When the folks behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sat down years back to sketch out their game, I bet they didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of their undertaking. Venturing down the path where Indiana Jones wouldn’t just be the legendary archeologist, but would also mirror Harrison Ford in every possible way—from his appearance and voice to that unforgettable swagger from the original ’80s trilogy. It was all about capturing Indy in his prime, leaving behind the older version we saw in the more recent films.
Getting any game across the finish line is a feat in itself, but MachineGames nailed this Herculean task thanks to the incredible talent of Troy Baker. Known for bringing characters like Joel from The Last of Us and Sam Drake from Uncharted 4 to life, Baker was about to tackle one of the most iconic personas ever: Indiana Jones. Nailing Ford’s voice wasn’t just important—it was the only option.
In a recent BAFTA video, the developers offered a glimpse into how Baker took on this challenge. During the early days of the project, which kicked off virtually on Microsoft Teams due to the pandemic, Baker embraced a bit of method acting. He logged in with “Indiana Jones” as his screen name and even donned a fedora and bullwhip, as shared by cinematic producer Mitra Ashkan Far.
A lot of praise also went to performance director Tom Keegan, who has previously worked on several Wolfenstein and Star Wars games. Emily Hesler, the game’s voice-over designer, noted how Keegan had this knack for immersing the team deeply into their roles. Around the 7:20 mark of the 27-minute video, Hesler plays some recordings of Baker’s grunts as Indy, capturing those raw moments when he’s taking a hit, and highlighting the special touch that makes his portrayal so true to Ford’s iconic character.
Laughing, Hesler remarks, “That’s so Indy to a tee! It’s not just about getting punched; there’s a whole world of personality and depth in those sounds.”
For Hesler, the nuances in Baker’s performance—the exasperation in his sighs, the subtle toughness—communicate so much. We get a sense of a character who’s annoyed yet unyielding, fully determined to turn the tables on his attacker.
“It really needs that breathiness,” Hesler elaborates. “There’s character and tone in those breaths, a hint of annoyance mixed with determination. And Troy captures that effortlessly.”
Even after spending countless hours with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I’m still in awe of Baker’s rendition of Indy, which even earned him a share of the 2025 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character. Get ready, as the game is set to launch on PlayStation 5 this spring, inviting players to dive back into Indy’s thrilling adventures.
