- Core Mechanic: Finding Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books is the only way to unlock permanent skills and stat upgrades.
- Spending Points: Once a book is found, you must spend Adventure Points (AP) or Medicine Bottles to activate its effect.
- Priority Pick: Always prioritize Lucky Hat I and Pep I in the early game for better survivability and stamina recovery.
- Exploration Books: Regional map books (Books, Mysteries, Relics) reveal collectible locations on your map—buy these from vendors as soon as possible.
- Achievement Goal: You need to find all 55 ability books to earn the Bookman trophy/achievement.
In the world of archaeology, knowledge is just as dangerous as a loaded revolver. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, your progression is tied directly to the discovery of ancient texts and field manuals. These Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books serve as the backbone of the game's RPG-lite system, allowing players to customize Indy’s combat prowess, stealth capabilities, and physical endurance. Unlike traditional leveling systems, you won't gain power simply by defeating enemies; you must explore every nook and cranny of the Vatican, Gizeh, and Sukhothai to find these hidden volumes. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of where to find the most impactful adventure books, how to manage your Adventure Points, and which skills will turn you into a legendary explorer in the 2026 gaming landscape.
Understanding Adventure Book Mechanics
Before diving into specific locations, it is vital to understand how the upgrade loop works. Finding a book is only the first half of the process. Once a volume is added to your collection, it appears in the "Books" tab of your Journal. From there, you must "purchase" the upgrade using the currency you’ve earned through exploration.
| Upgrade Currency | Primary Source | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Points (AP) | Finding relics, taking photos, solving mysteries | Unlocks combat, stealth, and fitness skills |
| Medicine Bottles | Hidden in regional hubs (Vatican, Gizeh, etc.) | Specifically used for Moxie and Shaping Up |
Adventure Points are rewarded for almost every "archaeological" action. To ensure you have enough points to unlock every book you find, keep your camera out. Photographing inscriptions and landmarks is the fastest way to farm AP early in the game.
The game features 55 unique ability books in total. While some are handed to you during the main story, the vast majority are hidden behind environmental puzzles, locked safes, or are sold by specific regional vendors like Ernesto in the Vatican or Tongdang in Sukhothai.
Vatican City: Essential Early Game Books
The Vatican acts as your first major open-area hub, and it is packed with foundational Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books. These books focus on "Brawling" and "Fitness," which are essential since you won't have a large arsenal of firearms early on.
Lucky Hat I
- Location: Vatican Captain's Room
- Cost: 125 AP
- Effect: Get a second chance in a fight by picking up your fallen fedora.
Punch Out I
- Location: Castel Sant'Angelo
- Cost: 25 AP
- Effect: Restores stamina immediately upon knocking out an enemy.
Pep I
- Location: Belvedere Courtyard
- Cost: 275 AP
- Effect: Significantly boosts your base stamina recovery speed.
If you prefer a quiet approach, look for the Throttle book in the Borgia Courtyards. It costs 200 AP and allows Indy to knock out unaware lightweight and medium-weight enemies with a single whip pull, making guarded Vatican sections much easier to navigate.
Beyond combat, the Vatican also introduces "Exploration Books." These are unique because they don't give Indy a new move; instead, they update your map with markers for other collectibles.
| Exploration Book | How to Obtain | Map Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vatican Books | Bought from Ernesto | Reveals all Adventure Book locations in the Vatican |
| Vatican Mysteries | Earned through puzzles | Marks all Mystery locations on the map |
| Vatican Relics | Found in Apostolic Palace | Highlights Ancient Relics for 100% completion |
Gizeh and the Desert Upgrades
As you transition to the Gizeh hub, the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books begin to focus on "Combat" and "Survival" against tougher Nazi forces. The verticality of the pyramids and the open desert require better traversal and crowd control skills.
Acquire the Lighter
Many books in Gizeh are hidden in dark tomb corners. You must progress the story until you obtain the lighter to explore these areas effectively.
Locate Jumbo Lasso
Head to the Tomb of Khentkawes. This book costs 325 AP and is a game-changer, allowing you to whip-pull heavyweight enemies into a grab.
Solve the Cloud Atlas
Visit the Meteorological Station. By matching dates to cloud types, you can unlock the Gizeh Medicine book, which is required to spend Medicine Bottles in this region.
Visit the Nazi Rec Zone
Check the recreational tents and offices. You can find regional map books here that reveal the locations of the 10 Stelae required for the "It Belongs in a Museum" trophy.
Remember that each major region uses its own local currency for vendor purchases. Don't hoard your Vatican Lira; spend it before leaving, as it won't help you buy map books in the Egyptian desert.
The Medicine Bottle System: Moxie and Shaping Up
Unlike standard skills, your actual Health and Stamina bars are upgraded through a specific set of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books found in medical huts or post offices. These upgrades are tiered (I, II, and III) and require Medicine Bottles instead of AP.
| Book Name | Tier | Requirement | Permanent Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moxie | I | 5 Bottles | Initial stamina bar extension |
| Moxie | II | 10 Bottles | Secondary stamina bar extension |
| Moxie | III | 15 Bottles | Maximum stamina capacity |
| Shaping Up | I | 5 Bottles | First extra health reserve bar |
| Shaping Up | II | 10 Bottles | Second extra health reserve bar |
| Shaping Up | III | 15 Bottles | Maximum health reserves |
You can turn in your bottles at the Vatican Post Office, the Gizeh Workers Area, or the Sukhothai Medical Hut. Each location has a doctor or attendant who facilitates these specific upgrades.
Sukhothai: High-Level Mastery Books
The final major hub, Sukhothai, contains the most expensive and powerful Indiana Jones and the Great Circle adventure books. By this point, you should have a surplus of AP from finding the many relics hidden in the jungle.
Top Sukhothai Ability Books:
- Jumbo Grip: Found near Tongdang's Hut (requires Path of Tigers safe code 2480)
- Street Scrapper III: Found in the Wat Mahathat tent (requires code 4134)
- Sukhothai Medicine: Found in Wat Chana Songkhram (requires code 59404)
- Khmer Gear Head: Earned by completing all 10 Cogwheel puzzles
Before attempting to finish the story in Iraq, return to Sukhothai and buy the Sukhothai Books, Mysteries, and Relics guides from Tongdang. These will ensure you don't miss the final volumes needed for the Bookman achievement.
Summary of Adventure Book Locations
To help you track your progress toward the 55-book goal, use the following table to verify you have cleared the major totals for each region.
| Region | Total Ability Books | Key Vendor | Major Skill Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vatican | 12 | Ernesto | Brawling & Stealth |
| Gizeh | 15 | Desert Camps | Combat & Traversal |
| Sukhothai | 18 | Tongdang | Advanced Combat |
| Linear Levels | 10 | N/A (Found in story) | Basic Mechanics |
Adventure Books FAQ
Q: Can I unlock every skill in a single playthrough?
Yes. If you are diligent about collecting Ancient Relics and taking photos, you will earn enough Adventure Points to unlock all 55 books before the final mission.
Q: Do I lose my upgrades in New Game Plus?
The game allows for free-roam cleanup after the story. Most upgrades and book progress carry over, but you should aim to finish the 'Bookman' trophy in your main save file.
Q: What happens if I find a book but don't have enough AP?
The book stays in your Journal permanently. You can return to any medical hut or post office later to spend your points once you've earned them.
Q: Are there any missable adventure books?
According to major completionist roadmaps, there are zero missable trophies. You can use the 'Travels' tab in your Journal to return to any hub and find missing books.