Derby-born video game globetrotter Lara Croft has earned herself two new world records to put on the mantlepiece alongside the artefacts obtained on her travels.
Croft has been handed the title of the best-selling video game heroine, along with the record for a video game character gracing the most magazine covers. These magazines include the likes of Newsweek, Time, Loaded and The Face.
Guinness World Records shared news of the new records for Lara ahead of the publication of their latest Gamer’s Edition of the 2026 book.
The video character was created back in 1993 on the computer of Toby Gard, in Derby. Toby was a designer working for game studio Core Design, in Ashbourne Road – now called Croft House.
Since the mysterious intrepid explorer burst on to the scene, the Tomb Raider game has sold over 100 million units – making Lara Croft the best-selling videogame heroine.
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Her iconic figure has now also featured on over 2,300 front covers including TIME, Newsweek and The Face magazines – and of course the Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition book.
The more recent games in the series have been produced by Crystal Dynamics.
Their head of studio Scott Amos said: “As tremendous fans of Lara Croft, we’ve been so fortunate to join the Tomb Raider community on this journey throughout the years. She’s been aspirational and inspirational for nearly three decades, and it’s an honour to have her legacy recognised by Guinness World Records.
Alice Bell, Editor of Guinness World Records said “She’s a true gaming icon, and that she continues to set new records shows what an inspirational character she is. Long may Lara’s adventurous spirit reign! We’ll see what new standards she can set into the future!’
The new Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2026 reveals the top 100 gaming characters with Lara Croft smashing into the top three. The countess receives royal treatment with a special four-page illustrated spread detailing her fantastic feats, her dedicated fan-base and their record title exploits and Tomb Raider trivia.
Did you know Lara had the original glow-up? In the first Tomb Raider game Lara Crofts character was made of just 230 polygons, raising to 300 in Tomb Raider III – until in Shadow of the Tomb Raider her polygon count was 120,000 and her outfits hitting 200,000!
Outside the gaming world Lara Croft has racked up records including most official real life stand-ins for a videogame character for the models that Crystal Dynamics used for Lara’s real life avatar and the first Oscar winning actor to star in a videogame adaptation – for Angelina Jolie and her father Jon Voight (as Lord Croft) respective roles in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).
Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2026 (RRP 12.99) is available for purchase in stores and online now with discounts widely available.
