1996 was one hell of a year for video games. It was the year the Nintendo 64 dropped. Super Mario 64 redefined gaming in a 3D environment. It was also the same year that brought us “Resident Evil,” the Japanese debut of “Pokémon,” and “Crash Bandicoot.” It also just so happened to be the year the world was introduced to one of the most famous female characters in gaming, Lara Croft. Yes, it was 30 years ago that “Tomb Raider” debuted, and the franchise plans to celebrate in style.
“Tomb Raider” holds an interesting place in the gaming landscape. By and large, the series has never been renowned for its actual game play. Sure, the games are fun for what they are, but the success of the franchise has always been more about Lara Croft than the games themselves. What if Indiana Jones was a beautiful and capable gun-wielding English noblewoman? She’s deeper than that, but that’s basically the origin of Lara. She has been praised and criticized for her sex appeal, but she remains one of the most recognizable characters in the world of media.
Thirty years on and the franchise, now owned by a subsidiary of Embracer Group, has a few things in store for fans this year. For example, we’re getting a remake of the original title at some point in 2026, “Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.” Sophie Turner is playing Lara Croft in the upcoming live-action series for Prime Video. Aspyr, game developer and publisher, has also been pushing out remasters of the previous “Tomb Raider” games, the assortment of which tends to go on sale every so often on digital store fronts.
The bigger news is the franchise is partnering with various companies for merch and tie-ins. The official website lists Funko, and 8BitDo; meaning we can probably expect some figurines and accessories. Then we’ve got Dark Horse, meaning we’ll likely see some comic tie-ins. Also included are GUNNAR Optiks, an eyewear company, and Loungefly. Seems like we’ll also be seeing some of Lara’s fashion sense hitting the market. None too surprising given that the official photo of Turner as Croft she is rocking a set of specks.
Also, if you’re craving some instant gratification, the official Tomb Raider website has a 30th anniversary image that you can download for mobile, tablet, and desktop. Show the legend some love and we’ll continue to provide updates as the year rolls along.
