Stepping into Lara Croft’s boots for a day sounds amazing in theory…until reality taps me on the shoulder and reminds me I once pulled a muscle trying to open a stubborn jar of pickles. Still, I can’t help imagining myself leaping across collapsing ruins before breakfast and stuff like that.
Meanwhile, in real life, I celebrate if I manage to create three pages of worksheets for my students without needing a snack break.
But that’s the magic of Lara Croft. She radiates this unstoppable energy described in one thought: “I’ll figure it out while dangling from a cliff.”
I desperately want to borrow it, like, right now!
I’ve played enough Tomb Raider games, from the charming polygon chaos of the ’90s to the dramatic reboots that made climbing look like an Olympic event, to know she makes chaos look glamorous.
And now Crystal Dynamics has decided Lara’s not done yet.
At The Game Awards 2025, two new Tomb Raider games were officially announced: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (releasing in 2026) and Tomb Raider: Catalyst (releasing in 2027).
It means more tombs, more danger, and more opportunities for me to fantasize about trading my daily routine for a backpack, a climbing axe, and a destiny involving fewer worksheets and more ancient artifacts.
Just for a day.
Probably.
Okay, definitely not.
Why I’d like to become Lara Croft for a day (at least)
Borrowing Lara Croft’s fearlessness would be a thrill.
I imagine what it would feel like to walk through life with her kind of boldness.
Never hesitating, never second‑guessing, just going forward like every obstacle is a minor inconvenience.
For one day, I’d love to know what it’s like to have that kind of confidence, the kind that makes you believe you can look danger in the eye and still look effortlessly cool while doing it.
Her world is full of collapsing ruins, hidden tombs, and treasures waiting to be discovered.
Sounds impressive, right?
Mine, not so much.
The idea of swapping ordinary routines for daring escapes and ancient mysteries is irresistible. Who wouldn’t want to trade a quiet afternoon for dodging traps, deciphering cryptic symbols, and uncovering secrets buried for centuries?
It all feels oddly appealing compared to the monotony of everyday duties.
Lara’s agility, sharp mind, and survival instincts make her so unstoppable. I want that, too!
She leaps, climbs, and solves puzzles that would leave most of us scratching our heads.
Escaping into her world means stepping away from the everyday grind and diving into a place where danger is exciting, not stressful.
Every challenge feels like part of a grand adventure.
For one glorious day, I’d swap the predictable rhythm of normal life for the chaos of collapsing temples, the thrill of treasure hunts, and the sheer joy of pretending that destiny involves ancient artifacts instead of to‑do lists.
Yuck!
And sure, I’d probably last about five minutes before realizing I’m not built for sprinting through ruins…but what a glorious five minute adventure that’d be!
My tour through the best Tomb Raider games
If you’ve ever wondered which Tomb Raider games really stand out, here’s my quick tour. Let’s go!
The original Tomb Raider back in 1996 is where it all started. Graphics are blocky, yeah, but that first T-Rex fight? An iconic gaming moment!
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft
Release Date: February 14, 2024
Genres: Action, Adventure
Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Genres: Action, Adventure
Then Tomb Raider: Legend came along and basically saved the series, giving Lara smoother moves and a more cinematic vibe.
Tomb Raider: Legend
Release Date: April 7, 2006
Genres: Action, Adventure
2013’s Tomb Raider is a gritty reboot, Lara’s origin story where she’s battered, bruised, and slowly becoming the badass we know.
Tomb Raider GOTY Edition
Release Date: March 4, 2013
Genres: Shooter, Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Rise of the Tomb Raider took that survival angle and added emotional depth, plus those gorgeous Siberian landscapes that made exploring feel epic.
I liked it so much!
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: January 28, 2016
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
And finally, Shadow of the Tomb Raider pushed her into a darker territory, with jungle tombs and puzzles that felt like a throwback to the classics.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Adventure, Puzzle
Put together, we can see how Lara evolved from a polygonal icon into a layered character, while the gameplay shifted from clunky platforming to full-on cinematic adventures.
When The Game Awards 2025 rolled around, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Two brand-new Tomb Raider games announced back-to-back.
First up is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, coming in 2026. Just the name alone makes me picture Lara diving into ancient myths, exploring sunken ruins, and uncovering secrets that feel bigger than anything we’ve seen before.
Then, in 2027 we’ll get Tomb Raider: Catalyst. That title screams “turning point,” like something major is about to shift in Lara’s story.
Hearing both announcements in one night felt like being handed a double dose of adventure.
Now I’m counting down the days until I can jump into those worlds myself!
What makes Lara Croft an icon
When I think about Lara Croft, it’s impossible not to see how much she’s shaped gaming and the pop culture.
She burst onto the scene in the ’90s as one of the first truly recognizable video game heroes.
She instantly started standing out in an industry that didn’t have many female leads at the time.
From there, she crossed over into movies, comics, and even fashion. Her image became so iconic that she wasn’t only a character. She was also a symbol of adventure itself.
You could spot her silhouette or hear her name and instantly know what she represented: danger, discovery, and a fearless drive to push forward.
She sounded like perfection in motion.
When I think about Lara Croft, what strikes me most is how much she’s changed over time. In the early days, she felt larger than life.
She felt almost like a myth, with exaggerated traits that made her seem untouchable.
But as the series grew, I started to see a different side of her. The modern games show her struggling, learning, and slowly growing into her role as an adventurer.
To me, she’s no longer just a symbol of power. She’s a person with doubts, scars, and resilience.
That transformation from a flashy ’90s icon into a layered heroine makes her story feel richer and more relatable. It’s one of the reasons I think she’s endured while so many other characters have faded away.
Lara connects with players for a clear reason: she shows qualities we admire and hope to have ourselves.
She’s strong because she faces tough challenges and never gives up.
Her curiosity pushes her to discover secrets and explore places most of us only dream about.
What about her resilience? No matter if she’s surviving harsh environments, solving puzzles, or facing her own fears, it shows that real strength isn’t about being perfect, but about keeping going when things get hard.
That mix of cultural influence, character growth, and personal connection makes Lara Croft more than just a video game character.
I think she’s an icon because she stands for adventure, growth, and courage that inspires people beyond the game.
Final thoughts
If I could have my own ‘Lara day,’ I’d probably start with something less glamorous than scaling ancient ruins.
Maybe like scaling the mountain of laundry in my bathroom.
While Lara fights jaguars in the jungle, I wrestle with worksheets, deadlines, and everyday chaos that feel just as fierce.
She uncovers lost civilizations, but I uncover the missing stapler buried under a pile of papers and hidden snacks my kids thought I wouldn’t find.
Gotcha!
Yet, even in my everyday battles, I realize there’s so much I can learn from her: courage to face challenges head‑on, curiosity to keep exploring new ideas, and adaptability to survive the unexpected twists of daily life.
Maybe I don’t need a bow and arrow, but a strong cup of coffee and a Lara‑like mindset are enough to keep me moving forward.
And it makes me wonder…what would your own ‘Lara day’ look like?
What everyday battles feel like your version of jaguars or ancient puzzles?
And how do you find courage, curiosity, or resilience in the middle of your daily adventures?