Tomb Raider
Action-adventure series following archaeologist Lara Croft through dangerous tombs.
Tomb Raider is a media franchise that began with an action-adventure video game series, first created by the British developer Core Design. The franchise follows the fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft as she travels the world seeking lost artifacts, often entering dangerous tombs, ancient ruins, and facing armed groups. The gameplay centers on exploration, puzzle-solving, navigating trap-filled environments, and combat.
The franchise was originally owned by Eidos Interactive, then by Square Enix Europe after Square Enix bought Eidos in 2009. In 2022, Embracer Group acquired the intellectual property along with Eidos, and now operates it through CDE Entertainment. From 1996 to 2008, the series was also known as *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider*. The first game’s development started in 1994 and was released two years later. Its success led Core Design to produce a new game each year for the next four years, which strained the team. The sixth game, *Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness*, had a troubled development and was poorly received upon release. This caused Eidos to move development duties to Crystal Dynamics, which has been the main developer since. Other studios have worked on spin-off titles and ports of main series games.
By 2024, the Tomb Raider series had sold over 100 million units worldwide, and by 2002 the entire franchise had generated nearly $1.2 billion in revenue. The series has generally earned positive reviews from critics. Lara Croft became one of the most recognizable video game characters, receiving awards and recognition on the Walk of Game and in Guinness World Records.
The first six games were made by Core Design, a British studio owned by Eidos. After the sixth game’s mixed reception in 2003, development shifted to the American studio Crystal Dynamics, which has handled the main series since. Other developers have contributed to ports or spin-offs since 2001.
The original series began with *Tomb Raider* in 1996, released for the Sega Saturn, then PlayStation and PC. The Saturn and PlayStation versions came to Japan in 1997. *Tomb Raider II* followed in 1997 for Windows and PlayStation. Shortly before its release, Eidos made a deal with Sony to keep the console version of *Tomb Raider II* and future games exclusive to PlayStation until 2000. The PlayStation version reached Japan in 1998.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tomb Raider
- Developer
- Core Design (1996–2006) / Aspyr (1998–2003, 2022–2025) / Crystal Dynamics (2003–2017, 2021–present) / Eidos-Montréal (2015–2019) / Square Enix Montréal (2015–2016) / Flying Wild Hog (2022–present)
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive (1996–2009) / Square Enix (2010–2021) / Microsoft Studios (2015–2016) / Aspyr (2024–2025) / Amazon Games (since 2026)
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- First Release Date
- 25 October 1996
- Latest Release Version
- Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered
- Latest Release Date
- 14 February 2025
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the first Tomb Raider video game began in 1994; it was released two years later. Its critical and commercial success prompted Core Design to develop a new game annually for the next four years, which put a strain on staff. The sixth game, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, faced difficulties during development and was considered a failure at release. This prompted Eidos to switch development duties to Crystal Dynamics, which has been the series' primary developer since. Other developers have contributed to spin-off titles and ports of mainline entries.
The first six Tomb Raider games were developed by Core Design, a British video game development company owned by Eidos Interactive. After the sixth game in the series was released to a mixed reception in 2003, development was transferred to American studio Crystal Dynamics, who have handled the main series since. Since 2001, other developers have contributed either to ports of mainline games or with the development of spin-off titles.
The franchise is currently owned by Embracer Group and operated by CDE Entertainment; it was formerly owned by Eidos Interactive, then by Square Enix Europe after Square Enix's acquisition of Eidos in 2009 until Embracer Group purchased the intellectual property alongside Eidos in 2022. Additional media has been developed for the franchise in the form of film adaptations, comics, soundtracks and novels.
Reader's Guide
The Tomb Raider series has received generally positive reviews from critics, and Lara Croft became one of the most recognisable video game characters, winning accolades and earning places on the Walk of Game and Guinness World Records. The series had sold over 100 million units worldwide by 2024, while the entire franchise generated close to $1.2 billion in revenue by 2002. The franchise's longevity is marked by multiple reboots and shifts in developer, from Core Design's annual releases through the late 1990s to Crystal Dynamics' handling of the main series after 2003. The series has expanded into spin-offs across various platforms, including Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, mobile devices, and downloadable titles. The franchise's cultural impact is underscored by its recognition in mainstream media and its enduring popularity across decades.
Did You Know?
- The first Tomb Raider game was released in 1996 for Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and personal computers.
- Lara Croft is one of the most recognisable video game characters and has earned places on the Walk of Game and Guinness World Records.
- Development of the first game began in 1994.
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