So, you’ve raided every tomb, outsmarted every trap, and gazed into the abyss of Lara Croft’s pixelated past in Tomb Raider Remastered. But what’s next for our favorite dual-pistol-wielding adventurer? 

Kudos to Aspyr for taking Lara on a modern-day makeover spree with the OG Tomb Raider trilogy remasters. We got to relive the thrill of dodging polygonal wolves and navigating pixelated pitfalls with a fresh coat of paint. But like any good adventure, there were twists and turns along the way. In the end, however, the reception was positive and successful overall. So, will Aspyr, the wizards behind the recent Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, heed the fans’ call and resurrect Tomb Raider 4, 5, and 6 from the digital graveyard?

Will We See a Remaster of Tomb Raider 4, 5, and the Infamous Angel of Darkness?

Well, it seems the jury’s still out to determine whether Tomb Raider 4, 5, and 6 will be aboard the Remastered train. While the nostalgia train is chugging full steam ahead, Aspyr might be eyeing their next move carefully.

In an interview, director of product Chris Bashaar put Lara’s dodging skills to shame when he avoided a question about future remasters. “Our focus is on a great launch for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered,” he said. 

It turns out not all tomb-raiding adventures are created equal in terms of sales. While the OG trilogy sold like Lara’s favorite artifacts at an auction, the later installments didn’t quite hit the same mark. Tomb Raider 4 and 5 didn’t even come close to the sales of the original trilogy. While 1-3 flew off the shelves, racking up a whopping 20 million copies sold, 4-5 only managed 6.5 million, with 4 doing most of the heavy lifting.

Plus, there is the issue of Tomb Raider 6, or Angel of Darkness, the awkward cousin at the family reunion. While some die-hard fans cling to its potential like Lara clings to her grappling hook, it seems Aspyr might be giving this one a wide berth. And as an AoD defender, I don’t blame them. 

With a development cycle stretched thin by internal conflicts and grandiose ambitions, Angel of Darkness stumbled out of the gate with a laundry list of issues. The negative reception hit the franchise like a wrecking ball, which led to dismal sales that failed to meet expectations. The fallout was swift and severe, with Core Design feeling the financial strain and shutting its doors. If I were Aspyr, I wouldn’t touch AoD. Not even with a very long stick. It’s just sad we’ll never get to see Lara’s most iconic outfit remastered.

While the future of Tomb Raider remasters hangs in the balance, let’s not forget the journey we’ve embarked upon. After all, we’ve gone from blocky polygons to fully realized 3D environments. Lara’s adventures have evolved alongside gaming technology, and if that’s enough for Aspyr, perhaps it should be enough for us.

The Tomb Raider Remastered version is out, and unless you want both your nostalgia for this classic adventure game and your lifelong crush on Lara Croft shattered, you better choose your control setup wisely.

Not all games stand the test of time, regardless of how much of a classic they’ve become. I’m sure few people on this planet don’t know of Lara Croft‘s existence. However, just because a game carved an indelible mark in the gaming industry decades ago doesn’t mean it holds up today.

This couldn’t be further from the case of Tomb Raider and its latest Remaster, of course. But if you don’t play your cards right and choose the wrong control setup, you might be setting yourself up for failure and a frustrating evening with Ms. Croft. In this guide, I’ll help you choose the best control setup for you, remap some key controls, and share my best traversal tips for Tomb Raider Remastered.

Related: Let’s Celebrate Lara Croft’s Birthday by Ranking All the Tomb Raider Remaster’s Outfits

Should You Play with Tank or Modern Controls in Tomb Raider Remastered?

I strongly suggest using the Tank controls with the D-pad and buttons instead of the analog sticks.

While modern controls offer a more streamlined and accessible experience, at the moment, they can feel a bit clunky and hard to master.

Ultimately, the decision between tank and modern controls boils down to personal preference. Let’s break down what each control setup is all about in Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered:

Tank Controls: The Original Setup

If you’re a fan of the original games or you simply prefer precise control over Lara’s movements, then tank controls might be your cup of tea in Tomb Raider Remastered.

These controls were the standard back when the games were first released. They offer a more deliberate and grid-based movement system, which can come in handy when you require precise maneuvering – grabbing ledges and jumping.

Modern Controls: Smoothness and Accessibility

On the other hand, modern controls in Tomb Raider Remastered provide a smoother and more intuitive experience for those accustomed to contemporary gaming conventions. 

With modern controls, Lara moves more fluidly, responding to analog stick inputs with greater responsiveness. This can make traversal and exploration feel more natural and immersive.

Best Modern Controls Settings in Tomb Raider Remastered

For those opting for modern controls, here are some recommended settings to enhance your gameplay experience in Tomb Raider Remastered.

• Remap the Lock Button: Assign a convenient button (such as RB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation) for locking onto targets or objects. This frees up the right analog stick for camera control.
• Camera Control: Use the remapped lock button to quickly reposition the camera behind Lara. This way, you can have optimal visibility during traversal and combat encounters.

Modern Control Tips for Tomb Raider Traversal and Combat

Mastering parkour and traversal mechanics is key to success in Tomb Raider Remastered. Here are some tips tailored explicitly for players using modern controls:

• When approaching ledges, use the white line indicator to gauge your position. Hold the walk button (X or square) to prevent Lara from accidentally falling.
• If you need to jump longer, release the walk button, tap backward for a run-up, and then press and hold the jump button for optimal distance and height.
• Keep the camera positioned behind Lara, always using the remapped lock button to have a better view of what’s happening.

February 14 marks the anniversary of Lara Croft, an occasion its creators ensure you remember with the deliberate launch of Anniversary and Tomb Raider Remastered on this very day.

As we celebrate this 27 landmark in Lara’s career as a heritage defiler, I can think of plenty of better ways to commemorate her legacy in the gaming industry than judging her outfits. But I’m going to do it nonetheless. Whether Lara is raiding tombs or lounging at home, her style never fails to make a statement. You probably remember her in a long braid, fitting shorts, and a blue or dark tank top. However, allow me to take you down memory lane to reminisce about the best Lara Croft outfits — from a classic ensemble to daring catsuits, each outfit brings its own flair to the adventure. Now that Tomb Raider Remastered is in our hands, let’s explore the best outfits in the game.

Tomb Raider 3 Nevada Outfit

This “desert-ready” ensemble is absolutely overhyped. It’s not that the Tomb Raider Remastered version is terrible; it’s just that the Nevada Outfit was never good to begin with. What’s the point of blue camo pants in the middle of the desert? If anything, this outfit makes her an easier target.

Tomb Raider 3 South Pacific Outfit

In Tomb Raider 3, Lara wears a slight variation to the classic outfit: there’s a new color scheme and a white crop top. It’s a subtle change that fits the tropical setting of the South Pacific but doesn’t introduce anything groundbreaking. 

Tomb Raider 1 Home Outfit

When I think of Lara Croft in her mansion, Tomb Raider 1‘s home outfit is the first thing that comes to mind, and the Remaster does a pretty solid rendition of that. It’s the classy barefoot, baggy jeans, and a sports bra trio that we’ve all come to know and love.

Tomb Raider 2 Home Outfit

The original Tomb Raider 2 outfit makes me go, “What are those.” However, Tomb Raider Remastered has completely redone this outfit, especially the extremely angular boots, and turned it into one of the best home outfits for Lara Croft.

Related: PowerWash Simulator – How to complete Croft Manor

Tomb Raider 2 Antarctic Outfit

Is the Antarctic Outfit flashy? Definitely not, but it’s probably the first practical outfit Lara got to wear in the Tomb Raider franchise. Lara’s camouflage trousers and practical gear make this outfit suitable for icy adventures. Its functionality earns it a spot in the wardrobe rotation.

Tomb Raider 3 Catsuit Outfit

The Catsuit showcases a stylish design and attention to detail. While this Tomb Raider Remastered outfit oozes confidence and sass, I have to shave a few points off because this is probably slightly uncomfortable for all of Lara’s parkour shenanigans. Also, because Tomb Raider 3 is the worst in the trilogy.

Tomb Raider 2 Tomb Raider Evening Robe

Lara Croft’s stylist was on a roll in Tomb Raider 2, which carries over to the Remastered outfits. You probably remember this evening robe from the Home Sweet Home level, the game’s final chapter in Croft Manor. It really goes out to show that Lara doesn’t need to stop serving looks, even if she’s at home. 

Tomb Raider 2 Sola Wetsuit Outfit

Lara’s wetsuit in Tomb Raider 2 is sleek and practical. It marks a significant moment in Lara’s journey, in which she also dynamically adapts to extreme environments. Were the underwater adventures great? No, but underwater levels never are. Still, this Tomb Raider Remastered Outfit is one of the best.

Tomb Raider 2 Bomber Jacket Outfit

You’ve got to love how Lara found a random aviator’s jacket and decided to change lives. Lara’s bomber jacket kept her warm and revitalized a dying fashion trend in the late 90’s. It’s a blend of ruggedness and style, which perfectly embodies the essence of Lara’s adventurous spirit. 

Classic Lara Croft Outfit

Lara’s original outfit from Tomb Raider 1 is angular and graphically outdated. It’s also been memed to death. But you wouldn’t dare deny it’s an iconic outfit in Tomb Raider Remastered, or in any entry of the franchise, for that matter. If someone’s dressing up for Lara Croft for Halloween, this is the costume they’ll pick. This look single-handedly revolutionized video game fashion and set the stage for Lara’s adventure-ready style. 

Folks who stayed up until midnight waiting for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered might have been disappointed to realize that the game has a slightly different release schedule for Nintendo Switch, Epic Games, and Steam.

While Tomb Raider Remastered came out at midnight on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the game’s release time is staggered for Nintendo Switch, Epic Games, and Steam. If you plan to play on one of those platforms, let’s take a look at what time you can expect to play the game.

Related: Every Tomb Raider game, ranked from worst to best

How Much is Tomb Raider Remastered?

Tomb Raider Remastered costs $30 USD at full price across platforms. The game includes remastered versions of the first three Tomb Raider games, so it’s not a bad deal.

Most platforms including Nintendo Switch and Steam ran 10% off preorder sales to celebrate the game’s release, but there were no other preorder bonuses attached to the game.

When Does Tomb Raider Remastered Release for Switch?

The Tomb Raider Remastered release time for Nintendo Switch is 12 PM EST on February 14, so the game should be available for download at this time.

This release isn’t staggered by time zone, so it will come out at a different time depending on where in the world you’re located. Here’s a quick breakdown of the Tomb Raider Remastered Nintendo Switch release based on time zone.

When Does Tomb Raider Remastered Release on Epic Games?

The Epic Games store release time for Tomb Raider Remastered is the same as the schedule for Nintendo Switch, meaning it should be available to download from the Epic Games Store at 12 PM EST.

See the chart above for information on what that means for your time zone to see if you can download the game where you’re located.

When Does Tomb Raider Remastered Release on Steam?

Gamers using Steam got slightly early access compared with the midnight release on Playstation and Xbox and should already be able to download Tomb Raider Remastered. The Game came out at 10 PM EST on February 13.

If you were wondering why you couldn’t download Tomb Raider Remastered at midnight on these platforms, this slightly unusual staggered release schedule is probably your answer.

Lara Croft has been a gaming icon ever since she first graced our screens in the original Tomb Raider. Since then, the franchise has had its ups and downs, but it’s remained fairly consistent throughout. Whether it’s offering pulse-pounding adventures, puzzle solving, or just a chance to hang out with your favorite adventuring archaeologist, the Tomb Raider series has produced countless gems. This article ranks every game from worst to best, so you can tackle Croft’s adventures from the lowest lows to the best they’ve ever been.

Related: Every Tomb Raider game in release order

Every Tomb Raider game, from worst to best

In this list, we’ve gone through every Tomb Raider game and ranked them from the worst to the best. We’ve included every Tomb Raider game that’s ever released. While we haven’t been able to play all of them ourselves, we’ve used reviews where required to help inform our ranking.

24) Tomb Raider: Puzzle Paradox

Tomb Raider: Puzzle Paradox is a Tomb Raider for mobile devices, but it’s not really a Tomb Raider game. It’s a puzzle game that uses Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider name to draw you in. While the puzzles are history-themed, you’d be hard-pressed to make this fit with the wider series. Still, if you love puzzles and retro mobile games, this could be right up your alley.

23) Lara Croft: Reflections

Tomb Raider mobile games have never been good, but this is the worst of the lot. While early mobile games saw you controlling Lara Croft as she shot enemies, climbed walls, and solved puzzles, this entry is a series of reasons to tap on the screen of your iPhone and not much else. At its core, this is a collectible card battle game with story segments told through subtitles and not much that’s worth playing all the way to the end.

22) Tomb Raider: The Action Adventure

Tomb Raider: The Action Adventure was released alongside Angel of Darkness in order to promote it to those who didn’t play games at the time. It follows a simplified version of the story, and all controls are limited to the D-pad on a controller for a DVD player. You’d select a direction to choose an option and see a scene play out. It’s a pretty great option for those who don’t want to play the game with a controller, though not something series fans were likely looking for. Ultimately, this is a terrible Tomb Raider game based on one of the worst entries in the series. The concept is quite fun though.

21) Tomb Raider Reloaded

Tomb Raider Reloaded is a good game at heart, but it’s marred by free-to-play monetization. The early stages shower you with progression and make you feel like you’re mastering everything it can throw at you before bringing you down to Earth to ask for money to move on. The gameplay is fine, requiring you to move forward, fight enemies, and earn points, but it’s nothing special. Some of the entries on this list are only getting rarer by the day, but even at their highest prices, you’ll spend less than you would on this smartphone title. We recommend watching a YouTube playthrough instead of playing.

20) Tomb Raider: Apocalypse Episodes 1-3 and The Temple of Anubis

There is very little information on the Tomb Raider: Apocalypse series out there. However, we remember it being available on Sky as part of a paid service many years ago. Users could press the red button and play through three separate episodes of the Apocalypse series on their TV. At the time, any new Tomb Raider content was gold, so it was great to play even though the games themselves are rather lackluster experiences comprised of ten levels with a few spike traps and enemies. The fourth entry in the series became a standalone title called Tomb Raider: The Temple of Anubis, but was much the same. These games were very much a cash grab and likely generated some decent revenue for the developer since the games were readily available through a major TV provider.

19) Tomb Raider: The Osiris Codex, Quest for Cinnabar, and Elixer of Life

With the rise of mobile gaming, nothing was off the cards. Tomb Raider: The Osiris Codex is a 2D side-scrolling game with puzzles, climbing, and shooting in the traditional Tomb Raider style. It’s not a great game by the standards the rest of the series has set, but it was an entry you could play on your mobile before the days of smartphones. As with many of these titles, it’s impossible to play today because the website has been taken down and the digital source code has vanished with it.

Tomb Raider: Quest for Cinnabar was the second mobile entry in the series. Visually, it was almost exactly the same as The Osiris Codex. The gameplay was pretty much the same too, though there was a new story that continued this spin-off series for fans that wanted more of Lara on the go.

Tomb Raider: Elixer of Life is the third and final entry in this series of mobile titles for Lara Croft. The visuals were changed for the worse, in our opinion, with Lara’s sprite looking blocky and out of proportion with her massive weapons. The gameplay appears to resemble that of the previous titles, but it seems as though this entry was made as a last-ditch effort to make some money out of the mobile market as better handheld consoles came along.

18) Tomb Raider: Angel Of Darkness

Related: How many Tomb Raider games are there, in total?

Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness is probably one of the worst-rated games in the series. It was Lara’s first outing on PlayStation 2, but the visuals didn’t live up to what fans were seeing in games like Metal Gear Solid 2. It felt rushed, unpolished, and suffered with players and critics as a result. Everyone wanted this game to be good, but it just led to disappointment in what should have been a landmark release for Lara Croft.

17) Tomb Raider Chronicles

Spoilers for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. After the previous game attempted to kill Lara Croft, she was brought back because this franchise was just too profitable to take off the market. Anyone who plays this game can see that it was a way to buy the development team time to make Angel of Darkness. It tells a broken story through flashbacks and doesn’t really add anything to the franchise. Still, it’s impossible to have a comeback without a low like this.

16) Tomb Raider: Relic Run

The popularity of Temple Run for smartphones spawned an endless sea of rip-off games that took the core concept and changed up the visuals just enough to make it look like a new game. Tomb Raider: Relic Run was a bit more than a rip-off, but it did take the core ideas and present them in a Tomb Raider style. Players explored tombs, gathered treasure, rode on various vehicles, could get cursed, and even fought bosses as Lara Croft ran ever forward. It’s a lot of fun to look back on but, at the time, felt like an excuse to avoid putting out a real smartphone game for the series.

15) Tomb Raider III

Tomb Raider III was the first game in the series that fans didn’t enjoy as much as they’d had before. It was far more punishing, making Lara Croft drop after taking very little damage or looking at a spike pit the wrong way. Mistakes were made with assumptions on the developer’s part and wanting to push players further, making for a somewhat inaccessible experience.

14) Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword

Tomb Raider, Curse of the Sword is the sequel to the much better Tomb Raider: The Prophecy, and changes the style of Lara Croft’s handheld adventures to be much more in line with what you’d expect from a handheld device. In it, Lara is cursed after being hit by a sword and needs to hunt down members of a voodoo cult around the world to save herself and the world. Exploration and puzzle-solving are still front and center, but the game just doesn’t look like it belongs in the series.

13) Tomb Raider and the Guardian of Light

With Tomb Raider and the Guardian of Light, Crystal Dynamics took a new approach. The game’s camera resembles that of an isometric adventure title, and players could work together in co-op or play alone with a bot while controlling Lara Croft and a mysterious guardian in a totally new style of game. The puzzles and epic storytelling is still here but mixed in challenges to complete, loot to collect, and a genuinely fun world to explore.

12) Tomb Raider and the Temple of Osiris

With the success of Tomb Raider and the Guardian of Light, a sequel was easy to justify. Tomb Raider and the Temple of Osiris takes everything the previous game brought to the table and tightens it to make for a much more cohesive experience that makes the blend of classic Tomb Raider and arcade classics so much more enjoyable. Up to four people can jump into the game together, and it’s a blast to play, especially when everyone is racking up high scores and competing for the best loot.

11) Tomb Raider: The Prophecy

While not the first entry in the Tomb Raider series on a handheld device, Tomb Raider: Prophecy was the first to use an isometric camera. This allowed it to mimic the gameplay from mainline games in the series, creating a decent experience on a much less powerful device. This title followed the Tomb Raider formula very closely, with uzis for Lara to dual-wield, puzzles, climbing, and animals that nip at Lara’s heels until she bleeds out.

10) Tomb Raider II

Hot on the heels of the first game, Tomb Raider II is more of what you wanted from this series. Lara Croft is out in search of the Dagger of Xian, and her adventure does not disappoint. This is where the series really started to lean into the traditional adventure movie tropes of over-the-top villains and out-of-this-world end sequences that throw everything you’ve known out the window. Fans loved it, but they weren’t as fond of the same formula as it continued along the same line.

9) Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a good game, it’s just not a great game. It takes place before the events of Tomb Raider: Legend and is another entry that takes that style and runs with it. There’s a lot to like about the title, with new systems that pushed players to their limits and interesting puzzles to solve. However, it’s not quite at the same level as the games that come below it.

8) Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation is fondly remembered because it’s a return to form for the franchise. Attempts at innovation had sent the series off on a new path that players weren’t fond of, but the development team brought it back to the core with this entry. Everything you love about Tomb Raider is here, and it felt even more epic because this was what seemed like the last entry in the series for a while at the time. Of course, there’s no way this series could end so early.

7) Tomb Raider: Underworld

Tomb Raider: Underworld was the eighth game in the series and a real success on the PS3 and Xbox 360. This was a true next-gen Tomb Raider experience, and it hit on every level. The puzzles were solid, the story felt compelling, and the themes throughout the game gave it something that the franchise just hadn’t had before. There’s almost a level of gritty realism, but it still manages to retain the classic Tomb Raider style, avoiding getting too heavy.

6) Lara Croft Go

Lara Croft Go is one of the most unique Tomb Raider games out there. Based on the design of Hitman Go, the game is a turn-based affair where you need to guide Lara Croft through various levels. However, the entire game is framed as a tabletop board game, so each move has a reaction from the other characters on the stage. You need to predict movements, work around traps, and get the treasure before Lara is crushed, impaled, or worse. This game is available on loads of platforms and is very different from mainline Tomb Raider entries. It’s still one of the best games in the series though and holds its own against everything above it.

5) Tomb Raider: Legend

Tomb Raider: Legend is a wild adventure that reimagines Lara Croft’s origins. It’s a story about finding Excalibur that’s surprisingly dark yet packed with some stunning set pieces. We love this game for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it was readily available on the PSP and still looked phenomenal for the time. Physics-based puzzles made the game engaging even during long play sessions, pushing your puzzle-solving skills at every turn. We don’t need to talk about the dreadful motorbike scenes between the main story beats though.

4) Tomb Raider (1996)

The original Tomb Raider game, which debuted on the PS1, may not be the best game in the series, but it’s certainly up there. This is the game that set the precedent for everything that came before. It had drama, climbing, puzzle solving, bears, bats, and so much more. Nothing like it had been seen on the market before, and it blew people’s minds. A lot of the core mechanics that would be built upon later are all here, making it a great game in so many ways.

Related: How to play the Tomb Raider games in timeline order

We’d also like to include the first version of the game to be ported to Game Boy Color alongside the original release. This series was a success because of the themes and engrossing gameplay mechanics presented across all platforms. It wouldn’t feel right to put the Game Boy Color entry anywhere else in this list because it succeeded alongside the PS1 version, not apart from it.

3) Rise of the Tomb Raider

The second entry in the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy didn’t quite hit the mark with fans and critics. It’s more of the first title in this set, which is great, but it doesn’t do anything special to make it stand out. This is a story where we see Lara Croft grow in knowledge and strength, with a cautionary tale that teaches her a lesson about how she needs to behave in the future. There’s also an argument that Croft got too trigger-happy as she moved into this game after being so shy about firing a single round in her last adventure.

2) Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider rounds out the reboot trilogy and is a stunning conclusion to the journey of this early version of Lara Croft. It shows the protagonist that she needs to catch herself and watch her actions because they have very real consequences that will hurt others if she’s not careful. This isn’t quite the best game in the trilogy, but it does do more than its predecessor to show players a good time and have fun with a new version of Lara.

1) Tomb Raider (2013)

Tomb Raider (2013) was the first entry in the reboot trilogy for the franchise and set the bar incredibly high for the games that followed. We don’t believe anything has ever quite lived up to the spectacle that this game managed to craft in conjunction with a cohesive island space that you could explore more of as you advanced the story. This is the game that the most recent movie was based on and with good reason. It’s gritty, doesn’t hold back from hurting our beloved protagonist, and shows how the adventurer got her start and addiction to treasure hunting.

The free Tomb Raider DLC for PowerWash Simulator is out now, allowing players to give Lara Croft’s mansion a good clean. This gives everyone a chance to explore Lara’s home, which is filled with Easter Eggs from the original Tomb Raider timeline, including familiar items, and references to her past adventures in text messages. Here are a few of the best you’ll find.

Related: PowerWash Simulator – How to navigate Croft Manor’s Maze

Tomb Raider 2’s infamous freezer trick

The developers of the Tomb Raider DLC for PowerWash Simulator took the chance to reference one of the most infamous shared moments in the franchise’s history; the butler in the freezer trick from Tomb Raider 2.

In Tomb Raider 2, the player could explore Lara Croft’s home during the game’s tutorial, and she would be followed around by Winston, her elderly butler. While exploring Croft Manor, the player can open and close the freezer door, which means that it’s possible to lock Winston inside with careful timing.

PowerWash Simulator references the moment of cruelty, as Lara Croft texts the player during the first level of the DLC, asking if Winston has escaped from the freezer and can offer them refreshments.

The training course from Tomb Raider 2 is present

Tomb Raider 2’s tutorial level let the player explore Croft Manor, but its main goal was to show off the game’s new mechanics and reacquaint returning players with the control scheme. This was done with a training course in the yard outside Croft Manor, consisting of boxes, climbing nets, and water pits kept in a trench.

Croft Manor in the PowerWash Simulator features a faithful recreation of the training course, with only the water sections missing. Luckily, the player isn’t timed when going through the area, so they’re free to take their time and give it a thorough cleaning.

Lara is preparing her stealth moves for Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness

Many Tomb Raider games have been released over the years, and not all of them received a warm reception from the fans. Perhaps the most disliked entry in the series is Angel of Darkness, which was full of technical issues and was too dark, to the point where it’s hard to see most of the stages.

PowerWash Simulator references one of the worst aspects of Angel of Darkness; its stealth mechanics. This was the entry that tried to emulate Metal Gear Solid, with Lara able to sneak around and press against walls. Lara mentions these tricks in a text message, where she talks about practicing her ninja-style moves to spy on the player.

Lara Croft always has a vehicle to hand when she needs one

PowerWash Simulator features several vehicles from the Tomb Raider series: the quad bike, the motorboat, and the jeep. In this game, the goal is to clean them rather than ride them through dangerous areas.

The intro to the jeep and the motorboat level mentions that the boat still has Venitian glass stuck in it, referencing how she used it in the Venice stage in Tomb Raider 2. Once the player begins the level, Lara will send texts, discussing how motorboats are always somehow around when she needs them and how they can magically squeeze into small areas.

The jeep from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation also gets a shoutout, as Lara talks about how it always started playing a techno song when she turned on the ignition, referencing the soundtrack shift in the Valley of the Kings level.

Croft Manor Treasure Vault is filled with Tomb Raider Easter Eggs

The final stage in the Tomb Raider DLC for PowerWash Simulator is Croft Manor’s Treasure Room, and it’s chock full of references to Lara Croft’s early adventures. The most obvious of these is the massive stuffed T-Rex, which needs cleaning. This beast is the most famous boss monster in the first Tomb Raider game, and it’s not surprising to see it enshrined in Lara’s collection.

Lara’s treasure vault also contains lots of displays that need cleaning, which house many of the artifacts she acquired over the years. These include the Dagger of Xian from Tomb Raider 2, the Philosopher’s Stone from Tomb Raider: Chronicles, the Atlantean Scion from the original Tomb Raider, the Iris from Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and the Ankh and Armor of Horus from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.

Players can finally clean Lara Croft’s mansion in PowerWash Simulator’s new Tomb Raider DLC. Still, the fans might struggle to get through the first stage, as it involves cleaning the entire exterior of Croft Manor. This isn’t helped by unclear objectives, especially as the game uses outdated terms for its furnishings.

Related: Is PowerWash Simulator on Game Pass?

How to clean Croft Manor in PowerWash Simulator

Fountain outside of Croft Manor

The Croft Manor stage in PowerWash Simulator’s Tomb Raider DLC is broken into two elements: the Fountain and the exterior of the building. The Fountain is the easiest of the two to clean, accounting for around 30% of the stage completion percentage.

The exterior of the Fountain is relatively simple to clean, but players need to watch out for the bottom side of the ledges, as these are hidden from sight at the standard height and can only be dealt with by crawling on the ground and using one of PowerWash Simulator’s short extensions.

The fish statue on the Fountain itself is trickier, as the insides of the mouth and the thin exterior region of the eyes need to be carefully blasted with a concentrated nozzle, as do the thin strips between the wings. The final tricky point is the top of the tail, which can only be reached by climbing on the midpoint and jumping while spraying or using one of the portable staircases with one of the longer nozzles.

The exterior of Croft Manor

The exterior of Croft Manor is one long stretch of brickwork, windows, and doors that needs to be cleaned, and it has a lot of fixtures that can catch a player out. One thing to note is that the player will be given two portable staircases, but these cannot be stacked on top of each other, so the longest nozzle will be needed to reach the top parts of the building.

One frustrating aspect of the Croft Manor exterior is the use of antiquated terms in the objectives list, which has names that most people won’t be familiar with. The two that appear the most are the Quions, the lines of white bricks that alternate in size, pictured below.

And the Corbels, which are ornaments that look as if they’re holding up the ledges, as pictured below.

Outside of the long stretches of brickwork, some finer details need to be hit, including the thin spots around the front door that require a vertical spray, the sides of the columns on the second floor above the main entrance, and the metal fixtures on the doors and windows, all of which are best dealt with using a concentrated nozzle. The player should also be aware of the plants around the building, as they can be cleaned in case there is any dirt behind them.

It’s now possible to explore the home of Lara Croft in PowerWash Simulator, as Croft Manor is now part of the game in a free DLC expansion. Unfortunately, this also includes the garden maze and its furnishings, which need to be cleaned by the player. This guide features an annotated map of Croft Manor’s Maze and instructions on completing the stage.

Related: Is PowerWash Simulator on Game Pass?

The Croft Manor Maze map in PowerWash Simulator

The goal of the Croft Manor Maze in PowerWash Simulator’s Tomb Raider DLC isn’t to get to the end. Instead, the player must clean all the dirty places and ornaments in the level listed in the pause menu. When starting the maze, the player will be near the door at the top left of the map, near the red flowers.

The easiest way to approach the maze is to clean the flower areas, the Armillary Globe, and the Stone Decoration, as they’re all fairly close. When cleaning the flowers, make sure not to miss any areas covered by foliage and use one of PowerWash Simulator’s long extensions on the lattices. Once these are complete, head to the Hatch Entrance and clean it thoroughly on both sides before entering, as it needs to be scrubbed to finish the stage.

Inside the Hatch is an underground tunnel leading to the map’s center. It’s here where all of the items listed as “Maze Center” can be found. This area is the dirtiest part of the stage, as the player will need to scrub the floor and the steps, the exteriors of which are partially covered by plants, so make sure to be thorough when going around the edges. The Hatch that was used to enter the area must also be cleaned in the same as the other one in the maze, with both sides, the edges, and the surrounding brickwork all needing to be drenched to complete the maze.

A live-action Tomb Raider series by Amazon has been announced and will be spearheaded by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge. While announcements like these used to bemoan players as the odds of them turning out to be good were disappointingly low. However, thanks to properties like The Last of Us the prospect of a live-action Lara Croft series from a critical acclaim creator feels more enticing.

The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news, reporting that Waller-Bridge has a deal with Amazon and she’s being tapped to write the script for the Tomb Raider series. Waller-Bridge will serve as the executive producer for the show but doesn’t intend to star in it. Waller-Bridge will be joined by other executive producers like Ryan Andolina and Amanda Greenblatt, who launched their own production company and have a deal with Amazon.

Related: The Fallout series on Amazon Prime casts Walton Goggins in the lead role

Waller-Bridge may appear to be an odd choice to head this newest Tomb Raider series, as her previous show, Fleabag, was a low-stakes comedy. However, Waller-Bridge is known for working on action movie scripts, adding a unique woman’s perspective, and including more jokes. She’s also going to co-star in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny with Harrison Ford, serving as the female lead in the motion picture. Lara Croft is often seen as the female equivalent of Indiana Jones, so given Waller-Bridge’s connection with the Indiana franchise, it makes sense for the writer-actress to move over from one action-adventure series with an archeologist to another action-adventure series featuring an archeologist.

Tomb Raider is one of the few video game properties with several outside media properties that have had a variety of levels of success. There were a pair of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider live-action films in the early 2000s starring world-famous actress Angelina Jolie, and in 2018 there was a rebooted Tomb Raider film featuring Alicia Vikander. The 2018 movie wasn’t successful enough to spawn a sequel, yet there is also an upcoming Netflix animated Tomb Raider with Hayley Atwell starring as Lara Croft.

This year is already having one of its strangest video game crossovers, as Lara Croft’s mansion from the Tomb Raider series will be appearing in a free update in PowerWash Simulator. The game does have its fair share of strange locations, with players graduating from cleaning cars and buildings to ancient statues and a palace by the time they role credits.

Related: Where to find the Mars Rover Hatch in PowerWash Simulator

PowerWash Simulator’s first post-launch content is coming soon, as a new trailer on the FuturLab YouTube channel has announced that the game will be crossing over with the Tomb Raider franchise. The Tomb Raider Special Pack is a free DLC update that’s arriving on January 31. This is also the day that PowerWash Simulator will be launching on PS4 and PS5, as well as Nintendo Switch. FuturLab has confirmed that the Tomb Raider Special Pack will be in all versions of the game on day one.

The Tomb Raider Special Pack adds a Croft Mansion level to PowerWash Simulator. Players will have the chance to clean iconic artifacts from the series, including a stuffed version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex boss faced in the original Tomb Raider and the vehicles Lara has used throughout her adventures. Old-school Tomb Raider fans will also recognize the training course from Tomb Raider 2, from the level where players could explore Croft Mansion and lock the butler in the freezer.

The Tomb Raider Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator is intended as a thank-you to the fans for their support of the game and will be the first piece of post-launch content. The possibilities for other PowerWash Simulator crossovers in the future are endless, and if the developers could swing it so that Anor Londo, the Black Mesa Research Facility, Princess Peach’s Castle, and the Hangar from Doom were playable, then they might have the perfect video game on their hands.