Indiana Jones And The Great Circle – Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles Guide

TL;DR

  • Master gear mechanics: 10 portable small gears connect to fixed large gears in puzzle diagrams
  • Strategic gear management is crucial – never leave portable gears behind after solving puzzles
  • Complete all 7 puzzles across Sukhothai to collect relics for the secret ending
  • Purchase the Sukhothai Cogwheels booklet for 700 baht to simplify puzzle solving
  • Document pillars outside puzzle rooms for additional Adventure Points rewards


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Venturing through Sukhothai’s lush rivers and dense jungles in the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle campaign presents numerous challenges crafted by the ancient Khmer civilization. Among these, the intricate cogwheel puzzles stand out as particularly engaging mechanical conundrums. This comprehensive walkthrough provides detailed solutions for conquering every Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle you’ll encounter.

Scattered throughout the expansive Sukhothai region, these mechanical brain teasers require both logical thinking and strategic planning. We’ve structured this guide to begin with fundamental puzzle mechanics before progressing to specific location-based solutions. Crucially, successfully solving these puzzles rewards you with Sukhothai Relics, essential artifacts for accessing the game’s elusive secret ending.

The core mechanic of Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles revolves around gear placement and rotational synchronization. Each puzzle chamber contains a pre-arranged diagram where you must strategically position gears to create a functioning mechanical system.

  • Puzzle layouts feature two types of components: large stationary cogwheels permanently fixed within each chamber, and small portable cogwheels that you carry between locations. There are exactly 10 of these transportable small gears available throughout your journey.
  • Your objective in every puzzle is to achieve complete mechanical synchronization—ensuring all gears interlock and rotate harmoniously when you activate the chamber’s lever. Successful activation typically grants a Sukhothai Relic as compensation (with the initial area being the exception).
  • Maintain diligent gear inventory management—always retrieve your small cogwheels after solving each puzzle, as they remain essential for subsequent challenges.
  • For those seeking additional assistance, consider acquiring the Sukhothai Cogwheels reference booklet from the merchant Tongdang for 700 baht.
  • Additionally, examine the inscribed pillars positioned outside each puzzle room. Photographing these artifacts earns valuable Adventure Points.

Mastering Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles requires understanding several advanced techniques beyond basic gear placement. These strategies will significantly reduce your solving time and prevent common frustrations.

Advanced Gear Placement Methodology: Begin by identifying the central drive gear in each puzzle diagram—this is typically the largest fixed cogwheel that initiates the rotational chain. Position your portable gears to create the shortest possible power transmission path to all peripheral components. Avoid creating unnecessarily long gear trains, as these often introduce points of failure.

Common Solving Pitfalls: Many players mistakenly leave portable gears behind after completing early puzzles, creating insurmountable obstacles in later stages. Always conduct a gear count before exiting any puzzle chamber. Another frequent error involves mismatching gear sizes—ensure small gears only connect to large gears and vice versa to maintain proper mechanical advantage.

Efficiency Optimization: For experienced players seeking to minimize puzzle-solving time, adopt a systematic approach: survey the entire diagram before placing any gears, identify dead-end gear paths that don’t contribute to the main mechanism, and prioritize establishing connections to the lever-activated drive gear first.

Time Management: Most individual puzzles can be completed in 5-10 minutes once you understand the mechanics. However, allocating 60-90 minutes for locating and solving all seven puzzles provides a realistic timeframe accounting for navigation and initial learning curve.

The reference map provided illustrates the distribution of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Khmer Cogwheels throughout Sukhothai. We’ve systematically numbered these locations based on the quantity of small gears required to activate each mechanism. Importantly, the seventh and final puzzle location remains unmarked on your map and quest tracker, serving as the ultimate mechanical challenge.

What are Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles?
Khmer Cogwheels Puzzle map

Puzzles #1-4: Foundational Challenges

These initial puzzles introduce core mechanics with gradually increasing complexity. The first puzzle at The Blessed Pearl location actually comprises two interconnected mechanisms (right and left sides) that function as an introductory tutorial.

Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #1A: The Blessed Pearl - Right side
Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #1B: The Blessed Pearl - Left side

The Waterfall Ruins (Puzzle #2) introduces environmental factors, while Wat Mahathat (Puzzle #3) and Wat Si Sawai (Puzzle #4) progressively require more strategic gear allocation and advanced placement thinking.

Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #2: Waterfall Ruins
Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #3: Wat Mahathat
Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #4: Wat Si Sawai

Puzzles #5-7: Advanced Mechanical Enigmas

The Hidden Platform (Puzzle #5) represents a significant difficulty spike, requiring precise gear sequencing and spatial reasoning. The Village puzzle (#6) introduces multi-stage activation sequences.

Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #5: Hidden Platform
Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #6: Village

The culminating River Bank puzzle (#7) tests everything you’ve learned, featuring the most complex gear arrangement and requiring optimal use of all available portable cogwheels.

Khmer Cogwheel Puzzle #7: River Bank

Beyond the primary puzzle mechanics, several supplementary elements enhance your Sukhothai exploration experience and provide additional rewards.

Adventure Points System: The inscribed pillars positioned outside each puzzle chamber serve dual purposes—they provide visual clues about the internal mechanism while offering photography opportunities that grant Adventure Points. These points contribute to your overall progression and should not be overlooked.

Merchant Assistance Options: Tongdang’s Sukhothai Cogwheels booklet, available for 700 baht, provides valuable schematic diagrams that can significantly reduce puzzle-solving time for players who prefer guidance.

Secret Ending Requirements: The Sukhothai Relics obtained from these puzzles constitute essential components for unlocking the game’s hidden conclusion. Without collecting all relics, accessing this exclusive content becomes impossible, making thorough puzzle completion a priority for completionists.

For those interested in broader gameplay strategies beyond puzzle solving, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive coverage of game mechanics. Additionally, weapon enthusiasts should consult our Weapons Unlock guide for armament optimization, while strategic players will benefit from the Class Guide for optimal character specialization.

Action Checklist

  • Acquire all 10 portable small cogwheels from initial puzzle areas
  • Study each puzzle diagram completely before placing any gears
  • Solve puzzles #1-4 using progressive complexity strategies
  • Complete advanced puzzles #5-7 with strategic gear placement
  • Photograph all pillars outside puzzle rooms for Adventure Points
  • Collect all Sukhothai Relics and ensure no portable gears are left behind

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Indiana Jones And The Great Circle – Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles Guide Master all 7 Khmer Cogwheel Puzzles in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with expert strategies and location guides