I’ve loved the Tomb Raider series throughout my gaming life, and with the recent release of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, I thought it would be a good idea to look back and rank each game in the main Tomb Raider series. In my head, this includes the original trilogy, the sequel (cash-in) trilogy, the comeback trilogy, and the modern survivor trilogy. So let’s begin.
12. Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003)
In twelfth place is the game that almost destroyed the series. Featuring no tombs whatsoever, this game was a glitchy mess that saw Lara on the run across various European cities. Whilst the potential was there, it certainly didn’t feel like a Tomb Raider game and the end result was pretty disastrous.
11. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
Chronicles didn’t fare much better – it felt rushed and uninspired and was pretty much a cash-in exercise after Lara was killed off in The Last Revelation. Presented as a bunch of disjointed flashback adventures, there was little here to revitalise the series which had become stale and dated.
10. Tomb Raider 3 (1998)
At the height of her fame, Lara Croft returned for her second sequel with improved mechanics and graphics. However, this globe-trotting affair also brought with it a confusing level design and obtuseness that made it difficult to love, despite being a reasonably enjoyable entry to the series.
9. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
Riding on the back of a successful return with Legend and Anniversary, the trilogy concluded with Underworld, a slick and fun adventure that saw Lara take to the seas from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. Like Legend, this adventure was short and sweet, but also suffered from several glitches which bumps it down the list a little.
8. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
The fourth game was the first time that the main adventure was set in a single location, and the Egyptian setting certainly made this game stand out against Lara’s previous adventures. It was also pretty hardcore in difficulty, and I remember that I never quite managed to complete it back in the day. Best known for Lara’s death, it remained one of her better adventures, despite the series – and controls – which were really starting to date.
7. Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
After a positive return with Legend and its new modern control scheme, Crystal Dynamics returned with a full-on remake of the original Tomb Raider game. Using the new engine, this celebration title returned with re-imagined levels, improved combat, and modernised puzzles. Despite the positive reviews however, Anniversary remains the lowest-selling of the main series.
That’s the first half – I’ll return tomorrow with my favourite six titles.
