The Tomb Raider franchise has been an enduring part of video game history, allowing thousands of fans to step into the shoes of legendary explorer Lara Croft. While it's been years since the last major Tomb Raider action-adventure game was released, there are rumors that a new project is in the works. Hopefully, this new game will be able to explore the intersections between classic Tomb Raider games depicting Lara as an all-business adventurer and the "survivor" trilogy that explored Lara's origin story. To do this, the upcoming Tomb Raider title should move away from exploring the Croft family legacy.
Lara Croft's story has primarily centered around her family ancestry, as she follows in the steps of her father's obsession with ancient secrets, frequently following up on leads he found. While this focus on legacy has created much-needed depth for Lara Croft's character, and could influence the upcoming Amazon Tomb Raider television series, it's time for fans to see what she can do without her family's weight on her shoulders. Some rumors around the upcoming game allege that players will embody an older Lara Croft, opening up possibilities for exploring who she is instead of where she comes from.
The Tomb Raider Franchise Has Complicated Ties To The Croft Family Legacy
The Tomb Raider franchise has long-established the Croft family as having an extensive family history, one that Lara explores throughout the franchise. What is different throughout the games is how her family legacy is used. Using long-dead ancestors like Benjamin and Almina Marie Croft, the "survivor" trilogy of games name-drop quite a few of Lara's ancestors to establish the importance of her family name. Lara's identity as an heiress and member of the British aristocracy is used in the classic Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider II to explain how she can fund her elaborate archeological missions. In contrast, the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot paints Lara as disconnected from her aristocratic roots.
Another infamous habit across Tomb Raider games is the almost comical lack of continuity in lore about Lara's past. For instance, in the 1996 Tomb Raider game, Lara is disowned by her parents Henshingly and Lady Croft - who never gets a first name - for refusing to marry the Earl of Farringdon. There is an extreme disconnect from this initial storyline in Rise of the Tomb Raider, as Richard and Amelia Croft are painted as kind and supportive parents whose relationship fractured due to obsession. No matter what, Lara's story is defined by these narrative choices, and from evil butlers to dead fiancées and missing fathers, her family legacy consumes her.
How The Upcoming Tomb Raider Projects Can Distance Lara Croft From Family Trauma
While Lara Croft's family has always been tied to her story, there are quite a few ways that developer Crystal Dynamics can give her autonomy. One way is to provide Lara with a team of friends and colleagues who can illuminate parts of her personality that fans haven't seen. For instance, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Jonah is frequently influencing Lara to focus on the human consequences of her exploration, allowing her to grow past the insidious focus her father had. Another take could be simply leaving out any mention of her parents or family line, instead focusing on Lara's goals for her future.
Crystal Dynamics could also take inspiration from the Uncharted franchise, as games like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End give fans insight into Nathan Drake's life outside exploring, creating a unique dissonance between his adventuring life and his future with Elena. In comparison, Lara Croft has a sparse life outside adventuring, allowing ample possibility for a new action-adventure game to define her character through what she values and cares about outside of treasure hunting. Either way, while fans have learned a lot about Lara's family through the many Tomb Raider games, it's time to put Lara's desires and dreams front and center.