Archaeology may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but don’t let Lara Croft hear you say that. She may not dig trenches or give lectures, but Lara’s contribution to video gaming history is unquestionable.
Tomb Raider is the product of a bygone era, but its most recent trilogy and the 2018 reboot movie prove that it still holds relevance today.
So let’s uncover the rich history of Tomb Raider, layer by layer, and dig into what the future might hold.
Inventing the Wheel
Few games are lucky enough to be era-defining, but the original Tomb Raider, released in 1996, was exactly that. It captured imaginations with its mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, moody atmosphere, and acrobatic gunfights. Available on the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and MS-DOS, it reached a broad audience and became a household name—even among non-gamers.
Lara Croft quickly ascended to pop culture icon status. While mascots like Mario or Sonic were ubiquitous, Lara was something else: a believable, complex female protagonist who became synonymous with the very idea of gaming.
Tomb Raider II followed in 1997 and found similar success. But as the franchise settled into a yearly release cycle, creative fatigue began to show. By the time Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness arrived in 2003, technical issues and a confused narrative robbed the series of its momentum.
Oddly enough, Lara’s cinematic debut came during this dip. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) arrived just before the reboot era but still succeeded in revitalizing the brand, thanks in large part to Angelina Jolie’s magnetic performance.
Rebirth of a Legend
By 2006, it was time to hit the reset button. Publisher Eidos handed development duties to Crystal Dynamics, the team behind the Legacy of Kain series. They brought back series creator Toby Gard and went back to basics with Tomb Raider: Legend.
The reboot was a resounding success. It modernized controls, returned the focus to ancient tombs, and reintroduced Lara with a more grounded narrative. Two follow-ups followed: Tomb Raider: Anniversary (a remake of the 1996 original) and Tomb Raider: Underworld (a direct sequel to Legend). Though well-received, Underworld suffered from bugs and inconsistent performance across platforms.
After 2008, the franchise went quiet – except for a high-definition re-release of the trilogy – while Crystal Dynamics plotted the next big move.
Croft, Lara Croft
Meanwhile, Lara ventured into spin-off territory. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010) and its sequel Temple of Osiris adopted an isometric, co-op format with arcade-style gameplay. The mobile game Lara Croft: Relic Run also reached a new audience.
These spin-offs marked a first: two separate Tomb Raider continuities coexisted. The more arcade-style Lara ran alongside the grounded, character-focused reboot that would begin in 2013.
Another Rise of the Tomb Raider
In 2013, Tomb Raider returned once more, joining the decade’s wave of gritty reboots. This version of Lara was more fallible, human, and realistically proportioned. Written by Rhianna Pratchett, the game reimagined Lara’s origin as a reluctant survivor who gradually grows into a confident explorer.
Despite some tonal inconsistencies – such as Lara mourning her first kill only to later dispatch waves of enemies with ease – the reboot was a critical and commercial success.
Sequels followed: Rise of the Tomb Raider in 2015 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018. Both built on the foundations of the reboot, but played things safe. While still polished and enjoyable, Shadow in particular was seen as lacking innovation, and its launch underwhelmed.
Square Enix later pointed to this as a sign that the franchise needed a fresh approach.
Look On My Works Ye Mighty
It’s fair to say that Tomb Raider no longer occupies the cultural peak it once did. But that’s not a failure. Like a post-peak empire, it has transitioned into a phase of quiet influence and steady relevance.
Lara’s impact is visible across the industry. The Uncharted series, with its charismatic lead and globe-trotting escapades, clearly draws from the Tomb Raider blueprint. Likewise, Horizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy echoes Lara’s independence, curiosity, and combat prowess. Even Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order owes a debt to Lara’s tomb-raiding ethos.
Behind the scenes, Lara helped shape 3D animation, motion capture, and storytelling in games. She became a model for how video games could tell stories with depth, personality, and visual flair.
Fans have kept her legacy alive through mods, cosplay, fan fiction, and even indie-made remakes like OpenLara. Her influence is woven into the DNA of modern gaming.
The Next Adventure
Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that a new Tomb Raider is in development, and this time it aims to unify the timelines of the classic and rebooted series. Whether this means a more experienced Lara, a continuation of her origin story, or something entirely new remains to be seen.
What we do know is this: Lara Croft isn’t done yet. With a Netflix animated series on the horizon and continued interest in expanding the brand, the Tomb Raider legacy is far from buried.
Lara Croft remains gaming royalty – not just for what she once was, but for the trail she continues to blaze.
