Tomb Raider for iPhone

Classic Tomb Raider comes back to phones and PC

The original Tomb Raider has been reissued for Android, iOS, and personal computers. This re-release attempts to deliver Lara Croft's debut adventure to modern devices, but how much has actually changed since the 1996 game?

What’s included in this edition

• Greece — one of the varied locations you’ll explore across the campaign
• Peru — jungle ruins and platforming challenges await
• Egypt — tombs, traps, and ancient mysteries

The game contains 15 distinct stages that take Lara across the globe as she hunts for a mysterious relic known as the Kindred. Sent to the expedition by the antagonist Jacqueline Natla, Croft must navigate hazards, hostile fauna, and clever puzzles to complete her first major quest.

Design, atmosphere, and gameplay

Level layouts remain faithful to the original: environments emphasize exploration, careful platforming, and puzzle solving. The tone still channels pulpy adventure serials — think daring artifact hunts, booby traps, and an explorer’s blend of combat and brainwork. Expect to plan moves carefully, solve multi-step puzzles, and evade or confront a variety of enemies.

Technical shortcomings and control issues

Unfortunately, this port shows its age in several areas. The graphics have not been modernized for current, high-resolution screens, resulting in blocky character models and low-detail textures that look worse on modern displays. Controls are another major weakness: the PC build lacks meaningful remapping or configuration, while the mobile versions rely on touch controls that reproduce the awkward feel of the original. Lara’s intentional, heavy movement (often called “tank controls”) is present here, so mistimed actions are frequently punished.

Is this the right version for you?

If your goal is a faithful replay of the original Tomb Raider experience, this release will satisfy nostalgia and preserve the core gameplay. If you want a smoother, more polished presentation or modernized controls, look instead at Tomb Raider: Anniversary or the later franchise reboot, both of which are better suited for players seeking refinements and fewer technical compromises.