big board game," Google’s algorithm often mashes the high-end video game box with these $30 tabletop titles.
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It’s a classic case of SEO crossover. You’ve got a video game that looks like a board game and actual board games coming out at the same time.
Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?
We're now well past the initial hype of the late 2024 Xbox/PC launch and the April 2025 PS5 release. If you’re looking for the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle big board game experience now, you’re likely looking at the secondary market.
Prices on eBay for the full Collector's Edition have fluctuated wildly. Some people are selling just the globe and the relic for $100, while mint-in-box sets can still command $250+.
If you actually want to play a board game, don't buy this. You’ll be disappointed. You’ll have a very expensive globe and nowhere to put your meeples.
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But if you want the ultimate desk setup for a fan of the franchise, this is the one. The quality of the "Allmaker Relic" is surprisingly high—it's got a decent weight to it and doesn't feel like cheap plastic.
What You Should Do Instead
If you’re genuinely looking for a tabletop experience to scratch that Indy itch while waiting for the game to download (which is like 130GB, so you’ll have time), check out these specific titles:
- Indiana Jones: Sands of Adventure: This is the closest thing to a "big" experience. It’s got a sand timer, 3D components, and actually feels like a race against Nazis.
- Indiana Jones Cryptic: This is a "Puzzles and Pathways" game. It’s basically an escape room in a box. If you liked the "Journal" aspect of the Great Circle, this is the one you actually want.
- The Video Game itself: If you haven't played it, the PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X versions are the way to go. The puzzles in the game are basically digital board games anyway.
Basically, don't get tricked by the "Big Box" listings unless you specifically want the props. The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle experience is a masterpiece of first-person adventuring, but it stays firmly on your screen, not your dining room table.
If you're hunting for a deal, check local comic shops or independent game stores. They often have one of these Collector's Editions gathering dust because the box is too big for their standard shelves. You can usually talk them down on the price just to help them clear some space.