Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis — Everything We Know

A new Tomb Raider game called Catalyst will be launching in 2027. But if you’d like to keep busy before then, you can check out Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the reimagining of the 1996 original game. Obviously, the visuals and controls will be a lot different, with Crystal Dynamics planning to use Unreal Engine 5 for development. 

But beyond that, fans are curious to see how the devs preserve the feel of the ‘90s classic, while still ushering the new remake to the modern age. It’s always a very thin line between leaving the original game’s aura undisturbed while still feeling like a fresh experience worth the asking price.

Today, we go over the upcoming game’s story, gameplay, and more details to see just how much can change over 30 years. Here’s everything we know about Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis so far.

What is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis?

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is an upcoming action-adventure game, which will be well familiar to fans who’ve played the original 1996 game. This was the first game ever in the long-running Tomb Raider franchise, launched on the Sega Saturn, and later PlayStation and PC platforms. It was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos. 

As you can imagine, 1996’s Tomb Raider holds a lot of significance to the franchise. Most valuably, for introducing us to the unstoppable Lara Croft. She was a 3D action protagonist back then, with remarkable athleticism, dual pistols, and a brilliant, archeologist’s mind. Thirty years later, we’ll meet Lara Croft again. Fittingly so, as the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.

I don’t expect the gameplay to change much. Much of the 1996 classic 3D exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat should remain intact. Even the story of hunting down the “Scion of Atlantis” lost artifact should remain mostly the same, only retold in a modern light. So, that means gorgeous visuals, with shimmering waters, lush green foliage, and impeccable detail, as seen in the trailer. And smoother controls and gameplay. 

As the Steam page describes it, you can get ready to experience an epic adventure, dripping with stunning visuals that reimagines the 1996 original game. Expect modern gameplay, powered by Unreal Engine 5. As well as new surprises. Yet still preserving the original’s spirit, for veterans and newcomers alike.

Story

Your protagonist is Lara Croft: Fearless, brilliant, and legendary archeologist. She’s become so popular, a global pop-culture figure, featured in so many games, films, and even an upcoming TV series. But it all began in 1996, with Lara Croft displaying her propensity for adventuring through exotic locations. She’d globe-trot from Greece to Egypt and Peru, exploring green jungles, ancient ruins, and vast deserts. 

Her personality is instantly infectious, with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’ modern character modeling definitely helping to bring out her character more. She has compelling wits and athleticism that she uses to explore treacherous environments like a pro. All in the name of investigating myths and history buried over centuries. 

Tomb Raider bears a lot of similarity to Indiana Jones and Uncharted in solving puzzles, surviving deadly traps, and recovering lost, historical artifacts. But there’s a charm that Lara Croft’s traversal and atmosphere have that keeps you moving, even when you go up against scary predators like the iconic and returning T-rex dinosaur. 

At the heart of the story is recovering the scattered pieces of the Scion of Atlantis. They’re hidden around the world, and hold immeasurable power that you must track down before it lands in the wrong hands.

Gameplay

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’ goal is to remain as faithful as possible to the original game’s action-adventure genre. So, the new game should feel like playing the ‘90s classic. It should feel like playing the original game all over again. But when splashed with a fresh coat of paint, the experience should be phenomenal. I know the trailer, although a mix of pre-alpha in-game footage and cinematics, had my skin crawling with goosebumps. Lara Croft, herself, looks more humane than the original 1996 polygons could allow. She was rather sharp-edged, but now, her features actually have more natural shapes.

And the gameplay as well. She moves more vertically, swinging her grappling hook across jaw-dropping vistas. And it’s all integrated in puzzle-solving, as well, her atheism coming into play. It even looks a little over-the-top, but hey, if you’ve been training hard, your own body’s capabilities can surprise you.

Development

The team behind Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, and publisher Amazon Game Studios. They are promising a modern interpretation of the original 1996 Tomb Raider game, reimagined fully in Unreal Engine 5, to bring you modern visuals and game design. And while they promise to preserve the spirit and atmosphere of the original, they have also added new surprises for both newbies and fans alike. 

Trailer

The announcement trailer for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will show you the best picture of what to expect from the final game, albeit with possible updates to the gameplay. It’s truly a treat watching the video, with Lara Croft doing the most, from flips to arm stands. Her movement is next level, dodging traps and T-rex. And the dual pistols seem pretty powerful and satisfying to use. And the environment, my oh my, does everything look spicy. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’ release date is set for 2026. So, earlier than Catalyst’s 2027 launch window. It’s unsurprising that the platforms are restricted to current-gen PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with the store pages already out now. All that’s left is confirmation of any editions and an exact release date, which you should be privy to when you follow the game’s official social media handles on X, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

While at it, do check out everything we know about Tomb Raider: Catalyst. It’s an all-new action-adventure by Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Game Studios, and will be the 14th mainline iteration of the Tomb Raider series.