The Next Tomb Raider Game Should Follow The Legend of Lara Croft's Lead in One Key Area

The Netflix series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft spotlights a relatively sassier version of Lara Croft, than what the fans are used to. The show picks up after the events of The Survivor Trilogy, with Lara grappling with the trauma of her mentor Conrad Roth’s death as she embarks on another globe-trotting adventure. This emotional weight ties into the more grounded, humanized portrayal of Lara fans saw in the reboot games.

However, the series also injects more of the classic Lara’s adventurous, acrobatic, almost superhuman feats from back in the day. Plus, it sprinkles some of that cocky wits that OG fans have had a taste of in Tomb Raider 2 and Tomb Raider 3. The show does all this, whilst making her prone to beating, and strikes an enjoyable balance on screen, one that could work well in future Tomb Raider game titles too.

Why Combining The Multiple Versions of Lara Into One Would Be Helpful

The animated series shows that Lara can still crack wits or display defiance, even when the stakes are high. In the games, Lara has typically been one or the other: the vulnerable, gritty survivor or the confident, fearless adventurer. The next game could meld these two traits together, just as the show does and it would make the character feel more complete and multidimensional. If Lara’s resilience, vulnerability, and witty, daring side could be evident, side by side, they should be. But the next title shouldn’t just stop there.

Her sassiness in the show doesn’t detract from her emotional depth. In fact, the show is proof that it humanizes her even further when executed right. Secondly, one of the strongest contrasts between The Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy and earlier games is the depiction of Lara’s physical capabilities. The rebooted trilogy placed her in grueling, realistic situations where she had to claw her way out of danger, often battered and bruised. While it’s arguable that the absence of it in the earlier games was because of a lack of technology, the point stands that it fits even better now.

The Animated Series Helps Both Old And New Fans Feel At Home

In contrast, The Legend of Lara Croft animated series embraces more of her classic acrobatic skills. She’s more physically dynamic, performing feats that are closer to her old-school, larger-than-life action. Fans who grew up with the older versions of Tomb Raider would recognize this acrobatic, almost superhuman Lara, while newer fans appreciate the emotional depth that the reboot brought.

A future game could integrate both aspects. For instance, a gameplay that still shows Lara taking damage and struggling physically, but also allows her to pull off some of the wild stunts that defined her in the earlier Tomb Raider games — like diving or sliding through collapsing ruins or scaling impossibly high cliffs. This mix would let both types of fans feel at home.

Storytelling Should Also Find a Balance Between Realism and Fiction

The Tomb Raider games have historically jumped between grounded and fantasy archaeological adventures. For instance, in Tomb Raider (2013), Lara’s perilous trek through the ruins of Yamatai emphasizes survival and realism. In contrast, The Last Revelation inclines more toward the fictional, mystical side and sees her unraveling ancient Egyptian curses after accidentally releasing the god Set from imprisonment.

The Legend of Lara Croft series, however, merges these elements — introducing mythical components, like mind-controlling stones, while keeping the emotional stakes grounded in Lara’s grief and even touching base on her guilts and fears by circling around Sam toward the end. This balance could be key for the next game, combining realism, near-superhuman acrobatics, and sass, to project the best modern version of Lara Croft.

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider is one of the biggest names in action-adventure gaming. The series began in 1996 and has had three trilogies of games: the original trilogy, the legend trilogy, and the survivor trilogy, as well as a handful of other titles in-between. 

The Tomb Raider series is led by protagonist Lara Croft, who is considered to be one of the most important female characters in gaming history. 

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