Unpacking the 1937 timeline placement of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and its ambiguous canonical status in the franchise.
When is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set?
Pinpointing the exact year of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is crucial for understanding its place in the larger saga. This analysis breaks down the chronological setting and its significant implications for the story and characters.
The iconic archaeologist returns in a new first-person action-adventure from MachineGames and Bethesda, with Troy Baker voicing Dr. Jones. This chapter sees him battling global threats seeking to exploit the mysterious Great Circle.
With a sprawling franchise encompassing five films, a TV series, and various spinoffs, locating this new game on the timeline is the first step to grasping its narrative weight and connections.
The adventure is locked in 1937, a pivotal year that slots directly between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936) and The Last Crusade (1938). This isn’t a random choice; it’s a narrative sweet spot ripe with character drama.
Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick emphasized to IGN that the game’s story is designed to “enrich those films, as much as the films bring a lot of story back to this.” This positions the game as a connective tissue, exploring uncharted character development and global events from this specific era.
The confirmed appearance of Dr. Marcus Brody hints at a story deeply tied to Marshall College. The 1937 setting, particularly with Egyptian locales, makes the return of Sallah highly probable. This era also opens the door for cameos from Short Round, a young Harold Oxley (later central to Crystal Skull), and, most intriguingly, Marion Ravenwood.
Indy and Marion’s relationship is in a fragile state during this period. They reunited at the end of Raiders, but by the start of Last Crusade they are estranged, with Marion later revealing Indy called off their wedding. The game could explore the immediate fallout of this breakup.
A major, often overlooked, complication is that in 1937, Marion would be pregnant with their son, Mutt Williams. The game may address this delicate situation, showing a couple either freshly separated or in the final tumultuous days of their relationship. Her presence is felt via a journal inscription in the Collector’s Edition: “for your next adventure, Marion.”
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Furthermore, this is the last year of estrangement from his father, Henry Jones Sr., before their adventure in The Last Crusade. The game could provide critical context for their strained relationship, showing Indy’s mindset before he must reconcile with his father to find the Holy Grail.
Note: The timeline above focuses on core film and game events. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series (1908-1920) occupies a nebulous canonical space and is excluded for clarity regarding the game’s direct pre-film connections.
Is the Great Circle canon?
The question of canonicity is complex for any franchise expansion. For Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the developers have adopted a strategic and intentional ambiguity that focuses on narrative authenticity over official labels.
Lucasfilm Games has not declared the game official canon. When pressed by IGN, Craig Derrick avoided a binary yes/no, instead framing it as an “authentic” story that fits within the established universe.
Derrick stated: “It’s authentic to Indiana Jones. It’s authentic to the stories that we’ve told… it’s an authentically told story that I think fits really well in everything else you’ve experienced with Indiana Jones.” This language prioritizes feel and respect for the source material over strict continuity adherence.
This deliberate non-answer suggests the game occupies a supplemental or “soft canon” space. Its canonicity likely only becomes a pressing issue if it introduces irreversible, contradictory changes to Indy’s core backstory or character arc—something the team seems keen to avoid.
MachineGames Design Director Jens Andersson reinforced this approach: “I don’t think we’re trying to change anything. We want to build on what’s there and enrich on it.” This philosophy guides the game to be a respectful expansion that slots neatly into timeline gaps without forcing major retcons.
For players, the most practical takeaway is to approach The Great Circle as a high-quality, standalone adventure that deepens the lore. Its value lies in its ability to capture the spirit of Indiana Jones and tell a compelling story within his world, not in its power to redefine established film history.
For further details, explore our coverage on the game’s global release schedule and read our hands-on preview, which declares “Indy is back and better than ever.”
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