5. Rise of the Tomb Raider

Rise of the Tomb Raider: Gameplay

Released in 2016, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a stunning sequel to the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. Lara Croft has blossomed into an experienced historian.

Rise of the Tomb Raider puts more emphasis on raiding tombs and gratifyingly grittier and bloodier fighting than previous titles. When played on Ultra settings, the game is more cinematic, giving the player an even more immersive experience.

All one needs is to play in a cold room to really get a feel for the chilling adventure that takes Lara through the wintery Siberian climate as she confronts her enemies, including ruthless bears.

Take one more step if you want to. I don't think Ms. Croft is playing with you.

Balancing act: Lara traverses carefully as she explores an icy tomb.

Leap of faith: One of Lara’s abilities is to attack from above. They’ll never see her coming.

4. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Gameplay

In the game’s original trailer, Crystal Dynamics has upgraded its graphics to a level that seems to blur the line between real-life people and computer-generated characters.

It oscillates between footage of a Mayan priest performing a ritual and Lara Croft stealthily hunting a militant group in a jungle. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is somewhat the end of Lara’s character arc, with the title character fully developed into a master historian and killer.

This comes at a great cost when she ends up initiating an apocalypse. This game also introduces a photo-mode, giving players the ability to take screenshots at the most opportune moments throughout the campaign for the first time in the series.

"This girl is on fire!" - Alicia Keys said it best.

That axe, though! Which gym does Lady Croft train at during her off-time between games?

Watch your six: Stealth is a huge factor in Lara’s ability to take down enemies.

3. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Guardian of Light: Gameplay

First off, the DETAIL is stunning in this game. It’s as if the developers switched the viewpoint from a third-person perspective to an isometric camera angle.

Set in an ancient Mayan jungle, this game is darker and grittier, but the graphics are just as smooth that it gives it a AAA-indie game feel. Not only is the game a constant puzzle, but the fighting mechanics itself are as well.

Go one degree too far, and you could end up missing your target entirely, throwing your spear at a wall instead. Since the viewpoint is much farther up, at times it does seem like one could miss specific details, but it makes getting the objective much more satisfying.

In multiplayer, players take the role as either Lara Croft or a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior named Totec.

Mind the gap: Lara’s iconic dual-wielding gun allows her to power through obstacles.

Thar she blows! Lara can deploy explosives, throw spears and shoot guns to remove obstacles.

2. Lara Croft GO

 Lara Croft Go: Gameplay

This game is easily one of Eidos’ best and the several awards it has won were well-deserved. It is gorgeous and colorful with smooth graphics and a fixed isometric camera angle that give gamers a very open view of the objective.

There are various types of puzzles throughout the brief campaign but the most intriguing ones are dependent upon movement and timing, which rewards those that prefer strategy-based games.

Lara also doesn’t shoot as liberally, but they are very useful for situations like killing a snake in order to leap to the other side. It’s a fantastic action-adventure puzzle game that leaves you wanting more.

Snake charmer: Lara’s puzzling adventure through a beautiful, minimalist game.

Surrounded on all sides: Players must time their movements and place objects correctly in the game in order to escape a dire fate.

1. Tomb Raider (2013)

Tomb Raider: Gameplay

 The updated graphics in the 2013 Tomb Raider game led the way for its sequels to continue to do the same, as shown by Betafix.

The 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider revived the franchise, taking a sharp turn from the dual-wielding master fighter Lara Croft and stripped her down to a young woman focused on saving her friends from a dark mystic force.

The game presents one obstacle after another for the player to work through, with each weapons upgrade evolving Lara into the deadly force as she is known to be. One of the biggest features Crystal Dynamics used to upgrade the graphics was TressFX, an engine specialized in rendering hair and fur, giving Lara’s hair realistic movement, even with a slight shiver.

It’s as smooth and delicate as the tentacles of jellyfish in an aquarium tank. Raiding tombs isn’t a major focus in this game, but it is perfect for both gamers new to Tomb Raider and any seasoned fan wanting to immerse themselves deeper into Lara’s origin story.

A Star is Born: In the rebooted title, Lara faces unimaginable odds and comes out even stronger.

Movin’ on up: Weapons parts can be found in boxes around the map as you progress through the story to make various instruments of destruction.

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