When the creators of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle first started sketching out their game, I can’t help but wonder if they truly grasped the challenge they were diving into by choosing to go all out with a full-likeness approach. They didn’t just aim to have a character named “Indiana Jones” but intended for him to look, act, and sound precisely like Harrison Ford from the classic 1980s films. That’s right, they wanted Indy in his rugged, prime form—not the older version we’ve seen in more recent movies.
Creating any game is an impressive feat, but pulling off something this ambitious is particularly remarkable, and a lot of credit goes to Troy Baker. Known for iconic roles like Joel in The Last of Us and Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Baker faced a huge task in bringing the legendary Indiana Jones, with all his charm and presence, to life. Anything less than a flawless portrayal would simply not meet the expectations of fans.
A recent BAFTA video gives us a sneak peek into how Baker managed such an extraordinary performance. In a move that bordered on method acting, Baker entered the project’s first script reading—conducted over Microsoft Teams during the pandemic—fully in character. He signed in under the name “Indiana Jones” and even brought along a fedora and whip, joked cinematic producer Mitra Ashkan Far.
Both Far and voice-over designer Emily Hesler offer heaps of praise to performance director Tom Keegan, who has worked on several Wolfenstein and Star Wars titles, for his knack at immersing actors in their roles. Around the 7:20 mark in the video, Hesler plays clips of Baker’s voice recordings portraying Indy, capturing the essence of getting punched. She points out the unique touch that made his depiction so distinctively reminiscent of Ford.
Laughing at the audio clip, Hesler remarks, “That’s pure Indy right there. It’s not just a grunt—there’s so much personality packed in, beyond just reacting to a punch.”
For Hesler, Baker’s vocal nuances convey both Indy’s mild irritation at being in a tight spot, yet also his underlying strength and determination—insinuating that despite the current odds, Indy is poised to turn the tables on his adversary.
Hesler continues, “There’s this certain breathiness to it. The tone is still consistent, yet you also catch a hint of his annoyance. There’s this particular attitude, a personality shine-through that Troy captures exceptionally well.”
After spending countless hours on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I’m still in awe of Baker’s performance, which earned him the 2025 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character. The game is set to launch on PlayStation 5 this coming spring.
