Lara Croft, arguably Derby’s most famous female, made her video game debut back in 1996 and went on to make a permanent impact on the gaming industry and pop culture. Over the last 30 years, she has undergone several changes, but remains instantly recognizable. But with her ever-evolving video games, which stand out as the greatest Tomb Raider games of all time? 

Let me share my thoughts…

Tomb Raider 2 

Tomb Raider 2 was the first sequel to the original and laid the foundation for Lara to become the icon she is today. Developers didn’t change much from the original game, but it still stands out as one of the best entries in the series thanks to how well it expanded on her debut. 

There were new ways to explore the world around Lara. No longer would shallow water hinder moving forward as Lara could now walk through it. Such a mundane thing was seen as remarkable back in its time.  

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider really hammers home how dodge pot Lara ‘s passion for raiding tombs and taking treasure that doesn’t belong to you or your culture really is. Our hero has become the villain in this, making it really refreshing to witness and play, The gameplay is also thoroughly exciting. From covering yourself in mud for stealth play, to the more realistic and satisfying gunplay. The gameplay alone makes the game worth it. 

Tomb Raider

It would feel insulting if I didn’t tip my hat to the original game. Tomb Raider introduced us to a woman who would soon leave her mark in fiction history as one of the most popular and highly-regarded leading ladies. Was her design both cool and questionable? Yes. But it was cool, especially to an impressionable young girl like myself who always craved more role models. 

You’re thrown right into the action when you start the game, giving you an immediate impression of who Lara is – a pistol-wielding archaeologist willing to go to great lengths for the sake of twokking treasure. 

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation let us, the fans see who Lara really was as a person. It starts with a teenage Lara Croft training with her mentor in a tutorial section that blends effortlessly into the story. It also leads into rather dark territory compared to the previous additions to the franchise. Perhaps because it was supposed to be our final time with the character. 

Regardless of any behind-the-scenes issues creating the game, there was incredible care put into it. The puzzles were far more enjoyable and the storyline of not only becoming better than your mentor, but having to fight against them, brought more depth to our hero. It always makes the game exciting to boot up. 

Tomb Raider (2013)

The most recent reboot of our beloved archeologist ruffled quite a few feathers upon its release. She was different. Tomb Raider 2013 did a 180 on her looks making her more realistic and someone you could actually meet. 

In this game Lara was real. She was flawed, yet still bloody brave. She got knocked down but got back up again. Here was a really fun and engaging reboot befitting the iconic character. A big thumbs up 

Rise of the Tomb Raider

So, in my humble opinion, 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 sensational 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.