It always feels a bit bizarre to experience Lara Croft's adventures on anything but PlayStation hardware, but the upcoming Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis is coming to the Switch 2.

As unveiled during the latest Nintendo Direct, you can take on this reimagining of the original 1996 classic and pre-order it for $59.99 (GameStop) physically (game-key card release) or digitally via the Nintendo eShop once listings go live.

It's great to finally get confirmation that it's making its way to the Ninty console, especially if it means I can get my dual pistol-wielding hands on that Collector's Edition. Announced on June 2 earlier this year, the snazzy Collector's Edition from Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild includes the game and some physical goodies, including an incredibly detailed statue of Lara taking on the T-Rex.

I maybe would have preferred to see a real-life replica of the Hand of Midas as found in the OG Tomb Raider so I could turn my Switch 2 into gold. However, the statue is just as impressive, and it's available to pre-order for $199.99 at GameStop today. So far GameStop is the only place to find it, but I'll be using my Lara Croft skills of discovery to update you on the best places to find the Collector's Edition and all Legacy of Atlantis Switch 2 pre-order links as and when I find them before February comes around.

Where to pre-order Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis

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Want more Switch 2 games? Check out our Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake pre-order and Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave pre-order pages.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis has an unenviable task before it. Reimagining a 30-year-old game for a modern audience is no mean feat, but in a genre that has moved on so far and with a heroine who has become such an icon, the line that must be threaded between the new and the old is a veritable tightrope. Too far one way and you'll recreate a now-outdated experience in too much veracity to warrant its existence. Too far the other way and you risk excising what made Tomb Raider interesting, lumping it in with modern genre tropes that don't suit a remake like this.

For now, Crystal Dynamics seems to be treading that line. My hands-off demo shows off the Damocles Trial from the game's second level, so named for the giant swords hanging from the ceiling that threaten to skewer Lara should she linger too long on the wrong floor tile. For game director Raul Siquera, the goal is to show "how much we've preserved from the original, and the little things we did to make it special" in a modern overhaul.

Familiar tombs

"It was really important for us, from a level design perspective, to preserve what was in the original game, but find ways to enhance it for a modern audience," Siquera explains. "You should recognize the places that you know," he says, or if you're like me and are too young to remember the original games, you should still be "delighted by the grandeur" of the levels.

Those modern enhancements present themselves almost immediately. Stepping into the trial, Lara is set upon by a horde of bats, reimagined to move around in a more unpredictable, swarm-like manner than in the original game. She takes a few scratches before shooting down enough that the rest of the swarm disbands, but thankfully she's collected enough resources from around the level to create a healing balm. The presence of a crafting system might seem like an overly-modern touch, but Siquera explains it's part of an attempt to dispel the anachronism inherent in the older Tomb Raider games – finding a medbag in a temple supposedly untouched by modern civilization isn't always great for immersion.

Past the bats, Lara's day continues to get worse, a snarling leopard dropping down into the next room. This iconic Tomb Raider threat is far smarter than before; in the ensuing fight, it uses geometry to block Lara's line of sight; crawls away through cracks in the rock when it's taken too much punishment, and then attacks from behind when you let your guard slip. "You're not supposed to stay still," Siquera says. Combat is fast and fluid, but a time-slowing Focus gauge allows for a moment of relative calm in the midst of some frantic fights, even as Lara's acrobatic 'dodge-cartwheels' make her a particularly flamboyant target.

It's beyond the leopard, as Lara enters the arena at the heart of the Damocles Trial, that Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is forced to diverge further from the 1996 original. The core theme remains intact, but the intervening decades have transformed players' expectations. The puzzles maintain the ideas that shaped classic Croft, but they're grander in scope, Damocles' enormous stone swords crashing to earth with a deafening clash from the distant heights of the temple's ceiling if Lara puts a foot wrong.

But this version of Tomb Raider doesn't only have to capture the scale and artistry of a modern game – it also has to offer something to players who didn't cut their teeth in the days of 1996's game design. Lara's explanative dialogue is one example of Legacy of Atlantis' desire to guide players through its puzzles, as are the markings on the wall that gently outline the intended parkour route.

Neither of these are too invasive, but the addition of a new Scanner tool, which Lara can use to outline the moving parts of the puzzle she's contemplating, is a much more powerful tool. It's a bit much for a modern game, fully anachronistic in one that's supposed to be keeping half its gaze so firmly in the past. But, Siquera explains his team saw this coming – the Scanner is totally optional, and its tutorial will make clear that it can also be used to offer new lore insights. It's a smart compromise, but a strong example of just how difficult Legacy of Atlantis' task of balancing the old and the new is going to be.

As someone who doesn't have the nostalgia for the original game – I came to the series with Tomb Raider Legend on PSP, a full decade later – I think Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is treading its difficult tightrope relatively well. It's clear the team understands the delicacy of its task, and there's an obvious desire to offer a version of this game that can speak in the same breath to those returning after three decades and those who've adopted the rhythms of a new era of action games.

From the small amount we've seen so far, it seems to be working – purists will likely find themselves disappointed by the modern touches, but those are largely optional, and subtle enough not to derail the original experience. As the start of a new era for Tomb Raider, Legacy of Atlantis' task was never going to be easy, but it seems to be stepping up to the mark.

Want to explore more of Lara Croft's legacy? Our best Tomb Raider games ranking will guide you towards your next adventure!

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis gameplay has revealed that the new remake is taking elements from the Survivor trilogy, and some people aren't happy with the change.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is the new remake of the 1996 classic, but instead of a straight remake in the vein of something like Metal Gear Solid Delta, the developers have instead chosen to reimagine the original title for a modern audience. And yesterday, the developers at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog revealed some new gameplay of the upcoming remake, and showed off some of the fresh mechanics added to the game.

These include "Focus," a system that builds a meter which when used allows Lara to slow down time and do all the wild flips she would perform on the regular during the original PS1 title. However, the PS1 titles aren't the only source of inspiration for the new remake, as the developers also revealed that some elements of Lara Croft's later adventures will also be implemented. Namely, Lara will now have a skill tree and the ability to craft items like she could in the Survivor trilogy – Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of, and Shadow of.

This news was posted to ResetEra to a somewhat negative reaction. Immediately the responses included, "No sir, I don't like it," and "I hate it." Meanwhile, others point out that it kind of doesn't make sense, saying, "Isn't she supposed [to be] a veteran treasure hunter in this game? Why would she be learning new skills at her age?" Another user says, "Slapping some shit onto a game not designed for it is a bad idea."

However, it does seem like the skill tree is somewhat optional, as design director Jason Epps and creative director Michał Kuk both stress you can just use the classic dual pistols throughout the game. Epps says, "If you decide that you want to play with dual pistols the entire way and be iconic, absolutely."

These are the best Tomb Raider games you can play today.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set to offer us a fresh take on Lara Croft's original adventure, and the devs want to make sure the spirit of that first game remains intact – right down to the often-goofy jumps and somersaults you'd have to do in order to take down enemy wolves and velociraptors while keeping Lara's life bar intact. The devs at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog have admirably found a way to keep the acrobatics in Legacy of Atlantis.

"One of our main gameplay changes to Legacy of Atlantis we’re introducing is a system called Focus," game director Raul Siqueira says in a new developer video. "When you're doing actions in combat, taking damage, dealing damage, dodging attacks, you're building your Focus meter. Focus allows you to slow down time around you and showcase some of the things that Lara used to do in 1996. The acrobatic component is really important for the character, so we wanted to make sure there was a way on the sticks for that to be celebrated."

I'm sure there are OG Tomb Raider players out there who can make PS1-era Lara look graceful in battle, but I imagine most players had the same experience I did with that original game, jumping wildly and haphazardly while constantly firing off your guns and hoping for the best.

Still, jumping sideways while repeatedly shooting local wildlife in the face is a key part of the whole Tomb Raider vibe, and based on my hands-on time with Legacy of Atlantis at Summer Game Fest, the Focus system does an admirable job of replicating the feel in a more modern context. Once your Focus bar is filled, you can tap a button to have Lara flip into an impossible jump and unload a couple of clips from your pistols into whatever target catches your fancy. I'm harboring some fears that might get repetitive over the course of the game, but it was great fun in the short demo that I played.

And that's another point the devs are keen to emphasize. "As a hardcore Tomb Raider fan, I wanted dual pistols," Siqueira continues. "So coming back to this game, I think one of the biggest things that we wanted to make sure we got right is, the pistols have to feel right. All weapons need to feel right. Combat needs to feel right. But if the pistols don't feel right, we are missing a big part of what makes Lara Lara."

Legacy of Atlantis bridges the gap between the modern survivor trilogy and Lara's classic adventures, and it is bringing back elements like crafting and skill trees from the newer games. But if you really want to kick it old-school, you will be able to just keep those dual pistols through the entire game.

"If you want to, you can use two pistols throughout the entire game," creative director Michal Kuk says. "Yes, it will be challenging, and probably it's going to take more time. But if you want to, yep, you can. You can use just two pistols." I certainly would've been struggling to beat those creepy late-game Atlanteans without the SMG even in the original, so personally, that might be a challenge beyond me.

These are the best Tomb Raider games you can play today.

Lara Croft's newest voice actor accidentally dislocated her jaw and popped it right back in while trying to record a fight scene for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, just in case you were worried she wasn't tough enough to play the badass icon.

Dragon Age: Inquisition star Alix Wilton Regan is now adopting the iconic dual pistols and blue tank top of Lara Croft in two new games. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis looks to remake and overhaul the series' very first entry, while Tomb Raider: Catalyst takes her on an all new adventure sometime next year.

Though it seems digitally inhabiting the role also comes with the workplace dangers you'd expect a raider of tombs to run into, as Wilton Regan told GamesRadar+ she got so excited about a fight scene that she punched herself in the face by mistake.

"The biggest challenge on this has been me restraining myself at points because I throw myself into every scene with such energy," she says. "I actually punched myself in the face the other day. This is a true story, by the way. You guys can check this with the dev team."

Three-and-a-half hours into a recording session, the developers at Crystal Dynamics wanted to capture vocalizations for a fight scene that apparently involved lots of kicking and punching. "I can't do anything by halves, this is me we're talking about," the star explains, so she also acted out the movements herself while making the sounds Lara would.

"As I go to do the punch across, right as I go to do the hook, I literally hooked myself in the jaw, dislocated my jaw, popped my jaw out... Anyway, it's fine. I've done it before, but everyone on Zoom was like, 'Shit, no, we killed Lara.'" That didn't stop her for long, though. "So we obviously paused recording for 20 minutes while I popped my jaw back in place, put an ice pack on it. It was really quite intense."

"I was only reminded by this because the big, big boss who's here today was like, 'What did I hear about what happened to you in the last session? I got told that, like, you punched yourself in the face or something,' and I was like, 'I'd really actually rather not talk about it, Chris, but fine, whatever.'"

In her own words, "they hired the right woman for the job." And that's hard to argue with after hearing a story so intense.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis brings back separate difficulty options from Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is perfect for yellow paint haters

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis might be remaking Lara Croft's very first adventure, but the developers are instead ripping inspiration from 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider when it comes to difficulty options.

As you might remember (or not, it was eight years ago!), Shadow of the Tomb Raider had a really nifty approach to difficulty, giving players three separate sliders to adjust the difficulty of combat, traversal, and puzzles individually. Players with twitchy trigger fingers could make fights tougher, say, while dialling up how often supporting characters would give you hints about puzzle solutions, and vice versa.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is following suit, game director Raul Siqueira told GamesRadar+ in an interview from Summer Game Fest.

"I think the biggest lesson that we took from [the Survivor Trilogy] is tuning difficulty based on players' expectations," Siqueira says. "One of the things I think we got really good at towards the end of that trilogy was we had a lot of different options for players that wanted to tune the experience to their liking. We found, because Tomb Raider blends a bunch of different things together, there are people that are really into puzzles and they want puzzles to be very difficult, but they're not great at combat, so they want combat to be easy."

Speaking on the individual knobs players could toy with in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Siqueira says the team at Crystal Dynamic wanted to do the same thing so fans could "customize their challenge to their liking" because someone who's great at gun fights isn't necessarily good at all parts of the Lara Croft fantasy.

"That was one of the things that we really wanted to preserve and make sure that players had a good foot. The balance of that is an ever-changing thing. We're tuning it pretty much until the end," the game's lead adds.

When asked how similar Legacy of Atlantis' sliders would be to its older sibling's options, which could even wash away the controversial guiding yellow/white paint out of levels, Siqueira simply says the knobs are still being adjusted and the team will have a lot more to share about accessibility options soon... "but, like, you can expect a very similar mode for it."

Could Legacy of Atlantis make it onto our list of the best Tomb Raider games of all time?

The subtitle of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis implies a lot beyond the scope of Lara Croft's quest to find the lost city. The developers at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog have, themselves, had to reckon with the legacy of one of the most iconic characters and franchises in video games. After playing the game for myself and speaking with some of those devs at Summer Game Fest, I'm fully on board for their interpretation of this classic adventure – even as I'm equally certain that Legacy of Atlantis really needed its delay into 2027.

Legacy of Atlantis serves as a bridge between two different versions of the Tomb Raider franchise. On one end, you have the puzzle- and exploration-focused original series, and on the other you have the more cinematic, action-heavy survivor trilogy. This new game remakes Lara's original adventure, yes, but closes the distance between the two visions of the franchise – and is built as a jumping-on point for entirely new players.

The Tomb Raider legend

It's both an "incredible honor" and a "crushing responsibility" to be revisiting this story, experience director Jeff Adams says with a laugh. "We've been working hard to make sure that we're delivering something that feels faithful to fans who may have experienced this adventure in the past, but we're also really excited for a lot of new players who maybe have never played Tomb Raider before to get a chance to see stuff that they might find really enjoyable."

While at Summer Game Fest, I play Legacy of Atlantis's take on The Lost Valley. That's one of the original game's most memorable levels, where you need to collect a series of cogs to unlock an ancient mechanism to move forward, and then you fight a bunch of dinosaurs. That basic outline is the same now as it was then, but only in the broad strokes – the entire level layout and flow is completely different, but that original spirit is still in place.

In contrast to the survivor trilogy, Legacy of Atlantis seems to be much truer to the puzzle-heavy spirit of the original – something I've very much missed from the series. There are multiple paths to explore, room in which to get a little lost, and a fair few collectables to uncover. Lara's equipped with a scanner that'll give you some hints toward interactable objects, but you are encouraged to actually figure things out for yourself.

"I think we tend to learn a lot from every Tomb Raider that we make," game director Raul Siqueira explains. "Obviously, the survivor trilogy was way more focused on the action component of it. There was a lot more combat than previous games. But fundamentally we believe that the core of a good Tomb Raider game is the balance between puzzles, combat, and traversal."

That's why Legacy of Atlantis hearkens back to what the devs refer to as the "cerebral" pace of the original, but they have worked to make the combat feel like more than an afterthought. "We knew that we didn't want to put too much emphasis on it," Siqueira explains. "At the same time we wanted combat to have depth."

When you're beset by velociraptors, you'll need to dodge out of the way of their attacks with well-timed acrobatic rolls as you rain dual pistol fire on them. That sounds basic, but it feels very good, and the way Lara can leap out of the way of attacks has a similar pace to the jumps you would've been making in the original game. Just, you know, with a little more precision and a lot less flailing. Well-timed dodges let you build up a focus meter which you can expend to get a bit of bullet time and take down enemies quickly.

So what's that delay-worthy problem? The controls. Where the OG Tomb Raider relied on very precise, very rigid movement, this is a post-Uncharted adventure game, just like the survivor trilogy, where you magnetize to ledges and have pretty generous leeway to make your jumps. Until, that is, I find myself awkwardly shimmying back and forth trying to find the precise spot where I can grab the next handhold, or fall imperceptibly out of position of a grappling point, or get stuck in the ground, or touch a wall during an escape from a T-Rex and get jump-scared by an instant death as Lara is swallowed up.

There's plenty of time for these issues to be fixed before launch, but they were pervasive enough to really tamp down on my enjoyment of the demo. Legacy of Atlantis is stunningly gorgeous, but the majesty of its visual presentation quickly fades when you're confronted by – and I apologize for the word I'm about to use – this amount of jank.

Many individual aspects of Legacy of Atlantis are thoroughly impressive – the visual design, the emphasis on puzzles, and the expanded combat system – which is why I'm praying that the basic playability problems can be polished out by launch. There's an excellent foundation here, and I really want this version of Lara's legacy to stand strong.

Here's hoping Legacy of Atlantis can join the ranks of the best Tomb Raider games.

We'll be taking a step back in time, literally and figuratively, come next February when Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis launches. A complete remake of Lara Croft's first adventure, Legacy of Atlantis allows new perspectives on the genre-defining release, but still packaged in a way fans will recognize.

"This is the adventure fans remember: reimagined in ways that weren’t possible 30 years ago and with new surprises woven in," Michael Lovan, global head of content and community at Amazon Game Studios, writes on the PlayStation Blog.

"Whether the original is etched into your memory or you’re meeting Lara for the first time, this is the best way to experience where the legend began," he adds.

That's actually a bolder statement than you might think. Lara's introduction to the world has been revisited on two separate occasions previously: first, another remake, Tomb Raider: Anniversary in 2007, and a remaster as part of 2024's Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered.

These were both generally well-received, the latter still being a notable achievement because it managed to update the visuals and general feel in a way that didn't totally transform the game. That's easier said than done when you consider the PlayStation classic from 1996 is distinctly awkward to play by today's standards.

I'm cautiously optimistic about what Legacy of Atlantis will bring to the table. It'll be nice to see the original environments redone using modern hardware, as well as all the creative puzzles. But I believe it'd be a mistake to lean too much into contemporary ideals: this isn't the same kind of game as the 2013 reboot, nor should it feel too similar to the next installment, Tomb Raider: Catalyst.

Legacy of Atlantis serves as a loving tribute that allows younger fans a chance to take a history lesson before Catalyst arrives. And by Lovan's words, that's exactly what it is. We'll see what arrives come February 2027.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis was made with AI, Steam page reveals, but any assets made using the controversial tech "were either replaced or refined by humans"

Lara Croft returns in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis early next year, but her latest escapade is being soured somewhat by the presence of AI within the game's development. Fans made the discovery through the Steam page for the release, where the mandatory disclaimer gives some insight into the extent of the tech's presence.

On Valve's store, if you scroll down on the listing for Legacy of Atlantis, you can find the boilerplate warning. "AI-assisted tools were used during development to support some early exploration and temporary development content," developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog say. "Any AI-assisted assets were either replaced or refined by humans in order to maintain the creative and artistic vision of the development team."

There's a little bit to unpack here. The thing that stands out is the inclusion of the term "refined" in reference to whatever AI-generated materials were used in making the game. This points toward some AI assets still being present; they've just been cleaned up to the appropriate standard.

A recurring part of games being discovered to have AI contents is that the assets in question still contain hallmarks of generative software: blurriness, malformed shapes, and general "sloppiness." The idea may be to avoid such detection through refinement rather than changing the source of the work.

It sounds like some versions of this tech were used in conceptualizing and early prototyping. Other studios have suggested utilizing gen-AI in this form to help speed up the ideation part of game design.

However, while this seems logical on the surface, it's still potentially taking work away from concept artists and other human facets of the pipeline.

Regardless, players aren't enamored by the prospect. "It's kind of a slippery slope imo, they say they replaced it, but there is no way of knowing for sure. For all we know, they could have just polished the AI assets to make them look less AI," says one fan on Reddit.

"I assume it means concept art and temporary assets that artists then worked off of, which I'm not really happy about or cool with, but I suppose is 'better' than just painting the game with AI textures," another adds.

There are conflicting ideals here because game development is increasingly time-consuming and expensive, especially for bigger games. Teams are always searching for ways to streamline things, one way or another. That said, AI solutions are ethically dubious at the moment, and the pushback is omnipresent.

Neither the developers nor publisher Amazon Game Studios has commented on this issue just yet. We'll update you if and when they do.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis delay confirmed in PlayStation State of Play, but at least Lara Croft is looking cooler than ever

Update: Yup, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis just featured in today's PlayStation State of Play, and while the leaked release date was slightly off (sort of), we're still facing a delay out of 2026.

Lara Croft looks cooler than ever in our latest look at the game, solving puzzles, using her dual pistols, facing off with dinosaurs, exploring some seriously cinematic places, and generally being her iconic self.

We'll officially be able to dive into the game on February 12, 2027. However, you'll still be able to play it on the leaked February 10 date if you pre-order the Deluxe or Collector's Edition thanks to that 48-hour early access window.

Original story:

Suddenly, the rumors about a Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis delay are looking a lot more believable. Ahead of tonight's PlayStation State of Play, Amazon listings went live suggesting that the release date had been pushed back to February 10, 2027, a delay from the previously announced 2026 launch window.

The Amazon pre-order listings were quickly removed, but not before accounts like Wario64 on Bluesky preserved the details for posterity. In addition to the February 10 release date, the listings also detailed a pre-order bonus for an early unlock of a Survivor outfit inspired by Lara Croft's 2013 look.

The PC version of the game was listed at $60, with a Deluxe Edition set at $70. This version includes a Parisian Fugitive outfit, itself a riff on Lara's appearance in the much-maligned PS2 game, Angel of Darkness. It also includes a 48-hour early access period, and most interesting of all, a "post-launch DLC story pack." Sadly, there are no details on what that DLC includes.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (Steam code) up for preorder on Amazon ($59.99 - release date Feb 10, 2027) amzn.to/4ua1Gb8Deluxe $69.99 amzn.to/4vJN2ZJ #ad

— @wario64.bsky.social (@wario64.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-06-02T21:41:30.525Z

Rumors about a delay to Legacy of Atlantis have persisted for months, and given the timing of these Amazon listings for its basic and deluxe versions, it seems likely that the game's release date will be announced alongside proper pre-orders in just a few hours at State of Play.

That's not the only semi-official leak Legacy of Atlantis suffered today, as the game's PlayStation Store page was also updated with an array of previously unseen screenshots. Those images, like the Amazon listings, were quickly nuked, but once again the community has preserved them. So enjoy an early peek at Lara encountering velociraptors and King Midas before a likely new trailer later today.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis boss fight lead points to Elden Ring as a stellar example of how to make sure they're fair.

Crystal Dynamics is assuring fans that development of the upcoming Tomb Raider titles is still going fine despite the studio announcing its fourth batch of layoffs in under a year.

Around a year ago, Crystal Dynamics confirmed it was letting go of 17 employees while continuing work on Perfect Dark and the then-unnamed Tomb Raider title. Microsoft then cancelled the Perfect Dark reboot as part of its sweeping layoffs back in July, which in turn saw Crystal Dynamics announce another round of layoffs in August, followed by a third round in November, while the studio was weeks away from announcing Tomb Raider: Catalyst and the Flying Wild Hog co-developed remake, Legacy of Atlantis.

Unfortunately, the excitement around the new releases doesn't seem to have significantly improved the studio's fortunes, as Crystal Dynamics announced this week (via a LinkedIn post) that it will be laying off 20 more team members, marking a fourth round of layoffs in under a year.

"This is a difficult day for our studio, and we never make these decisions lightly, particularly after the restructuring we underwent last year," the post reads, adding, "As our current projects move into new phases of development, we continuously take a hard look at our team structures to ensure they align with our long-term studio goals. While we always strive to transition our people into new roles whenever possible, we have unfortunately reached a point where these departures are necessary."

As for Tomb Raider, the studio noted, "We know that news like this can cause concern amongst our community. Crystal Dynamics remains fully committed to the future development of our already announced Tomb Raider titles." Adding, "however, our priority is supporting our colleagues who are moving on."

Tomb Raider co-creator Paul Douglas has shed light on the background of Lara Croft's proposed Japanese redesign.

The early years of PlayStation featured some really weird contrasts between how the console was approached in the West and the East. One notable rumor is that Sony Computer Entertainment America didn't want 2D games on the platform at first – and while this has seemingly never been confirmed, it was somewhat reflected by the console's early days. The other major distinction was how it treated mascots; it's well known that the appearances of PS1 icons Crash Bandicoot and Spyro were softened in Japan, but apparently Lara Croft did too, albeit not as extreme.

Back in 2021, Douglas posted "manga style" designs of Lara Croft and Jacqueline Natla and explained that the game's Japanese publisher, Victor, "decided our western character design wouldn't go down well there. So they faxed over some of their own designs - that we didn't implement." Over the weekend, ‪BlueSky user Tadashidaiba posted some scans (from Saturn Fan magazine), including designs for other characters, but more notably, a 3D model of Lara that more closely resembled the illustrations.

Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience. Huge eyes/head etc. They faxed through examples really late in dev. Toby Gard really didn't want to alter Lara. As a compromise all that was changed was the manuals & guide. Not sure who did that render or illustrations.

— @cnhyv.bsky.social (@cnhyv.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T16:05:37.766Z

A fan asked Douglas about this model, and he explains, "Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience." adding that the publisher "faxed through examples really late in dev." However, despite the effort put in by Victor, Douglas explains, "Toby Gard really didn't want to alter Lara. As a compromise all that was changed was the manuals & guide."

Douglas adds that he's not sure who did the render or illustrations featured in the magazine, but regardless, it's an interesting piece of Tomb Raider lore that I had somehow missed all these years, despite knowing way too much about Japanese Crash Bandicoot changes.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis wants to make Lara Croft's iconic T-rex fight feel like the first time all over again

2026 is the year of Lara Croft. Besides the pistol-packing adventure hero returning to her original adventure by way of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Ms. Croft will also be brought to life once more by way of Amazon Prime Video’s Tomb Raider television adaptation starring Sophie Turner. The former Game of Thrones stars donned the shades and the shorts of the beloved adventurer and certainly nailed the look of Croft. But while fans chimed in on the debut appearance, one person who was quick to give the seal of approval was another Lara Croft.

Alix Wilton Reagan, who will be lending her vocal cords to both Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst (set for 2027), took to Instagram to praise the other impending iteration and backed Turner’s look. “Lara looking mighty fine / fire / fierce these days,” the voice artist wrote, as well as adding “@sophieturner - I AM HERE FOR IT.”

It’s great to see praise blossoming between stars who have taken on such iconic characters, but the question will be whether Turner can honor the hero she’s playing as well. Thankfully, it’ll be a team effort in bringing the Tomb Raider world to life, with a cast including Jason Isaacs as Croft’s uncle, Atlas DeMornay, Bill Paterson as Winston, the Croft family butler (who should be wary of walk-in freezers), and Martin Bobb-Semple as Lara’s tech pal, Zip. Former Avatar star and alien eradicator, Sigourney Weaver, will also appear as Evelyn Wallis, a brand new character to the franchise who crosses paths with Lara and is keen to see what she’s capable of. Naturally, we don’t trust her at all.

Other cast members include Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Celia Imrie, Patterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, August Wittgenstein, and Juliette Motamed. When we’ll see them on Lara’s adventure is unknown, as the show hasn’t announced a release date yet. In the meantime, though, here’s a list of some of the best shows heading our way this year.

It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since Lara Croft first somersaulted onto Sega Saturn in a game so good it's already been reworked twice. Well, after 2007's Tomb Raider Anniversary (ironically not its anniversary year) and 2024's Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, the icon is back this year in a fourth version of Lara's most iconic adventure. Scott Amos, Crystal Dynamics' head of studio, and the studio's game director, Will Kerslake, sat down to talk to us about the new reimagining of the iconic Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is being developed in tandem with Lara's newest adventure, Tomb Raider Catalyst (due next year). While under the supervision of a core creative team, notably each game will be tackled by a separate game studio. Flying Wild Hog is handling this remake, with Crystal Dynamics focusing on 2027's all-new adventure. Amos says this new setup means shared tech and assets between the teams, which are both working with Unreal Engine 5.

Our heroine will be voiced by Alex Wilton Regan, who played Samantha Traynor in Mass Effect 3 and Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins among other prominent gaming roles. She's voicing both new games, so continuity should be a cinch. "From the very beginning, Alex got what we were trying to do; bring all the confidence of the character forward, but continue to push on the emotional depth that we need for modern storytelling," says Kerslake. "[She's] been enthusiastic and excited about it the whole time, which has been great."

Creators of all things bright and beautiful

With no original core design members working on the remake, longtime fans will be wondering just how close to 1996's Tomb Raider this reimagining will be. Amos confirms its classic enemies are returning, but the gameplay will be modernized. On its release, Tomb Raider's levels were built on an (almost) invisible grid and the gameplay was based on understanding Lara's limitations and abilities in order to methodically traverse the game world like a constant, spatial puzzle.

Sure, you had wolves to shoot, dinosaurs to scream at and water to swim through, but the main bulk of the game involved a very rigid, rule-based framework. The new game will almost certainly not play like this, because everyone's now too used to modern, analogue control where 'up' goes 'into the screen' no matter which way Lara is facing. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a clear separation from the source material.

With that cleared up, there's a lot to be excited about. Amos says the game has been made by fans for fans, which bodes well. While Tomb Raider Anniversary was good, it was riddled with 2007's tropes like QTE battles, even taking the T-Rex battle out of your hands at key moments. I'm not suggesting for a minute the 1996 T-Rex fight is perfect - in fact it's rather clumsy and is only really memorable for the T-Rex's entrance, rather than the fight itself.

Amos explains: "We've taken all of those things that were critical from that [first] game and then [asking]: 'What can we do to push it through a modern day gamer's lens?' How to update camera and controls, and how to take things like that signature moment that all of us as gamers played, and now saying, how is that reimagined today for an epic action adventure moment that can create a new core memory for players who've never gotten to experience it as that first time? Or if you're a longtime fan, you now get to experience it as a 'first time' again."

And what about the new, live-action Amazon Tomb Raider TV series coming soon? Will that have any crossover content with either game? Amos is careful not to announce anything ahead of time, so it's unclear, but he did conclude by saying: ​​"Certainly it's a great opportunity for us to have all of these things going together and having so many things in development for Tomb Raider, the fans benefit from all of it." Oh, you big tease.

The original Tomb Raider is still one of the greatest adventure games you can play, but its brilliance is obscured by outdated controls and visuals. Fixing all that while sympathetically bringing it up to date could give us a defining moment of this generation too. I'm cautiously optimistic – this could be sublime. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set for release on PS5, Xbox Series and PC in 2026, with its stablemate Tomb Raider: Catalyst set for next year, 2027.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis' developers say that the original's brutal difficulty will have to be evolved for modern player tastes.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is the second time Lara Croft has returned to her debut adventure, following 2007's Tomb Raider: Anniversary, with Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog leading the charge in what is described as a "reimagining" of the original 1996 adventure – think of the recent Resident Evil remakes. However, if you don't remember, that original game could be pretty brutal on the difficulty front, something the 2007 edition toned down, and Legacy of Atlantis may be following suit from the sound of things.

Speaking during a presentation to the press, Crystal Dynamics developer Will Kerslake was asked about the approach to difficulty for Legacy of Atlantis, specifically in reference to the likes of instant death traps like spikes and giant boulders that led to a trial-and-error approach (while Anniversary let you save yourself with QTEs, very 2007).

Kerslake explains, "part of reimagining a game right is adjusting that game evolving for modern player tastes," which – while not explicitly stated – feels like a confirmation that frustrating insta-kill traps are probably a thing of the past, if not more easily avoidable than before. That being said, it doesn't mean it's going to lose sight of what the series is. Kerslake also adds, "It is core to the Tomb Raider experience that there are puzzles in combat and traversal and death-defying action."

Pointing out the Legacy of Atlantis trailer, Kerslake notes, "you'll see big rolling balls, and you know, the things that you expect in a Tomb Raider game are going to be there in spades."

Thankfully, the original Tomb Raider (and Anniversary, for that matter) are both still available on modern platforms, so if you fancy going back to the days of tank controls and instant-kill traps, it's right there.

Tomb Raider: Catalyst picks up "years after" 2008's Underworld, continuing from the Legend trilogy after almost 20 years.

Ever the abundance of riches, The Game Awards gave us not one but two bits of Tomb Raider announcements. We've got Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a full reimagining of the first PS1 game, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a more forward-looking entry in the franchise that picks up the timeline where the Legend trilogy left off.

Before 2013's Tomb Raider rebooted Lara Croft's story, Underworld in 2008 capped off a three-game arc for the intrepid adventurer. The 2013 entry's success led to a full trilogy of prequels, leaving Lara's more contemporaneous happenings to fall by the wayside.

Crystal Dynamics is finally picking up the threads of Tomb Raider's latter-day happenings. "From a timeline perspective, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld," Will Kerslake, game director at developer Crystal Dynamics, told GamesRadar+, "with the reboot trilogy serving as her origin story, so we're seeing a more experienced Lara Croft."

Despite following up a game that'll be 19 years old by the time Catalyst is out (sorry), Kerslake is keen to point out fans won't need to dig out their Xbox 360s for a refresher. "What's important to know is that this is a new chapter in Tomb Raider," he states. "So whether you followed Lara from the start, or this is your first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is designed to stand on its own as an adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone."

The setup is classic Lara: she's called to Northern India, where some long-hidden architecture has been uncovered, and she has to deal with some rival relic hunters while trying to figure out the significance of these ruins herself.

There'll be puzzles, gunplay, and plenty of ledge-jumping, in what looks like a stunning environment, going by the first trailer. Tomb Raider: Catalyst arrives in 2027, while Legacy of Atlantis can keep you busy in 2026.

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics continues to bleed out, laying off "under 30" more employees in third cut of the year: "The realities of the industry continue to evolve."

Amazon Game Studios has revealed not one, but two new Tomb Raider games at the Game Awards this evening, and my Lara Croft-loving heart is full. Alongside Tomb Raider: Catalyst in 2027, next year we're getting Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - a reimagining of the original Tomb Raider game in Unreal Engine 5.

In development as a partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, it's being called a reimagining because it's not just another remake or remaster. This will be built to honor the original game's spirit and atmosphere, but include "new surprises" such as expanded storytelling.

Obviously, it's looking phenomenal in this reveal trailer, and although it 100% plays out like a slice of nostalgia that feels specially tailored to me personally, there's going to be a ton of new stuff to discover.

"2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the 1996 debut Tomb Raider game, so it felt like the perfect time to re-visit the adventure that started it all," said Will Kerslake, Game Director, Crystal Dynamics speaking to GamesRadar+.

"For our passionate longtime fans it's a chance to re-experience the original Tomb Raider adventure with a new perspective. But for new players, it's an opportunity to experience a foundational gaming masterpiece with modernized gameplay while maintaining its original spirit."

"The first six titles in the series have recently been remastered so that everyone can enjoy them on modern gaming platforms, but this is a reimagining that can realize the original vision that wasn’t possible on the technology at the time. We've built everything in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, reforged puzzles, and added to parts of the world never explored before."

"We've also taken those amazing moments from the original, like the T-rex fight, which is a core memory for many gamers, and rebuilt it as a modern epic action moment which we think will feel like the first time again for fans, while offering something amazing to those new to Tomb Raider."

As with Tomb Raider: Catalyst, Legacy of Atlantis will feature Alix Wilton Regan (Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Cyberpunk 2007) as Lara Croft herself.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set to drop in 2026 on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC.

Lara's back, baby! As revealed at the Game Awards 2025, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is the new Lara Croft game from Crystal Dynamics.

Coming in 2027 for Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC, it's being called a "bold direction" for the series as Lara ventures to Northern India in the wake of a mythical cataclysm that just so happens to be unleashing ancient secrets on the world.

However, Lara's not alone, as rival treasure hunters from around the globe are also heading to the same place, so it's going to be a race to the answers and artifacts as Lara tries to keep the world safe.

It's going to be the largest Tomb Raider world yet, and we should expect some puzzle-filled tombs, ancient mysteries, and plenty of gadgets - as you can see in the announcement trailer.

I'm personally loving the fact that they've included Lara's iconic dual pistols in this trailer, along with a pretty classic-looking outfit for our explorer. It's certainly giving nods to the series' origins, and I'm living for it.

As for where it fits in the timeline vs the most recent Survivor trilogy, we spoke to Will Kerslake, Game Director, Crystal Dynamics, to find out more:

"From a timeline perspective, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set years after the events of Tomb Raider: Underworld, with the reboot trilogy serving as her origin story, so we’re seeing a more experienced Lara Croft. But what’s important to know is that this is a new chapter in Tomb Raider. So whether you followed Lara from the start, or this is your first Tomb Raider game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst is designed to stand on its own as an adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone."

We've also got the excellent Alix Wilton Regan on board for the voice of Lara Croft this time, of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Cyberpunk 2077, and Mass Effect 3 fame (among others), which is again marking a new chapter for the series.

It's been more than seven years since Shadow of the Tomb Raider put a bow on Lara Croft's big reboot trilogy, and since then, series fans have been desperate for even a morsel of information on what's coming next. Now, finally, it seems relief is in sight, as a big Tomb Raider reveal has been teased for The Game Awards later this week.

"Did you miss her?" the official Tomb Raider account asks on Twitter. "She missed you." The message encourages you to tune into the annual TGA showcase on December 11 "for a look at the future of one of gaming's most iconic franchises." The news was initially revealed in Fortnite, as part of a TGA-branded island built for players to vote on their favorite fanmade creations in the battle royale hub.

The teaser includes an image showing a silhouette of Lara Croft posing proudly with the old-school dual pistols that helped define her appearance in the original 1996 game. If you squint just hard enough, you can just about make out pouches and holster straps around her legs that hint at the old costume, too.

It's possible that this reveal is tied to some non-gaming multimedia project, like maybe the upcoming Prime Video series, but I'm inclined to believe it's going to be our first look at the new Tomb Raider game Crystal Dynamics first announced way back in 2022. You don't tease "future of one of gaming's most iconic franchises" without knowing that fans are going to expect a video game reveal.

The most telling bit is the new-look Lara. As far back as 2021, Crystal Dynamics was talking about its intent to "unify" the old-school Tomb Raider timeline with the modern Survivor trilogy, and we've occasionally seen new versions of the character blending '90s camp costuming with a more realistic appearance for the character herself. The idea of a "unified" Lara Croft design has grown powerful in the minds of fans, and this new teaser certainly seems to suggest something along those lines.

For now, we have only two concrete bits of information on the new Tomb Raider game: it's being developed in Unreal Engine 5, and it's going to be published by Amazon Games. For a couple of years now, it's seemed that Crystal Dynamics only emerges from its silence to announce another round of layoffs before going quiet once again. Here's hoping this reveal at The Game Awards turns out to be a little more unequivocally positive.

These are the best Tomb Raider games ever made.

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has just announced its third round of job cuts this year. This time, the wound impacts less than 30 staff members across departments.

"Today we've made the difficult but necessary decision to reorganize Crystal Dynamics' studios and teams," Crystal Dynamics shares on LinkedIn, echoing similar announcements it made on the platform in the past, including in August this year. ("Today we made the very difficult decision to part ways with a number of our talented colleagues…)."

Crystal Dynamics' recent history is blister that won't heal; there's been constant friction. The developer has experienced a total of four layoffs in only two years, shaking loose at least 60 positions, and the Perfect Dark reboot it was co-developing was canceled in September.

"We've parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation," Crystal Dynamics now writes on LinkedIn. "Crystal deeply thanks all of those impacted for their incredible talent, hard work, and dedication, which helped shape the studio in so many ways. We are committed to offering our fullest resources and support to you during this transition."

"To our players," continues the developer, "as the realities of the industry continue to evolve, we've made these painful choices as a way to optimize the continued development of our flagship Tomb Raider game, as well as shaping the rest of the studio to make new games for the future."

According to its website, Crystal Dynamics doesn't seem to have any projects scheduled aside from a Lara Croft animated series season two premiere, set to release on Netflix in December. After its second season ends, the show will be canceled.

Despite cancellation rumors, Amazon's new Tomb Raider TV show from Fleabag helmer Phoebe Waller-Bridge with Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner as Lara Croft is moving ahead with a 2026 filming date.

Lara Croft's French voice actor is pursuing legal action against Aspyr over accusations AI was used to imitate her performance in the recent remaster.

Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered is a release I somewhat applaud because even though Tomb Raider 6 Angel Of Darkness is by far the worst game, bad games deserve to be preserved too (plus the fourth entry, The Last Revelation, is one of the best Tomb Raider games).

However, my enthusiasm was quickly dampened when a host of post-launch issues came out, like Tomb Raider 4's port seemingly being unfinished, and that Brazilian voice actor Lene Bastos' performance was imitated by an AI, which Aspyr claims was done by "one of our external development partners – without our knowledge or approval." The company added in their message to Bastos that "we are working quickly to remove the AI content" with their intent for it to be submitted within the next few weeks.

However, as reported by Le Parisien (via The Gamer), Bastos wasn't the only actor victim to AI replications. Speaking to Le Parisien, Françoise Cadol – the French actress for Croft as well as dubbing for actors like the Tomb Raider films' Angelina Jolie – has issued a cease and desist against Aspyr. While Cadol acted in these games originally, new voice lines used for more accurate tutorials were added to the games.

"It's a game, my voice accompanies the gamers, we play together," says Cadol, who calls her fans who realized that the AI voice work was present, "the guardians of the voices." She added, "Very quickly, these buyers of the compilation realized that the voice of Lara Croft, who gives gameplay instructions, was not mine. It caused a real uproar among the community."

It is somewhat likely that the same issues in the Brazilian dub were present here, and Aspyr hopefully is removing this too, but it's unclear whether the company has been in touch with Cadol.

As Perfect Dark gets canceled and the next Tomb Raider's development stumbles on, Crystal Dynamics lays off even more developers while blaming "evolving business conditions."

Crystal Dynamics has announced yet another round of layoffs, its third since the studio was acquired by Embracer Group in 2022. The news comes in the wake of the cancellation of Perfect Dark, which Crystal Dynamics was developing alongside Xbox studio The Initiative.

"Today we made the very difficult decision to part ways with a number of our talented colleagues as the result of evolving business conditions," the studio says in a LinkedIn post (via GamesIndustry.biz). "This decision was not made lightly. It was necessary, however, to ensure the long-term health of our studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market."

The post concludes by noting that development of the next Tomb Raider "remains unaffected by this decision." Very little about the game has been revealed since it was announced in 2022, other than the fact that it's in development on Unreal Engine 5 and will be published by Amazon Games.

Crystal Dynamics did not disclose how many people were affected by today's layoffs. The company laid off 17 employees earlier this year, citing the need to "better align our current business needs and the studio’s future success." A further 10 people were laid off in 2023, that time to "align the studio with our current business needs." I guess the layoff form letters don't change much over the years.

The last new game from Crystal Dynamics launched in 2020, while the studio was still a subsidiary of Square Enix. That game was Marvel's Avengers, a live-service mishap that launched to mediocre reviews and eventually shut down in 2023. The studio has contributed to some remaster projects, including Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain, in recent years, but we're all still waiting to see what its next big game is.

Crystal Dynamics is responsible for reviving the series and bringing us some of the best Tomb Raider games of all time.

Amazon Prime's Tomb Raider show starring Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner has reportedly been canceled.

The series was first revealed to be in development in January 2023, and it was set to be scripted by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

But, according to British tabloid the Daily Mail, the show is, per the publication's sources, "dead."

"I hear that it is not going ahead," the Daily Mail quotes a source. Though, Amazon hasn't officially commented on the story, so take the report with a grain of salt for now.

Waller-Bridge signed an exclusive Amazon deal way back in 2019. It was renewed this year, but it moved from exclusive to a first look deal. Tomb Raider officially ordered to series last year and Turner's involvement in screen tests was reported in October 2024.

"If I could tell my teenage self this was happening I think she'd explode," Waller-Bridge said when the show was ordered to series. "Tomb Raider has been a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly privileged to be bringing it to television with such passionate collaborators. Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can't wait to go on this adventure. Bats 'n all."

While Amazon might not have a Tomb Raider project coming any time soon, they do have the next James Bond movie in the works from producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal. That was only just announced in March 2025, though, so it'll probably be some time yet until we see 007 back on our screens.

You can fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best shows on Prime Video and the best movies on Prime Video.

Crystal Dynamics, the storied studio that's co-developing Perfect Dark and remains at work on an as-yet-untitled Tomb Raider game, has announced another round of layoffs affecting 17 employees.

"This morning, Crystal Dynamics made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce by 17 talented team members," the company says in a statement posted to social media. "We did not make this decision lightly. Ultimately, this step was necessary to better align our current business needs and the studio’s future success. It is not a reflection of the dedication or ability of those affected. We recognize how painful this outcome is for those impacted and we are supporting them with transition packages and opportunity outreach."

The company adds that this news "does not alter our current project plans." In 2023, Crystal Dynamics announced that it was laying off nine employees in its brand and marketing division, and one from IT, which came while its parent company, Embracer Group, was making thousands of layoffs across its vast holdings.

Crystal Dynamics had some input on the recent Tomb Raider remasters, but its last major release was Marvel's Avengers in 2020. Avengers was, of course, among the many games that Crystal Dynamics' then-owner Square Enix had found to be not "as successful as we would have liked," and the studio was acquired by Embracer Group in 2022.

Now, under Embracer, Crystal Dynamics is co-developing Perfect Dark alongside The Initiative at Xbox, and working on an untitled Tomb Raider game that will be published by Amazon. Last year, Amazon's gaming boss said Crystal Dynamics was "fairly sheltered" from the wider chaos at Embracer, but while 27 layoffs over the course of three years pales in comparison to the worst mass firings we've seen the game industry, it seems that shelter only goes so far.

These are the best Tomb Raider games of all time.

Tomb Raider's very own Lara Croft could be coming back to Fortnite for the first time in years.

Fortnite may not have been the first game to do a battle pass, but it’s safe to say it's the reason why what seems to be every game has one now. I personally don’t mind them too much, but the absolute worst thing about them is that once they’re gone, you can’t get anything from them (what do you mean I can’t get the Spider-Man skin?). One such skin was Lara Croft, who appeared in the Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 6 Battle Pass back in early 2021.

Since that season ended back in June 2021, there’s been no way to get Lara Croft in Fortnite, but that could be changing in the near future as Fortnite leaker extraordinaire ShiinaBR has revealed on Twitter that a new version of Lara Croft is set to arrive in Fortnite. While the skin itself hasn’t been found, a description saying "A globetrotting archaeologist with a penchant for dangerous adventures" was in today’s update.

While Epic Games did confirm that Battle Pass skins will now return to the game’s Item Shop after an exclusivity window, it only applies to skins from Chapter 5: Season 4 onwards, meaning that Lara Croft’s original skin won’t be back. Considering this version featured the 2013 reboot version of the character, the Tomb Raider: Legend-era design, and a low-poly version that looks like those Lucozade ads, video game versions of the character seem less likely.

That leaves some options like Alicia Vikander or Angelina Jolie’s movie variants of the character, one based on the recent Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft animated series, or maybe the clad-in-black version seen in Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness.

Lara Croft had the honor of being the first video game crossover character to be included in a Fortnite battle pass. Since then we’ve had the likes of Solid Snake, Doomguy, and old Gerry from The Witcher make an appearance. Most recently, Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero is available in the current Chapter 6 Season 2 battle pass, so if Lara returns, she’ll be able to team with the master of ice (and the iconic Big Dill).

If you’re excited for Lara’s return but haven’t played any of her games, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best Tomb Raider games.

Tomb Raider 4, 5, and 6 are all getting remastered, and that means one of the franchise's most-hated games, Angel of Darkness, could find some redemption.

In a new post over on the official Tomb Raider website, we get some information on the ways developer Aspyr will be trying to make the "initially divisive" Angel of Darkness more palatable this time around. The writer of the original game recently made an animated movie that resolves the series' biggest cliffhanger.

Like most remasters of older games, there will be options to use modern controls. These will let Lara jump in any direction regardless of which way she's facing, and you'll even be able to move the camera freely. We've really got it good these days. She can also shoot in mid-air and shoot around corners in stealth mode, which should make her even more lethal than she always was.

The devs are also looking to restore a lot of cut content to the game to help it realize its full potential. These include cut voice lines that should help explain the story more clearly, as well as some inventory items and new entries in a notebook that should help you as you explore the game and solve its various puzzles. Some people may think Aspyr is making the game too easy, but they can simply not use these hints if they don't want to.

The game's side character, Kurtis Trent, is also getting a serious rework. He uses psychic abilities and physical endurance instead of Lara's agility, so he'll now get a psychic shield that can "be quite useful in a boss battle" and will "control the discus-like blade known as the Chirugai." Those sound awesome. He's not a complete tank, though. He'll now also be able to sprint like Lara and shoot around corners, too.

If you want to get back into the series ahead of the remaster's February 14, 2025 release date, check out our ranking of the best Tomb Raider games.

The Tomb Raider series has now sold more than 100 million copies over its three decade history, so three more Lara Croft adventures are getting a much-deserved, and much-needed, glow-up.

This year, series stewards Crystal Dynamics and remasterers Aspyr Media updated Tomb Raider 1-3 with modern sensibilities. The pair are now giving more Lara Croft games the same treatment with Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, which repackages the late PS1 games The Last Revelation and Chronicles, together with the series' first PS2 outing Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. 

The remastered pack gives each game a nice visual overhaul to beautify characters, environments, spiky traps, and ancient artefacts - the trailer below even boasts of some really nice looking shadow work. It also includes my favorite feature from the first set of remasters: the ability to toggle between the new and old graphics on-the-fly. 

Updated modern controls, classic tank controls, a photo mode, quality-of-life features, and achievement support should make this the ideal way to play through the early noughties adventures when Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered comes to PC, Xbox, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch next Valentine's Day, February 14, 2025, for $29.99.

Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered is somehow more and less exciting than the first batch, especially because it includes arguably the worst game in the series. 2003's Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is currently the worst-reviewed game in the entire series, according to Metacritic's aggregate score, and Chronicles doesn't fall too far behind. 

I suppose problematic games are more worth revisiting than already-good ones, though. Angel of Darkness came under fire at the time for its wonky controls and awkward level layouts that made simply navigating a chore, along with some questionable stealth sections, so we'll see how they play once the remasters come out next Valentine's Day. 

Regardless, confirmation that Lara's second trilogy is being revisited opens the door to further remasters in the future, too. (Fingers crossed for modern ports of Legends, Anniversary, and Underworld.)

Tomb Raider publisher says “things are progressing” with the next Lara Croft game and that Crystal Dynamics is “fairly sheltered” from Embracer’s layoffs. 

Amazon Games studio head Christoph Hartmann says Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics is "fairly sheltered" from the volatility of its parent company, Embracer Group, and that the next Lara Craft game is making progress.

In an interview with IGN, Hartmann largely brushes off concerns about the yet-untitled Tomb Raider game, even though the company with the rights to the IP has been at the epicenter of the ongoing industry layoff crisis along with other high-profile publishers. According to Hartmann, Crystal Dynamics is relatively safe from Embracer's wrath despite parting ways with a comparatively minor 10 employees back in September.

"People obviously look at what the parent company is doing, but it never impacted on resources, never led to any changes on management for them, so they're fine," Hartmann tells IGN. "I mean, doing a new Tomb Raider, the bar is so high. The longer you go, the expectation goes higher, so it's a huge, huge task, but things are progressing. I mean, there's some really great ideas here."

Hartmann says there's no news to share about the new Tomb Raider title - Gamescom 2024 viewers know that all too well - but assures "things are going well, things are moving forward," adding, "from what I can tell, Crystal was pretty sheltered, because also when you look before...they went through a couple of ownership changes anyway before, it's not brand new for them."

The long-overdue Tomb Raider game was first announced by Crystal Dynamics more than two years ago, and then a few months later Amazon Games announced it was picking up publishing duties from Embracer. We've yet to see so much as a teaser trailer for the game nor a peep from Amazon or Crystal Dynamics.

Meanwhile, Netflix's Tomb Raider anime gets a new teaser trailer and our best look yet at Hayley Atwell's Lara Croft.

Amazon Games' upcoming Lord of the Rings MMO and Crystal Dynamics' next Tomb Raider game aren't "too far away," but the focus is on "quality" rather than rushing them out.

The next Tomb Raider game is being published by Amazon Games, and The Lord of the Rings MMO is being developed by the New World team at Amazon Games Orange County, but news on both has been fairly light on the ground. As far as the upcoming Tomb Raider game goes, it was announced back in 2022 as a single-player, narrative-focused adventure developed in Unreal Engine 5, while The Lord of the Rings MMO was announced last year, is being made in partnership with Embracer Group and its subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises, and is set to release on both PCs and consoles. 

There's no word on when either of them might be releasing, but according to a new interview with Variety, we might be finding out more about them relatively soon as Amazon Games starts "to get a more regular cadence of putting out games," while still focusing on achieving a high quality. 

"It's not going to be tomorrow, but it's not too far away," Amazon Games' vice president, Christoph Hartmann, says after being asked when we'll hear more about the games and when they might launch. "As I said, we're getting into a much more regular cadence of shipping games. That's all I'm allowed to tell you right now… It's all about quality. You don't want to just be rushed out. That doesn't work. It has to be triple-A quality, because the bar is so high."

All in all, that can only be considered a good thing. After all, looking at Tomb Raider alone, it's already been six years since the last main new release, so there's inevitably going to be high expectations for the next one. Here's hoping that both games will be able to live up to their hype when they're eventually upon us.

Be sure to check out our roundup of new games 2024 to see what's releasing this year and beyond.

The Tomb Raider animated series, which was announced in 2021and is set to take place after the events of the most recent trilogy, has a release date.

In a trailer published earlier today, Tomb Raider's official account confirmed that Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft would be hitting Netflix on October 10, 2024. With Haley Atwell, best known for her turns as the MCU's Peggy Carter and for her role in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, in the title role, Lara is raiding across some pretty exotic locales in the trailer, which you can check out below.

While it's hard to pin down exactly what Lara is up to in any of the clips in that action-packed trailer, a couple of moments remind me of my favorite Croft game - 2006's Tomb Raider: Legend has a couple of moments that feel like they might be getting paid homage to in this trailer, which I suppose makes sense given both this series' name and its presence after the Crystal Dynamics series.

With The Legend of Lara Croft now officially only a few months away, Tomb Raider does appear to be stepping back into the limelight in an increasingly apparent way - just a couple of weeks ago, a live-action series penned by Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was announced, and that's in addition to a new Amazon-backed Tomb Raider game that's supposed to offer a unified version of Lara. Those tombs had better watch out.

Fill time until the new series drops with our list of the best Tomb Raider games.

The idea of playing the original Tomb Raider trilogy on something like the Super Pocket sounds absurd, but that might be a reality soon. In fact, the company behind the Evercade handheld ecosystem has announced plans for new ‘Giga’ cartridges that’ll let you pick up classic 3D games for the system without investing in new hardware. 

Cartridge support is a big reason why I think the Super Pocket is one of the best gaming handhelds out there. Being able to buy a physical collection of retro games for a new system is a novelty in itself, but it also means you won’t have to faff around with emulators or worry about if specific adventures will run. Even if you outgrow the dinky nature of HyperMegaTech’s Game Boy-style portable, you’ll be able to easily grab another Evercade device and still play your accumulated collection. 

Thanks to the clever folks at Blaze, the company behind the Evercade, that collection is about to get even bigger. In a recent announcement, the handheld makers revealed that a new “Giga Cart” format was on the way to accommodate larger games that were “mostly originally released on CD.” The announcement avoids naming any specific systems, but it could mean we’ll end up with a bunch of Sega Saturn, PS1, and Dreamcast games that’ll work on Evercade systems.

We’ll ultimately have to wait to see which 3D romps end up on Evercade Giga Carts, but as I’ve already spoiled, Tomb Raider is allegedly heading to the system. While Blaze hasn’t made any official game announcements yet, an early Amazon listing for a “Tomb Raider Collection 1” box set popped up yesterday, revealing box art for a supposed trilogy. It has now been pulled, but a tweet by Wario64 provides a glimpse at potential box art. 

I’d suggest taking this early Tomb Raider Evercade listing with the usual grain of salt, but I’d be surprised if this collection isn’t legit. The box art featured lines up with Blaze’s official Giga Cart announcement, with even the new format logo residing on the spine. If there’s one thing we do know, it’s that such a release will set you back more than the usual $19.99 / £17.99 MSRP, as the new carts will come in at $24.99 / £22.49.

Should you buy a Super Pocket or Evercade?

Both the Super Pocket and systems like the Evercade EXP will support new Giga Carts, meaning you’ll be able to play a bunch of 3D classics as they release. However, if you don’t own either system yet, you might want to consider your own controller preferences before opting for a specific model. While the smaller Super Pocket provides simplistic controls for Game Boy-era adventures and arcade classics, its lack of proper shoulder buttons and compact layout might not match up well with PS1 favorites. 

That said, we don’t officially know which 3D games are heading to the Evercade, and many early 3D capers will feel just fine on a scaled-down layout. Even Tomb Raider should handle well with just the Super Pocket’s D-Pad and face buttons, but I’ll ultimately need to take the game for a spin to see how the shoulder buttons hold up. 

For now, if someone could wake me up when Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is playable on the Evercade, that’d be ace.

Looking for something beefier? Check out the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops for powerful rigs. Alternatively, swing by the best Steam Deck dock if you own Valve's portable powerhouse.

Update: Crystal Dynamics has confirmed in a statement posted to social media that it has laid off ten employees.

"Crystal Dynamics made the difficult decision to part ways with 9 Brand/Marketing and 1 IT employee today due to an internal restructuring to align the studio with our current business needs," the company says. "We are working directly with the affected staff to fully support them. If you have applicable positions open at your studio across Brand Direction, Creative Services, Community, or IT, please pass them along to peoplexp@crystald.com and we will ensure the information ends up in the right hands."

Original story: Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has suffered a wave of layoffs just months after insisting that the ongoing staff hemorrhage at parent company Embracer Group wouldn't affect the new Tomb Raider game or the studio's collaboration with The Initiative on the Perfect Dark reboot. 

Several Crystal Dynamics employees confirmed the layoffs on social media today, and while marketing and branding folks seem to have drawn the shortest straw, the exact scope of the redundancies remains uncertain. Senior brand manager Nick Edwards writes: "Sadly the Embracer layoffs keep coming and I and a number of talented brand/marketing folks at Crystal are impacted."

Senior community and social manager Neha Nair adds: "There isn't an easy way to say this so I'll just rip the bandaid off because while I'm still processing, life unfortunately does not pause... After 3.5 years at [Crystal Dynamics], I was laid off today."

Updates on other platforms like LinkedIn show several other members of senior staff, including communications director Adam Kahn, have been let go. Crystal Dynamics has yet to release a public statement on the layoffs, and the only word from Embracer Group today has been a rescheduling of its stakeholder-facing capital markets day on account of "the restructuring program launched on June 13, which will run until March 31, 2024."

In June, Crystal Dynamics said that despite escalating Embrace layoffs, "there will be no impact to our continuing efforts with our partners at The Initiative on Perfect Dark, or our next Tomb Raider title being developed in collaboration with Amazon Games." It's unclear if this statement remains true after today's cuts. 

The affected members of Crystal Dynamics are only the latest to be hurled out by Embracer in order to help keep its ship above water. The company's "restructuring," you'll recall, followed a failed $2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia, and has since seen the shuttering of 30-year-old Saints Row developer Volition, layoffs across a range of studios, and the rumored pawning of Borderlands developer Gearbox. 

In a June statement, Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors noted that "Embracer currently engages close to 17,000 people and while that number will be lower by the end of the year, it is too early to give an exact forecast on this."

Crystal Dynamics just recently unveiled the Tomb Raider Remastered trilogy, which is coming to all platforms on Lara Croft's next birthday, February 14, 2024. 

10 years after its release, fans reflect on what made Tomb Raider 2013 such a great game.

It certainly doesn't feel like it, but yesterday, March 5, marked ten years since the release of Tomb Raider 2013, the first game in the Survivor Trilogy. It was a new era for the long-running series; gone was the confident and highly capable Lara Croft, replaced with an inexperienced explorer stranded on a mysterious island and hunted by a sinister cult. With its intriguing setting, grittier feel, engaging gameplay, and more relatable protagonist, for many, Tomb Raider 2013 stands as one of the series' greatest entries.

In a tweet celebrating the milestone, Brian Horton, who joined Crystal Dynamics as a senior art director in 2009 and was game director on Rise of the Tomb Raider, wrote, "I can't believe it's been 10 years since the release of Tomb Raider. I'm honored to have collaborated with such talented developers, many who became lifelong friends. Thanks to the millions of fans who played this game!"

Fans were quick to share their fondness for the game, and its leading lady, in the comments. One fan said, "Definitely an awesome game to play! This entry revitalized my love for this character!" Another replied, "One of those games that mean the world to me. Been a TR fan ever since the start and TR13 has a very special place in my heart. Thanks for giving us our survivor."

The official Tomb Raider Twitter page also marked the occasion by asking players for their most memorable moments of Tomb Raider 2013. "Definitely the radio tower," said one fan. "I have a love-hate relationship with heights, even in games. It's exhilarating and scary, and this part sure conveyed it well!" Another commented, "I just remember loving the atmosphere of the island. The dark, rainy nature really helped with the survival theme."

For some players, Lara using her signature dual pistols to save the day is the highlight, while for others, it's a multitude of things that make the game so memorable. "Honestly, too many to count," wrote one long-time Tomb Raider fan. "The Oni reveal is probably one of my favorite moments in the entire history of Tomb Raider. This game is so damn special to me." Another replied, "Story was absolutely incredible, graphics and gameplay exactly what I was expecting. Excellent game"

The Survivor Trilogy concluded in 2018 with the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and exactly where the series will go from here is still very much a mystery. What we do know is that it's being published by Amazon Games and has been described as "the biggest, most expansive Tomb Raider game to date".

See which of Lara's many adventures we like the most in our rundown of the best Tomb Raider games.

Tomb Raider creators and fans have collaborated on a new animated film that covers the events between Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and the series' first PS2 title, The Angel of Darkness.

As long-time fans will remember, Lara's fourth outing, The Last Revelation, had a pretty shocking end that saw the famous explorer buried beneath the ruins of an Egyptian temple, supposedly dead. The next game, Tomb Raider Chronicles, was told in flashbacks as those nearest and dearest to her recounted tales of her past exploits. It wouldn't be until four years later, in 2003's The Angel of Darkness, that we would see Lara alive and well again, this time in Paris, but with no explanation of how she got there.

This new animated short, The Myth of El Hawa, finally gives us a canonical explanation of the events between both games. It's penned by The Angel of Darkness writer Murti Schofield and directed by veteran Tomb Raider fan Ash Kaprielov. The tale unfolds through a series of journal entries accompanied by some stunning artwork and is narrated by none other than Jonell Elliott, Lara's voice actress for the aforementioned games.

As for the story, it turns out Lara was able to free herself from the rubble. Exhausted and injured, she is discovered by a shaman called Putai, who nurses her back to health and brings her into the Bantiwa tribe or, as Lara calls them, her "desert family". As this deleted scene from The Angel of Darkness shows, Putai was originally meant to appear in the game but was cut, presumably due to time constraints.

The Angel of Darkness was originally designed to be the start of a trilogy, so it's possible that developer Core Design could have told this tale in a future instalment. But it was not meant to be, as, after The Angel of Darkness, Crystal Dynamics took over development duties on Tomb Raider, and the rest, as they say, is history.

It's been over a quarter of a century since Lara Croft first burst onto the gaming scene; see which one of her many adventures comes out on top in our guide to the best Tomb Raider games.

A Tomb Raider fan is remaking the original game in 2D, and it's everything you want it to be.

When the original Tomb Raider launched all the way back in 1996, it was revolutionary in many ways. It featured a strong female lead, which was practically unheard of in those days, and while it wasn't the first fully 3D game, it was the first to blend exploration and puzzle solving with all-out action in a variety of realistic 3D enviornments. Still, have you ever wondered what Tomb Raider would look like if developer Core Design had opted for a 2D approach instead? Well, wonder no more.

Tomb Raider fan Delca is remaking Lara's original adventure in 2D. They shared a short video of the project on Twitter, and it looks simply stunning. The footage shows Tomb Raider's training level, which takes place in Lara's lavish abode, Croft Manor. The iconic adventurer and her surroundings are taken straight out of the first game - it's even got Lara's original dialogue - but here we see the action from a sideways perspective, and her movements are restricted to backwards and forwards. 

Those boxes cluttering up the main hall still haven't been shifted (it's been over a quarter of a century, perhaps you should give those delivery people another call, eh, Lara?), so the famed treasure hunter must navigate over them with a series of jumps. We also see the ballroom, which has been converted into a personal gym, and our tour ends with a brief dip in the swimming pool. Aside from the short video, there's little information on this 2D Tomb Raider remake, but we're excited to see how Delca tackles the rest of Lara's adventure, particularly her encounter with the mighty T-Rex. 

If you're a fan of Lara's more modern excursions, then be sure to check out Epic Games store later this week, where you'll be able to snap up Shadow of the Tomb Raider for free. Earlier this year, Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics along with Eidos-Montreal, the studio behind Deus Ex, and Square Enix Montreal, best known for the brilliant GO series, was sold to Embracer group for a whopping $300 million. A brand new Tomb Raider game is currently in the works. We don't know much about it yet, other than it'll be powered by Unreal Engine 5, but writer Rhianna Pratchett who penned the Tomb Raider reboot and its sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider, hopes Lara's new adventure won't focus on her father issues.

See which of the series' many entries are worth exploring in our guide to the best Tomb Raider games. 

Epic Games Store is offering Shadow of the Tomb Raider for free next week. 

While Shadow of the Tomb Raider may not provide the same thrills as some of the series' earlier offerings, if you're looking for a moody jaunt filled with gigantic interactive puzzles that won't cost you a thing, then keep your eye on the Epic Games Store as Lara's latest adventure will be going free from September 1.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the follow-up to 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider, in which Lara must race through the Peruvian jungle and traverse deadly ancient tombs to save the world from a Mayan apocalypse. It also is supposedly Lara's defining moment where she becomes the Tomb Raider she's destined to be. If you happen to figure out which moment that is, please let us know.

For those of you in the market for something a bit more chilled, Submerged: Hidden Depths is being added to Epic Store's free games alongside Shadow of the Tomb Raider. You won't find any shootouts here, instead, it's a self-styled "relaxploration" adventure that sees you sail, climb, solve puzzles, and explore the ruins of a sunken world.

These games will be replacing Ring of Pain, "a roguelike card crawler where encounters come to you." If you fancy giving this colourful yet creepy turn-based title a go, then be sure to claim it before September 1.

A new Tomb Raider game is currently in development in Unreal Engine 5. Developer Crystal Dynamic said its goal is to "deliver the high-quality, cinematic action-adventure experience that fans deserve." Embracer Group, which acquired Crystal Dynamics for an eye-watering $300 million back in May, says it sees "great potential" not only in new Lara Croft adventures but in remakes, remasters, spinoffs, and "transmedia projects."

See which of Lara's adventures is worth your time with our pick of the best Tomb Raider games.

Putting the best Tomb Raider games into any sort of order is no easy feat, given the vast number of caves, caverns, and evil corporation headquarters Lara Croft has infiltrated over the years.

Having first rolled out on the Sega Saturn way back in 1996, the intrepid archaeologist has given us some of the best adventure games of all time – each jam-packed with more exploration, combat, and puzzle-work than you can shake a Scion artifact at. However, despite Lara's impressive track record, the rest of the GamesRadar+ team and I have dived into the video game vaults and have found the top experiences to play today. And really, there's never been a better time to get reacquainted with one of the best video game heroes to ever grace our small screens.

With two new Tomb Raider games (I'm especially excited about Tomb Raider: Catalyst, releasing in 2027) being added to the list of new games to look out for, it's prime time to revisit the greatest hits in this iconic franchise. So, without further ado, here are the 10 best Tomb Raider games of all time for you to sink a climbing axe into.

The best Tomb Raider games are...

10. Tomb Raider: Chronicles

Platforms: PC, PS1, Dreamcast
Released: 2000

With Lara Croft apparently killed off at the end of Revelations, the following game was a collection of stories from various points of Lara's exploratory career. By this point, the engine was tired, Lara was tired, the control scheme was tired, and the level design was tired. Not exactly a recipe for success, then.

S,o while this isn't a particularly awful Tomb Raider adventure, it isn't a particularly good one, either. Oh, and the ghostly wraith things are weird. The series has always had an air of the supernatural around it, but Scooby-Doo would have a field day with this one. If Lara unmasked one, it would probably turn out to be old man Winston, the butler from Croft Manor. "And I'd have gotten away with it too… if it wasn't for you pesky kids always locking me in the freezer".

 9. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Platforms: PC, PS1, Dreamcast
Released: 1999

This is a slightly strange entry in the series. It's classic Tomb Raider, but it starts off with you playing as a 15-year-old version of Lara. Despite showing a version of Croft that no fan of the franchise ever needed to see, The Last Revelation commits to the undiluted, hardcore platforming that made the PS1 games such a success.

Sure, it's hardly Shenmue, but during one of Lara's leanest periods, this underrated Dreamcast entry at least kept Croft's name in the (semi-relevant) conversation. While it's low ranking on this list, it's also still one of the best Dreamcast games that you can play today.

 8. Tomb Raider 3: Adventures of Lara Croft

Platforms: PC, PS1
Released: 1998

The PS1 trilogy-capper benefited from a new game engine, allowing for more complex and densely populated environments. The quality is high, but the game's design is a bit obtuse at times – it's super easy to get lost in most of the levels. Oh, and Lara sneaking around Area 51? Really?

Still, despite its flaws, we can't deny that when it came out, it was impressive. It was bigger than its predecessor and came we a new host of stealth challenges as well. Lara's movements also felt more like you were a treasure hunter than previous entries, letting you sneak through narrow tunnels and monkey bar your way through maps. Not the best PS1 game, but a fun one.

 7. Tomb Raider: Underworld

Platforms: PC, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS
Released: 2008

One of the best-looking games on Xbox 360, Underworld represents the pinnacle of second-phase Lara. In a post-Uncharted world, it was clear Lara and her newly reclaimed puzzling and platforming skills had learned a lot from Nathan Drake.

In terms of gameplay, Underworld offers a tantalizing sense of freedom that, while welcome, is never fully realized – an early underwater level hints at a less linear approach that doesn't fully come to bear. Still, this is a slick, handsome adventure that kept Lara's momentum ticking over following the success of Anniversary.

Read our Tomb Raider Underworld review.

6. Tomb Raider 2

Platforms: PC, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS
Released: 1997

Lara's first sequel is very similar to her initial outing but passed up Saturn and affirmed PlayStation as the explorer's spiritual home. TR2 expands some of the original's concepts, like actually allowing you to ride vehicles (as opposed to just wistfully watching cut-scene Lara have all the fun) and allowing you to explore more outdoor environments. Ones with the actual sky, not just 'black.'

These days, it's a frustrating affair with too many instant deaths that force you to progress through trial and error. But there's an iOS port doing the rounds with cleaned-up textures. If you're a series fan, this stellar entry deserves a look if you're longing for some retro raiding.

5. Tomb Raider: Legend

Platforms: PC, PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
Released: 2006

If it wasn't for the success of Legend, there's a good chance Lara's terrific reboot trilogy would never have seen the light of day. Following Angel of Darkness' disastrous release in 2003, the relic-pinching series looked all but dead. Once the dust had settled, though, Crystal Dynamics bounced back with a prequel/part reboot that looked to remove the unfocused excess of AoD.

Placing more emphasis on puzzles and sharp platforming than its combat-heavy predecessor, Legend remains a confident reminder of what Lara is all about. Displaying the sort of streamlined setpiece spectacle that would ultimately put Lara fully back on the map in 2013, this is the game that started Ms. Croft's deserved redemption.

Read our Tomb Raider: Legend review.

4. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Mac
Released: 2018

Technically accomplished, if a little soulless, the final part of the rebooted Lara's trilogy is still a superior action adventure. While battling jaguars in the sweaty bowels of the Amazon might not be quite as riveting as axing a grizzly to death in Rising of the Tomb Raider's Siberian plains, Shadow takes the polished mechanics of its predecessors and builds on them with never-better stealth and gunplay.

Yes, the story is once again a weak point. But when the Challenge Tombs are so good and the setpieces so compelling – the early flood scene is an absolute jaw-dropper – it's hard to begrudge Shadow being the weakest entry in a stellar trilogy.

Read our Shadow of the Tomb Raider review.

 3. Tomb Raider

Platforms: PC, PS1, Sega Saturn, Android, iOS, N-Gage
Released: 1996

By modern standards, the platforming is as stiff as old-school Lara's acting, but there's no denying the original Tomb Raider is one of the most influential video games of all time. While most developers were struggling to get to grips with the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn, Core Design casually dropped an all-time classic action-adventure out of seemingly nowhere.

In Lara Croft, the medium had finally found an icon who could stand shoulder to shoulder with a certain Nintendo plumber and speed-loving Sega hedgehog. While the game's sex appeal undoubtedly led to the game's colossal sales success, OG Tomb Raider is also a really freakin' good video game. The combination of considered exploration, expert-level design, and classic combat encounters – who could forget shooting a T-Rex in the face in the iconic Lost Valley level – ensures the first Tomb Raider will remain an enduring gaming icon for the ages.

 2. Tomb Raider

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Stadia
Released: 2013

After years in the wilderness, Crystal Dynamics brought the First Lady of Video Games back to relevance with an almighty bang. Wisely taking cues from Naughty Dog's Uncharted series, this brilliant reboot grounded the Tomb Raider universe, shunting aside campy fights with dinosaurs for gritty behind-the-shoulder shootouts with unhinged cultists.

While the story is forgettable, the downbeat setting is an absolute winner. Focused while also containing open-ended hub areas, the windswept island of Yamatai proves to be a brilliant setting. Throw in sturdy platforming and sharp shootouts, and 2013's rebooted Raider stands tall as one of the greatest entries in Lara's esteemed series.

Read our Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition review.

1. Rise of the Tomb Raider 

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Stadia, Mac
Released: 2015

The best Tomb Raider game ever made… and it's not all that close. Building on the winning template of the 2013 reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider doubles down on freedom and player choice. Expansive mini hubs dovetail beautifully with heavily choreographed set pieces to create a game that's truly a master of all disciplines. Oh, and it also looks absolutely incredible.

Does the stiff story compare to the light-hearted, perfectly paced fun of Uncharted? Absolutely not. Still, Rise gives players more agency and freedom than any of Nate's adventures in a game where the quality of platforming, puzzles, and shootouts simply can't be denied.

Read our Rise of the Tomb Raider review.

Forget everything that's going on in the world and lose yourself in the excitement and mystery of these best action games.

Tomb Raider writer Rhianna Pratchett hopes Lara Croft's future involves fewer father issues.

When Tomb Raider first launched in the 90s, one of the defining characteristics of its leading lady was her fierce independence. But when development of the series passed from Core Design to Crystal Dynamics, we saw a rewriting of Lara Croft's past and a shift in focus toward her family. Even more so in recent times, with Lara's father playing a big part in the reboot trilogy.

With a new Tomb Raider game just announced, it remains to be seen what kind of character Lara Croft will be going forward, but writer Rhianna Pratchett hopes she'll have fewer father issues. 

"We had a really fun time evolving her character, so I would like to see probably less father issues," Pratchett told Eurogamer at last night's BAFTA Game Awards. "And that's coming from me!" she added.

This isn't the first time Pratchett, who wrote the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot and its follow-up Rise of the Tomb Raider, has spoken of her dislike of the series' focus on Lara's father. In a recent tweet, she reiterated that she's not "a fan of the dad plot line in Rise" but that in order to do her job, she had to "make peace with it". 

Pratchett, also confirmed to Eurogamer that she's not involved in the upcoming Tomb Raider game but said that she is "very excited to see what they do with Lara next".

The newest iteration of Lara Croft is something that has divided fans, with some seeing her as a more realistic and relatable character while others prefer the self-reliant action heroine seen in the series' early games.

Lara's next adventure remains something of a mystery, but there are rumours that the new Tomb Raider could be a reimaging of her first adventure.

Find out which of Lara's previous adventures are worth playing as we rank the best Tomb Raider games.

The Tomb Raider devs could be hinting that Lara's next adventure will be a reimagining of her first outing, but not all fans are convinced.

Shortly after it was announced that a new Tomb Raider game is in development in Unreal Engine 5, the official Tomb Raider Twitter account updated its cover image. It now displays reimagined artwork of the original Tomb Raider, leading to speculation that the upcoming instalment might be a remake of Lara Croft's first adventure. The artwork, which shows Lara and a fearsome T-Rex, was unveiled last year as part of the series' 25th-anniversary celebration. 

Reddit user Stock_Presentation_9, who spotted the suspiciously updated image on the Tomb Raider Twitter account, also noted that the new logo for the franchise bears a striking similarity to the one used in Lara's earliest escapades. This lends further credibility to the idea that Ms Croft's future might lie in a reimagining of her past.

One commenter notes that this logo could be linked to Tomb Raider titles discovered in a leaked GeForce Now database, possibly listing upcoming game announcements. Tomb Raider Anniversary (2021) and Tomb Raider 25th Anniversary (2021) are among those listed.

A remake of 1996's Tomb Raider would make sense as Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that the next Tomb Raider game will unify the reboot trilogy with the classic games. The developer may be aiming to bring the treasure hunter's iconic first outing up to date to provide a continuing narrative with all the modern bells and whistles. 

The first Tomb Raider was remade by Crystal Dynamics once before when they acquired the series from original developer Core Design. Titled Tomb Raider Anniversary, this remake offered updated gameplay and an expanded story, but even this version is now 15 years old. 

But not everyone is convinced that another remake is a good idea. Reddit user SpectralVoodoo says, "How many remakes is this series going to get? Can't they just stick with one version and develop it?" While illage2 comments, "So they're going to remake the remaster of a game that's a reboot. Okay, sure." Elsewhere, fans have pointed out on Twitter that Crystal Dynamics has suggested that it "envisions the future of Tomb Raider [...] as unfolding in a time beyond [Lara's] established adventures."

From the lows of The Angel of Darkness to the highs of Lara's 2013 reboot, here are the best Tomb Raider games of all time ranked.

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics has recruited the director of Days Gone.

Jeff Ross, the director of PlayStation exclusive Days Gone, is swapping zombie action for treasure hunting as he joins Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics. 

In a tweet, Ross says, "I'm excited to announce I now work at the amazing Crystal Dynamics as Design Director. That's all I can say other than I'm thrilled with the project, and especially the team of really wonderful people."

Ross doesn't give any further details on his new role, but given that Crystal Dynamics announced just yesterday that it has a new Tomb Raider game in the works, it's fair to assume that he could be involved in Lara's next gun-toting adventure.

Ross departed Days Gone developer Bend Studio back in 2020 alongside fellow high-profile developer John Garvin, who worked as writer and director for Days Gone. There has been speculation that Ross' departure was due to Sony's decision not to greenlight a follow-up to Days Gone. Ross was disappointed that a sequel to the 2019 action title wouldn't be going ahead, saying that Days Gone 2 would have had better tech and a more dynamic open world.

The Days Gone director also wanted to make an Uncharted spin-off focusing on a young Sully.

As well as the newly announced Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamic is also working on a Perfect Dark reboot alongside Microsoft studio The Initiative.

If you want to know which of Lara's previous adventures are absolute gems and which are best left buried, check out our guide to the best Tomb Raider games of all time.

Tomb Raider is officially 25 years old as of this week, and Square Enix celebrated the occasion with a range of announcements, including new Switch ports for two Tomb Raider titles.

Square Enix announced that both Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris are headed to Switch in 2022, which will actually be the first time Lara has appeared on the platform. Original developer Crystal Dynamics is teaming up with Alien: Isolation Switch studio Feral Interactive to bring the pair of top-down, co-op-focused action games to Nintendo's console.

While those are the only new game release announcements Square Enix shared for the anniversary, the publisher revealed that it will give away Rise of the Tomb Raider free to all Amazon Prime members from November 1 to November 14; make sure you claim your copy on Amazon's gaming site while you can. You'll also find a wide selection of Tomb Raider games discounted on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Games Store, in case there are any holes in your collection.

The publisher put together a collection of video tributes to the Tomb Raider series from some of the many women who helped shape Lara Croft's journey over the years, including writers, voice actors, models, and artists. Speaking of voice actors, the announcements also included the fact that Earl Baylon will reprise his role of Lara's friend Jonah Maiava in the upcoming animated Tomb Raider series, which will continue the story of the reboot trilogy on Netflix.

Did you know the Tomb Raider reboot started off as a horror game filled with demons?

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics appears to be gearing up for the next installment of the series according to a new job listing. 

Crystal Dynamics, which has previously developed a number of games in the Tomb Raider series, including The Rise of Tomb Raider (2015) and Tomb Raider (2013) - is currently looking for a Lighting Artist who can demonstrate "a similar cinematic style to the latest Tomb Raider reboot."

Of course, this doesn’t definitely mean the studio is working on the next Tomb Raider game but from the job description, it does seem very likely. The Tomb Raider series is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2021 with Crystal Dynamics actually teasing some kind of upcoming project earlier this year noting that the next Tomb Raider game will "unify" the reboot trilogy with the classic games. 

The Tomb Raider studio has also recently worked on Marvel’s Avengers which continues to expand with the addition of everyone’s favorite web-slinger Spider-Man swinging his way into the game for PlayStation players sometime later this year. The game was also just announced as coming to Xbox Game Pass next week. 

A potential new Tomb Raider game isn’t the only thing Crystal Dynamics is working on either. The Square Enix-owned studio is also currently co-developing the Perfect Dark reboot alongside original developer The Initiative. However, it’s expected that the new Perfect Dark is still a ways off yet. A statement echoed by many members of the team working on the game who have said that the game is "still early in development."

Find out what games are definitely on the way with our new games 2021 list. 

Update: Toby Gard and Nathan McCree's new project is Dream Cycle.

The first-person action game, which sees the main character making their way through a forest and a mysterious temple using a series of magical powers and conventional weapons. It was announced during the Gamescom Opening Night Live pre-show, and is coming to Steam Early Access on September 7. it's also available to wishlist now.

Original story: A Tomb Raider announcement could be made at Gamescom Opening Night Live, according to a teaser from one of the original developers.

In a recent tweet, Nathan McCree, who worked as a composer on the original Tomb Raider trilogy, said that a "big announcement concerning me and Mr Gard" would be made at Opening Night Live later today. The 'Mr Gard' in question is Toby Gard, who is best known for creating the character of Lara Croft while working at original developer Core Design during the 1990s, and has also contributed to a number of subsequent Tomb Raider titles.

McCree doesn't offer any clue as to what form his announcement will take, but current developer Crystal Dynamics has offered a few clues. 2021 marks 25 years since the original Tomb Raider released in 1996, and the studio has been celebrating since January. Back then, it told fans that "we don't have plans for a major game announcement in the near future," but that future games would "unify" the timelines of the original and rebooted trilogies.

Seven months on, and there's a chance that Crystal Dynamics is a little more ready to speak about what it's been working on. If that's the case, it's interesting to see the studio working with some of the franchise's original creators, but it's also worth noting that McCree and Gard could be working on something new; McCree hasn't contributed to Lara's adventures since Tomb Raider III in 1998, while Gard has been absent since his work as cinematics director on the series' 2013 reboot.

Here's how to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021.

Surprise! Shadow of the Tomb Raider's latest update, entitled Update 2.01, which was deployed earlier this week, brings 4K resolution and 60fps on PS5.

Though not formally announced by developer Eidos nor publisher Square Enix, the patch introduces "support for 4K at high frame-rate on PlayStation 5 in high-resolution mode".

There's good news on the horizon for Xbox players, too. According to the eagle-eyed Lara fans on Reddit, it looks like the game – which was originally released for last generation tech back in 2018 – has been newly tagged on the official store as now "optimized for Xbox Series X/S". 

Apparently, this is in addition to, and separate from, the Xbox "FPS boost" upgrade which had already improved the framerate on a range of back-compat games back in May, including Shadow of the Tomb Raider. 

While it's uncertain what this may mean in practice for the action-adventure game, OP thiccadam hypothesizes that "it seems they’re prepping the patch for this week", as Microsoft "updated the Series X optimization tag a few days before the patch for A Plague Tale: Innocence too. I redownloaded and it’s currently not optimized so far, I would assume better lighting and maybe some ray tracing though" (thanks, Eurogamer).

As for the movies? Future Tomb Raider games will reportedly be set after the 90s classics, and will "unify" the original story with the 2013 reboot trilogy.

In a video at the start of the year that announced the franchise's 25th-anniversary celebrations, game director Will Kerslake explained that "[Crystal Dynamics'] origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara's early days [...] while the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, traveling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces". 

"We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design and Crystal Dynamics' games, working to unify these timelines," Kerslake teased.

ICYMI, back in January Netflix announced a Tomb Raider anime series that'll take place after the events of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. There's also the sequel to the 2018 film, which recently brought on Lovecraft County's Misha Green as writer and director after Ben Wheatley departed the project.

For a complete list of all the other games that are available on Sony's next-gen console through the back-compat feature, head over to our PS5 backward compatibility guide for more.

Update: Square Enix has officially confirmed the arrival of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy with a trailer during today's Square Enix Presents showcase.

Original story: The Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy is seemingly out now, appearing on both the Microsoft and PlayStation store.

Originally leaked on the Microsoft store earlier this month, the collection "contains all the definitive edition content" from each of the games in the prequel trilogy - 2013's Tomb Raider, 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider, and 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider. That means that as well as the three games themselves, players will have access to extra content, DLC packages, and Season Passes for the relevant games. A full list of all of the content available is featured on each store page.

The Definitive Survivor Trilogy will be available on Xbox One and PS4, with compatibility on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PS5. While it hasn't been officially announced, the collection appears to have already been released, lining up with the dates on that original leak, and is currently available at a 60% discount until April 2, offering all three games for less than $20.

The timing of the collection's release matches up with both a year of 25th anniversary celebrations for Tomb Raider and the Square Enix Presents showcase due to take place later today. The publisher has already revealed that Lara Croft will feature at the event in some way, so expect more information on the collection there.

Elsewhere, developer Crystal Dynamics has been talking about Lara's future, revealing that the next Tomb Raider game will "unify" the classic games with the series' latest outings. Unfortunately, we're unlikely to get a look at what exactly that means for a while, as the studio "[doesn't] have plans for a major game announcement in the near future.

For more of the titles releasing this year, check out these new games 2021.

A Tomb Raider 2 fan remake five years in the making has just dropped a single-level demo you can play right now.

Tomb Raider: The Dagger of Xian has been in the works since 2016, with project director Nicobass using Unreal Engine 4 and the help of a few other die-hard Tomb Raider fans. The remake even has Crystal Dynamics' blessing - according to PCGamer, the company is fine with the project "as long as it remains strictly not-for-profit." 

The remake is meant to have the look and feel of current-gen gaming graphics, but the juxtaposition between this remake and the original game are enough to stun you. While Lara Croft's breasts weren't breaking the laws of physics and the human form as egregiously in this game as they were in the first Tomb raider, she looks slightly more human in this remake - although the impossible body standards remain. The environment art in this remake is especially stunning, with gorgeous water and lighting mechanics that are (naturally) a far cry from the 1997 game - there's even a photo mode you can take advantage of to show off the updated visuals. Here's a lit of improvements made in Tomb Raider: The Dagger of Xian:

• New water simulation rendering
• New volumetric lighting 
• Climbable ledges should be more visible with some white decals 
• New alternative outfit added in the rewards menu
• More characters models added in the rewards menu
• New fish models reacting to the player’s movements
• Small improvements about Lara’s animations
• Adjustments to Lara's body shape
• More foliage interaction 
• Remaking of the audio reverb system
• Improvements of underwater particles
• Performance improvements
• Many small bug fixes

You can download the 1.2 version of the demo here, which contains the game's first level (The Great Wall) and about an hour's worth of playable content. In it, you're able to navigate the Great Wall of China to find clues regarding the whereabouts of the dagger of Xian. Nicobass has plans to complete the entire game, so keep this on your radar.

Last week, Square launched Tomb Raider 25th anniversary website and teases "franchise announcements" for 2021. 

Tomb Raider is coming up on its 25th anniversary, and in celebration Square Enix has launched a website chronicling the series' history and teased "franchise announcements" coming in 2021.

Square Enix says the anniversary website will focus on a single Tomb Raider game each month with deep-dives, "nostalgic media deep from the archives," new dev interviews and live playthroughs from Crystal Dynamics, and more.

"Over the last 25 years Tomb Raider has become more than a game and Lara Croft has risen to become a cultural icon," said Crystal Dynamics studio head Scot Amos. "We're so proud to be a part of this rich tapestry of adventure, but we recognize the true credit belongs to the fans! The amazing Tomb Raider community has made all of this possible and we look forward to celebrating with them his historic milestone and for many decades to come."

There's already a number of neat website features celebrating the series, like a beautifully reimagined front cover for the first Tomb Raider game and an in-depth account of items, relics, and artifacts from the series. 

In a press release, Square says several announcements are planned for this year. We can't be sure, but it sure seems like one of those is a new Tomb Raider game. Crystal Dynamics recently teased the next entry just a few days ago and said that it would "unify" the timelines of the reboot trilogy and the original games.

We're also looking forward to the Tomb Raider movie sequel and the Tomb Raider anime series. 

Future Tomb Raider games will be set after the 90s classics, and will "unify" the original story with the 2013 reboot trilogy.

In a video announcing the franchise's 25th anniversary celebrations, which will be taking place throughout the year, Crystal Dynamics' executive producer, Dallas Dickinson, teased a "glimpse into the future" of Tomb Raider, handing over to game director Will Kerslake for more information.

Kerslake explained that "[Crystal Dynamics'] origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara's early days [...] while the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, travelling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces. We envision the future of Tomb Raider unfolding after these established adventures, telling stories that build upon the breadth of both Core Design and Crystal Dynamics' games, working to unify these timelines."

Thanks to Tomb Raider's "extensive history," however, that's easier said than done, and it sounds like Crystal Dynamics still has a long way to go before it'll be ready to show its next game. Kerslake says that "this is not an easy task, and we ask for your patience as we go through the development process. We don't have plans for a major game announcement in the near future."

While we'll probably be waiting a while for Lara's next video game outing, there'll be at least one tomb-raiding option to help pass the time. Yesterday, Netflix announced a Tomb Raider anime series that'll take place after the events of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. There's also the sequel to the 2018 film, which recently brought on Lovecraft County's Misha Green as writer and director after Ben Wheatley departed the project.

If you're looking for some more treasure-hunting vibes, check out our ranking of the best Uncharted games.

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider mirror challenge tomb is one of the most challenging puzzles you'll encounter during your adventures, and it's the one that had me stumped for the longest. The setup is pretty easy to understand - there are four mirrors in the room, each of which can be turned in order to redirect the light coming in from above towards the green nodes on various pieces of equipment. In addition to this, there's a device in the middle along with a platform that moves up or down depending on which nodes have been lit, along with scaffolds providing links between the four mirrors that need to be turned in so you can climb across them as you solve the Shadow of the Tomb Raider mirror challenge tomb.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider tips | Shadow of the Tomb Raider Challenges | Shadow of the Tomb Raider Death Whistle Carvings | Shadow of the Tomb Raider document, mural, relic, map, and backpack guide | Shadow of the Tomb Raider reinforced knife, lockpick, and rope ascender

The fundamental thing to know about this tomb is you need to forget about trying to raise the central platform. All that does is block the light that’s crossing the room and waste your mirrors (not to mention remove your method of reaching the prize), so you need to keep it as low as possible. Once you know that piece of information, it’s actually a relatively simple process, which is:

Turn 1 to the left node (far scaffolding on the right) and cross
.

Turn 2 to the diagonal node and cross back to 1. 

Turn 1 to the node on the right and cross both to 3. 

Turn 3 onto the node immediately to its left so you can cross back
.

Turn 1 to the node on its left
.

Cross and turn 2 to the same node you just lit with 1. Cross back to 1.

Turn 1 diagonally across the room onto the far node on the left hand side to make the second half of your bridge to 4.


Cross back to 2 and turn it to the node on its immediate left. 


Cross to 4 and turn it onto the node in front of it which lowers the central platform and completes the bridge to the prize. Don’t forget to examine the mural here!


Go and cross to the prize from the platform in the middle.

There - that wasn’t so bad, was it? 

The Shadow of the Tomb Raider reinforced knife, lockpick, and rope ascender are all particularly handy items, thanks to the Metroidvania-esque game design that allows you to spot new areas and riches but prevents you from actually getting to them until you’ve found a specific item that opens them up. Shadow of the Tomb Raider really enjoys teasing you with such things, and you can easily complete the main adventure without gaining access to the three main tools to break down these barriers. There are doors that require the Rope Ascender to pull down, blockades that need their ropes cut with the Reinforced Knife, and treasure chests that require a lockpick to pop open. So let’s get out there and find the Shadow of the Tomb Raider reinforced knife, lockpick, and rope ascender, shall we?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider tips | Shadow of the Tomb Raider Challenges | Shadow of the Tomb Raider Death Whistle Carvings | Shadow of the Tomb Raider document, mural, relic, map, and backpack guide | Shadow of the Tomb Raider Mirror Challenge Tomb

How to get the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Lockpick and Rope Ascender

Happily, two of the three items are in the same place, but you’ll need 6,100 gold pieces (at regular rates) if you want to get them, so make sure you’ve saved up a bit. You need to start the ‘Find Tikiy’s Dice’ sidequest in Paititi (The Hidden City) by speaking with Tikiy, who can be found sitting down just west of the northern bridge. He asks you to find his dice, which he says have been stolen. You need to speak to Pisco the Dead, who is at this location:

After that, there are four basic locations shown on your map for the outcasts. They’re not difficult to find once Lara’s in the circle, so check your map to make sure you’re in the circle and look for the NPC with a sidequest symbol above their head. You’ll need to not be wearing the Serpent Guard outfit, so once you’ve changed into something less scary at the nearest base camp, talk to each one in turn.

1. The first is literally in the middle of the green circle here, inside the building. He tells you the whereabouts of the white capybara, as a nice bonus.

2. Again, right in the middle of the green circle. From Lara’s location shown, the second outcast is up the steps and to the right. He tells you the location of gold. 

3. You guessed it - smack bang in the middle of the circle here. This outcast tells you the location of the great condor.

4. The fourth outcast is here, and gives you the location of the fifth outcast.

The fifth outcast is here, right in the middle of the green circle. She isn’t like the others - she’s a merchant. And it may take a few seconds to realise that she holds two of the most vital pieces of equipment in the entire game. So make sure you purchase the rope ascender and the lockpick next to it. Sweet.

How to get the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Reinforced Knife

You need to start the Stay of Execution sidequest, which is given to you by Kayara in the Upper City, who can be found sitting on some steps at this location:

She gives you the quest to go and save her father, Hakan, who is being held prisoner. The sequence needed to rescue her father is simple - after speaking to the people around with cogs over their heads to make sure they’re ‘in’, you need to ask the ‘call to prayer’ horn blower to do so, then ask the musicians to stop playing, then - swiftly as the window is tight - ask the two men to help you open the door. The rest is easy, and the knife is yours.

There is another way to upgrade the standard knife to be able to cut through heavy rope doors that doesn't involve completing the sidequest. There's an upgrade service for sale from a Merchant in Paititi market, which is located here: 

If you have the standard knife, this will give you the ability to break through the reinforced knife-locked doors, and if you already have the upgrade, it just means you take more resources from animals you skin. It also has the bonus of giving you a Crocodile Dundee-referencing achievement: 'That's a knife'. Nice touch."