5 Tomb Raider Games That Should Be Remastered in 2023

Ah yes, Tomb Raider. It seems like only yesterday we were locking that poor old butler in the Croft family freezer. And yet, rather depressingly, we've actually gone on twenty-five years of adventures since the very day. Though, for some, us included, it doesn't feel like a great deal of time has passed, and it bewilders us to know that our beloved Lara has spiraled through the motions more times that we dare to fathom.

Tomb Raider has seen a ridiculous amount of spin-offs and reboots over the years, that's for sure. But, like most series, only few have made a big enough impact to warrant a remaster. And, given the chance, we know for certain that Square Enix would do a pretty good job at remixing some of the older works strewn by Eidos Interactive. The questions is, which of the many are really worth looking into?

5. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

For what it's worth, we don't think Angel of Darkness was a bad game. Sure, its mechanics were a little skew-whiff, and its overall structure was the polar opposite of its past instalments. But, beneath its flaws was a pretty great narrative, and it struggled to present it when the project was already bombarded with minor issues that regrettably capsized the ship.

It was a huge step for Tomb Raider, moving up to the PlayStation 2 era. New tools were suddenly all the rage, and the devs took it upon themselves to bite off more than they could chew. And it showed, unfortunately. That said, should they ever decide to return to it in the near future, then we know for sure that it would be a best-selling work of art. It just needs a little, say, tender loving care.

4. Tomb Raider: Legend

Following on from the controversy that Angel of Darkness hoarded like a bad habit, Crystal Dynamics made the call to reboot the beloved protagonist that many fans all knew and adored. Lara Croft made a striking return in Legend, coming with a brand new adventure with a complete and revitalized palette of textures and tones.

By 2006, Tomb Raider had settled into the PlayStation 2 era, and its past struggles were no longer met with inexperienced hands. The Angel of Darkness was yesterday's news, and the series had finally found its roots again. And so, for many, Legend was the beginning of a new chapter in the anthology. Does that warrant a remaster? I mean, yes.

3. Tomb Raider: Underworld

Tomb Raider: Underworld was similar to The Angel of Darkness, in the sense that both were the first to trial new hardware. But, unlike its elder, Underworld actually got it right, and made quite the splash when it booted up on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 back in 2007. Similar to Legend, but shrouded with additional goodies and downloadable content.

For its time, the Tomb Raider tale was in a league of its own, causing many rivals to replicate its finesse and distribute it without guidance. Graphically, it was pleasing on the eye, as was the gameplay itself. Plus, with one of the most immersive storylines to date, it sure went out with a bang, leaving Square Enix to reassemble the pieces nearly a decade later for a full-on reboot.

2. Tomb Raider II

Other than the fact you could quite literally lock your butler in a freezer, Tomb Raider II did also have a number of charming qualities, many of which shun through a revolutionary design and intriguing narrative. And for 1997, this was considered something otherwordly, making the game itself years ahead of its console generation.

After bathing in the success of its predecessor, Lara finally made a return to the spotlight a year later. Launching with a brand new world to explore and mystery to solve, the tomb-dwelling action hero re-entered with a new pool of reasons to bag your hard-earned cash. And let's face it, we could all do with revisiting Croft Manor, if only to taunt the butler for the thousandth time.

1. Tomb Raider Anniversary

Technically, this one doesn't need a remaster, as it was already done back in 2007 several years after its 1996 original. But, given the fact that that was over a decade ago, it does give us more the reason to request an updated version for current-gen hardware. And hey, we'd hate to turn our noses up at a reimagined version of the first Tomb Raider game.

To this day, the original Tomb Raider holds a place in gamers' hearts. Being a pioneer in the action-adventure genre, its reputation speaks for itself, as it did long, long ago when it rose to fame on the PlayStation. It was flawless, and we'd be more than willing to trudge those same pathways a third time over if ever given the opportunity to do so. Hint, hint, Eidos.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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