How Troy Baker Perfectly Captured Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones Voice

When the team behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle first conceptualized their game several years ago, I can’t help but wonder if they truly grasped the magnitude of the challenge they were undertaking. Their decision to fully capture the likeness of Indiana Jones meant that the character wouldn’t just be a generic version of the adventurer, but would mirror the iconic visage, voice, and movements of Harrison Ford, just as fans remember him from the original 1980s trilogy. You know, the rugged Indy in his prime, rather than the older version seen in the more recent films.

Creating any game is an impressive feat, but MachineGames took on a Herculean task with this one. What really brought their vision to life was the involvement of Troy Baker. Renowned in the industry for his unforgettable roles like Joel in The Last of Us and Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Baker was tasked with bringing to life one of the most revered characters in pop culture. Nailing Ford’s distinctive voice was absolutely crucial.

Thanks to a recent video from BAFTA, we gained some behind-the-scenes insights into how Baker accomplished this remarkable feat. He went all-in from the get-go, immersing himself in the role. For the first table read, which took place virtually via Microsoft Teams during the pandemic, he logged in with the name “Indiana Jones” and even brought along a fedora and bullwhip, according to Mitra Ashkan Far, the cinematic producer.

Both Far and voice-over designer Emily Hesler attribute much of the success to performance director Tom Keegan. His impressive resume, filled with titles from the Wolfenstein and Star Wars franchises, speaks volumes. “He had a knack for getting people into character,” Hesler mentions. In the BAFTA video, around the 7:20 mark in the 27-minute clip, Hesler shares recordings of Baker grunting as Indy—capturing those split-second moments of pain and resilience—and highlights the magic that made Baker’s portrayal so convincing and true to Ford’s.

“That’s classic Indy,” Hesler says with a laugh, clearly taken by the authenticity. “There’s so much personality packed in there, way beyond just getting hit.”

For Hesler, the unique quality of Baker’s performance lies in how his grunts reveal Indy’s frustration while simultaneously underscoring his strength and determination. It’s as if, even while taking a punch, Indy is scheming his retaliation.

“It needs this breathiness,” Hesler elaborates. “There’s still tone, but it’s blended with an exasperated air. That attitude, that hint of annoyance—Troy nails it every single time.”

After spending countless hours immersed in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I still find myself in awe of Baker’s portrayal, which earned him a share of the 2025 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character. Gamers can look forward to its release on PlayStation 5 this spring.