Tomb Raider

Lara Croft: The Character

Lara Croft was created by Toby Gard at Core Design as a strong, independent female protagonist capable of leading an action game. The original character design was deliberately capable and athletic rather than passive. She has a British accent, a ponytail, and a pair of handguns. She attended Wimbledon High School and the University of London. Her parents were Sir Richard and Lady Amelia Croft. She is simultaneously a credentialed archaeologist and one of gaming’s most capable action heroes. Different versions of the character across different game eras have emphasized different aspects of her personality, from the confident pulp adventure hero of the classic games to the more vulnerable young woman of the reboot trilogy.

Tomb Raider Games: The Classic Era

Tomb Raider (1996) to Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

The original Core Design games were landmark titles for PlayStation and PC. The original Tomb Raider in 1996 introduced the third-person 3D action adventure format that would influence countless games. Lara exploring ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Peruvian ruins, solving environmental puzzles, and fighting both wildlife and human enemies across stunning pre-rendered backgrounds was extraordinary for its time. The series produced a new entry nearly every year throughout the late 1990s, with Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III maintaining the quality and Chronicles and The Last Revelation beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

The troubled final Core Design entry, released in a broken state after a difficult development, received poor reviews and led to Eidos transferring development to Crystal Dynamics.

Tomb Raider Games: The Crystal Dynamics Era

Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) to Underworld (2008)

Crystal Dynamics rebooted the series with Tomb Raider: Legend, which was well-received and restored faith in the franchise. Tomb Raider: Anniversary in 2007 remade the original game. Tomb Raider: Underworld in 2008 concluded this trilogy. The three games formed a cohesive arc focused on Lara’s search for her missing mother.

Tomb Raider (2013) to Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)

The 2013 reboot told an origin story of a young Lara Croft shipwrecked on a mysterious Japanese island. Influenced by Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series, it emphasized survival, crafting, and a more vulnerable version of Lara that divided fans of the classic character while attracting new players. Rise of the Tomb Raider in 2015 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018 completed the reboot trilogy. The reboot series sold well and is considered solid if somewhat generic open-world action games. Shadow was developed by Eidos Montreal rather than Crystal Dynamics.

Tomb Raider in Film

Angelina Jolie Films (2001 to 2003)

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 starring Angelina Jolie grossed $274 million worldwide. The Cradle of Life in 2003 performed less well. Jolie’s performance captured the confidence and physicality of the classic Lara, even if the scripts were generic action fare.

Alicia Vikander Film (2018)

The reboot film starring Alicia Vikander adapted the origin story of the 2013 game and received mixed reviews. Grossed $274 million worldwide, identical to the original Jolie film. A sequel was in development but has not materialized.

What’s Next

Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider game that will use Unreal Engine 5. Following the Embracer Group’s acquisition and subsequent financial difficulties, the future timeline has been uncertain, but the project is ongoing. The franchise is approaching its 30th anniversary with 88 million copies sold and one of gaming’s most recognizable protagonists. There is no sign of it stopping.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an action adventure game developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix’s European subsidiary. It was released on September…