The Sukhothai area in Indiana Jones & The Great Circle is filled with intriguing puzzles, especially the ones involving the Khmer Cogwheels, which are essential for advancing the main storyline. Unlike the optional mystery quests, these puzzles are critical to progress in the game. While you can opt to stop after solving a few, pushing forward will earn you some exceptional rewards.
In contrast to other mysteries in Indiana Jones & The Great Circle that are restricted to a single area, the Khmer Cogwheel puzzles are spread throughout Sukhothai. You will need to explore various locations to gather cogwheel pieces essential for unlocking solutions to each puzzle. Accomplishing this will enable you to continue with the storyline and earn unique achievements, alongside rewards that enhance your abilities.
Discovering and Initiating Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles
Encountering Different Gears in the Main Story
The first Khmer Cogwheel you’ll encounter appears during the quest titled "The Blessed Pearl." This event occurs when you arrive at the Hidden Pyramid, located near the northwest corner of the Sukhothai map. This is your initial opportunity to interact with and collect ancient wooden cogwheels that are integral to this part of the game.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Hidden Pyramid, you can collect three wooden cogwheels from the ruins. Be sure to hold onto these, as you’ll need as many cogwheels as possible for future puzzles. As you explore deeper into the Pyramid, you will utilize additional cogwheels to solve a puzzle tied to the main quest, though you won’t retain these particular pieces for subsequent side quests in Indiana Jones & TGC.
Tip: Any puzzles involving cogwheels will need you to fit both small and large cogs into designated spaces near a mechanism. Your goal in each cogwheel puzzle is to establish a chain of interconnected gears, activating an ancient device.
You obtain three small cogwheels from the Hidden Pyramid, which will kick off the "Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles" log in your Journal. To move forward, you’ll have to explore various locations in Sukhothai for additional cogwheels beyond those collected at the Pyramid. Additionally, you’ll need to solve more puzzles at these locations with the cogwheels you’ve already amassed.
Finding and Solving Each Cogwheel Puzzle
Acquire the Right Book and Ensure You Have Enough Gears
To effectively locate all cogwheel puzzles, your best bet is to purchase the Sukhothai Cogwheels Adventure Book from Tongdang, a vendor situated in the main village of the region. This book becomes available once you acquire the Rebreather in Indiana Jones & TGC. Since the Rebreather can be quite pricey, make sure to gather enough money in the area before tracking down cogwheel locations.
When factoring in the cogs you collected at the Hidden Pyramid, there are seven cogwheel puzzles in Sukhothai. The three cogs from the "The Blessed Pearl" quest can be used in other puzzles, but some will require more gears than you initially have. Below is a comprehensive list of each cogwheel puzzle, including their locations and the number of cogwheels needed to complete them:
- The Hidden Pyramid – 3 Cogwheels
- Waterfall Ruins – 4 Cogwheels
- Wat Mahathat – 5 Cogwheels
- Wat Si Sawai – 6 Cogwheels
- Village – 8 Cogwheels
- Hidden Platform – 10 Cogwheels
- River Bank – 10 Cogwheels
Solving the Waterfall Ruins Cogwheel Puzzle
To tackle the Waterfall Ruins cogwheel puzzle, head west of Sukhothai. You’ll find a totem that indicates the puzzle’s location near the river’s edge. Look for a hole in the ground to drop into the puzzle area.
You’ll only need small cogwheels to solve this challenge, which can be easily acquired. Inside the Waterfall Ruins cave, you will discover two additional small cogwheels, which can be paired with the three you obtained from the Hidden Pyramid. Ensure that the smaller cogs connect to the southern large cogwheels, and then pull the lever nearby to complete the puzzle.
Upon successful completion, you’ll unlock a gate, revealing an Ancient Relic next to a skeleton. Remember to retain all cogwheels, as you’ll need them for upcoming puzzles in Indiana Jones & TGC.
Solving the Wat Mahathat Cogwheel Puzzle
The Wat Mahathat cogwheel puzzle lies almost at the heart of Sukhothai, as indicated by the book you received from Tongdang. Move south from the northeast section until you spot a familiar totem, then drop into the cave to discover the cogwheel puzzle featuring larger cogwheels that you can modify.
This puzzle is slightly more challenging because you’ll need to manipulate the existing large cogwheels within it. Make sure to connect the largest wheel at the top to the left gears to create a chain leading down to the slots beneath.
Once you’ve secured the path, use small cogwheels in the lowermost spaces to the right of the bottom green wheel. Attach both larger cogs next to each other, and then add a smaller cog to complete the path leading to the final large gear. Winning this puzzle grants you another Ancient Relic as a reward.
The Wat Si Sawai cogwheel puzzle awaits you as you enter the southwestern main camp area. Follow the path to the left until you come across a marshy region. You can drop into an area featuring a cogwheel puzzle yet again. This puzzle is more complex, so utilize the bottom left large cog as a starting point to connect smaller gears in order to activate the mechanism.
Completing the Village Cogwheel Puzzle
The Village cogwheel puzzle is located south of Khaimuksaksit Village. Head to Tongdang’s Hut near the river, then dive underwater while using the Rebreather to find a log obstructing your path. After clearing the log, swim through the opening and emerge to find the totem and a hole leading to the puzzle.
This puzzle offers an array of large cogs that can be maneuvered. Focus on placing your cogs correctly to connect them effectively. Solving this puzzle will again yield an Ancient Relic.
Finalizing the Hidden Platform and River Bank Puzzles
The Hidden Platform puzzle is located southeast of Voss’ Camp. By diving underwater once more, you’ll be able to maneuver through obstacles until you reach another cogwheel puzzle. Retain the maximum of 10 cogwheels to solve all future puzzles in Sukhothai.
Last but not least, the River Bank puzzle is slightly southwest of Voss’ Camp, right near where your adventure began. Collect the larger cog found there, and clear away the existing cogs to begin fresh. The strategy here involves placing cogs that effectively connect to each other, ultimately leading to the completion of this final challenge.
When you successfully solve the final cogwheel puzzle, you’ll unlock yet another Ancient Relic and earn more Adventure Points. Plus, those who complete all related cogwheel puzzles will receive the "Gearhead" achievement in Indiana Jones & The Great Circle. Happy adventuring!