By: Charles Perrin

Tomb Raider has left an indelible mark on the video gaming world. Spanning over 25 years, Lara Croft, the game’s protagonist, made the seamless transition from being relatively niche to an undoubted pop icon during the 1990s, and she still attracts plenty of attention. With news of a new remastered trilogy already at the end of the production stage and poised to hit the shelves in February 2024, this will whet the appetites of Tomb Raider aficionados.

But what has changed about the game and how has Lara Croft’s character evolved? This guide will give you a broad overview of the instantly recognizable Tomb Raider franchise to plug any gaps in your existing knowledge.

Evolution of Lara Croft

It’s fair to assert that Lara Croft has come a long way in a short space of time. In the early incarnations of the game, she was a pixelated girl boss, and there wasn’t too much of a backstory with her character. Rather, the intrepid explorer was undistinguished as she wore a pair of Windsor-style glasses, complete with a tank top and brown boots as she embarked on a mission to search for hidden tombs. Arguably, her rather lop-sided appearance was one of the innate attractions of the game and it didn’t put fans off.

But from the original Tomb Raider to Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which was released in 2018, saw Lara Croft morph from an intrepid explorer to inheriting the moniker of being the “James Bond of archaeology”. Indeed, Lara Croft began to throw herself into her missions, and she wasn’t hesitant about tackling new challenges to get what she wanted. Lara Croft combined brains and brawn, and her character is perhaps a bit more rugged than she is given credit for.

Making Lara Croft more relatable

As mentioned, Lara Croft was rather quirky in the beginning. She had this rather triangular appearance, but as the franchise wore on, the graphics became more sophisticated following technological developments in the gaming industry. Indeed, the thinking behind Lara Croft’s makeover was to ensure she was more relatable and in touch with her fans.

To a certain extent, Lara Croft’s appearance became more realistic, and it was inspired by the Uncharted series of games. With more gritty storytelling that was straight from a Hollywood production studio, there was a sense of naturalism that was brought to the character.

With the rebooted trilogy, Lara Croft will return with a brand new set of shiny graphics, as well as classic expansions and secret levels incorporated. If anything, the 2013 Tomb Raider game resonated with more fans, simply because the game made Lara Croft that bit more grounded. The persistence and drive at her core converted some gamers who were initially dubious into diehard Tomb Raider fans.

Rise of Action Games

In many ways, the rise of action games hasn’t been by fluke. Tomb Raider, which has sold more than 90 million copies since it was first released, has been a monster hit, but the nature of action games has fundamentally shifted. Whether that be pure adventure or first-person shooter games, action titles invoke different meanings, and this can be drilled down into further subgenres.

However, the popularity of action games has traversed beyond traditional gaming consoles. Indeed, action games have courted a lot of attention at digital casinos, and they have been embraced. Those gamblers who have a penchant for playing action-based slots ought to read a few Canadian online casino reviews which should act as a source of inspiration. A cursory glance at North Casino, for example, reveals they have plenty of action slot titles in their collection. This includes Raiders of the Lost Book which was developed by GameArt, and it is renowned for its intuitive gameplay.

Yes, action games have continued to endear themselves to swathes of gaming fans worldwide, and Tomb Raider is no different in that regard.

Is Tomb Raider for you?

Since exploding back onto the scene in 1996, Tomb Raider has become a cult classic, and in many respects, Lara Croft epitomizes the struggles and achievements of the female heroine.

The rebooting of the Tomb Raider trilogy only serves to consolidate her enduring appeal and this game won’t just appeal to action gaming fans. No, those who are nostalgic and like to play the classics with a fresh coat of paint will get just as much from this extraordinary franchise.