10 Best Indiana Jones Games, According To Metacritic

When a film franchise is as popular as Indiana Jones, it only makes sense for numerous video game adaptations to exist. Some of them retell the stories from the films, while others fill in the gaps by crafting a unique plot for players to enjoy.

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They are not all made equal, however, and a large handful are not worth your time, as the Metacritic Scores of the games below will show. With the massive influence Indiana Jones has had on gaming, it is surprising to see that most of the games do not have high scores. After all, it is easy to see the character and his adventures in characters like Lara Croft and Nathan Drake.

Some of the older games do not have scores, and some of the multiplatform releases are different enough to warrant an explanation of the different scores.

Updated on February 13, 2024, by Jason Wojnar: Indiana Jones seems ripe for a video game adaptation considering each movie is one giant adventure with multiple bombastic setpieces. However, it never really hit the mark like it should have.

That's not to say there aren't any good games starring the character, they just never went over a 90 on Metacritic, as the updated version of this list below shows. Maybe the future will bring something brighter for the character. It's the perfect time for an all-time classic from the character, especially since the recent films haven't been received all that well.

10 Staff Of Kings (DS)

Metacritic Score: 50

• Release: June 9, 2009
• Developer: Artificial Mind And Movement
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Back when licensed games were being thrown onto every console under the sun, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings received an adaptation for the Nintendo DS. As is the case with most Nintendo platforms with unique controls, many third-party developers just could not wrap their hands around the features.

As a result, this version of the PS2 and Wii game sits at the bottom of the list. Adapting a console game to the DS rarely worked out.

9 Staff Of Kings (Wii And PS2)

Metacritic Score: 55

• Release: June 9, 2009
• Developer: Artificial Mind And Movement
• Platform: Wii, PS2

The Wii version of this game deserves a special mention because of the motion controls. The console's greatest strength was also the downfall of many third-party titles. The mandatory use of motion controls brings down the whole experience. The PS2 version at least does away with these, but it doesn't help it a lot.

The 2009 release date also meant no one would really care about it. At this point not only were the PS3 and Xbox 360 out for years, but great action/adventure titles like Uncharted had already come out.

There was a PS3 game in development featuring Indiana Jones that was to feature an impressive physics system that went on to be featured in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Unfortunately, this game never came to be.

8 Staff Of Kings (PSP)

Metacritic Score: 55

• Release: June 9, 2009
• Developer: Amaze Entertainment
• Platform: PSP

The Nintendo DS was not the only handheld console to receive the Staff of Kings. Not to be left out of the fun, a version was also released on the PSP, Sony's first handheld console.

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This version at least closer resembles the console counterparts but toned down to fit on the PSP. The levels are significantly smaller, taking only a handful of minutes to complete, and many complaints were lobbied at repetitive gameplay.

7 Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Nintendo DS)

Metacritic Score: 59

• Release: November 17, 2009
• Developer: Traveller's Tale
• Platforms: Nintendo DS

While the console versions of Lego games are always at least somewhat decent, the handheld ports are always a toss-up. Lego Indiana Jones 2 on the DS is considered the weakest way to experience this sequel.

While on the surface it looks like the console games, some half-baked touchscreen controls bog down the gameplay. If you wish to continue the adventure, it is better to do it on the Xbox 360 or PS3. Most of the time you can be sure that the Nintendo DS version of a game also available on consoles is going to be worse than the console release.

6 Emperor's Tomb (PS2)

Metacritic Score: 65

• Release: June 26, 2003
• Developer: The Collective
• Platform: PS2

While Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb also came out on the Xbox and PC, the PS2 version deserves a separate entry because of its significantly decreased quality. It is the same game, but reviewers pointed out numerous technical issues that were absent on the other versions.

It was not uncommon for PS2 versions of multiplatform games to run worse because it was the weakest of the generation, despite its enormous success.

For further examples of multi-platform games that ran way worse on the PS2, look at the PS2 version of Max Payne 2 and Splinter Cell.

5 Lego Indiana Jones 2 (Console Versions)

Metacritic Score: 72

• Release: November 17, 2009
• Developer: Traveller's Tale
• Platforms: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC

The first Lego Indiana Jones was the second big licensed Lego game after Lego Star Wars. While the first game covered the original trilogy, the sequel had fewer sources from which to draw inspiration, with only one movie added from the first game and redesigned levels for the first three films.

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A level editor also helped add replay value, but all in all the sequel was not considered a big enough expansion from the debut. Where Lego Star Wars has multiple iconic trilogies to draw from, Indiana Jones only had four movies available by the time this second game came out.

4 Emperor's Tomb (Xbox And PC)

Metacritic Score: 73

• Release: February 25, 2003
• Developer: The Collective
• Platform: Xbox, PC

Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb is considered one of the finer 3D Indiana Jones adventures. It does its best to capture the spirit of the films and translate it into video games.

It has not aged as gracefully as some other games from the time, since future action-adventure games would eventually evolve the formula, but fans of the franchise should still get a kick out of seeing a direct prequel to Temple of Doom.

3 Infernal Machine

Metacritic Score: 75

• Release Date: November 15, 1999
• Developer: LucasArts
• Platform: PC, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color

The first 3D adventure from Indiana Jones came in the form of the Infernal Machine for PC and Nintendo 64. Positive critiques included a focus on puzzles over combat and the overall vibe feeling like an Indiana Jones adventure.

Negativity was lobbied towards its similarities to the Tomb Raider franchise, but it's also easy to see the character being a large influence on Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series as a whole. Regardless of who might have ripped off who, the old-fashioned action/adventure gameplay from the 1990s hasn't aged well.

2 Lego Indiana Jones (Consoles)

Metacritic Score: 78

• Release: June 3, 2008
• Developer: Traveller's Tales
• Platform: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii

This game goes through the original trilogy as a cutesy Lego game, similar to the Lego Star Wars titles. Lego games have evolved significantly over the decade, so do not expect voice acting or open areas if you go back to this adventure.

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The simplicity helps it age, however, and gives it a certain charm. The game is easy for younger ones to grasp, and the exploding heads and ripped hearts won't freak them out the same way it does on film.

1 Lego Indiana Jones (DS)

Metacritic Score: 79

• Release: June 3, 2008
• Developer: Traveller's Tales
• Platform: Nintendo DS

The opposite case with its sequel, the original Lego Indiana Jones reviewed better on the DS than it did on consoles. Toning down the scope and action for the handheld did not sacrifice quality as much as it did for other handheld versions of the time. The biggest drawback would probably be the inconvenience of cooperative play.

Where console gamers can enjoy local co-op with two controllers and a buddy, DS players need two systems and another copy of the game. As annoying as this can be, it was common practice at the time and probably didn't take too many gamers by surprise.

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