Lara Croft is finally coming back, and honestly, it’s about time. After the Survivor trilogy wrapped up in 2018 with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the franchise went weirdly quiet for years. We got some remasters, sure, but fans were starving for something new. That changed recently when Amazon and Crystal Dynamics finally broke the silence.
They didn't just announce one game. They announced two.
The heavy hitter everyone is talking about is Tomb Raider: Catalyst. This isn’t another "young Lara crying in the mud" origin story. We’ve done that. We’re past that. This is the "unified" Lara—the one who’s supposed to bridge the gap between the gritty survivor and the dual-pistol-wielding powerhouse from the 90s.
What Really Happened With Tomb Raider: Catalyst
Crystal Dynamics has been heads-down on this thing since 2022. It’s being built on Unreal Engine 5, which basically means it's going to look terrifyingly real. Forget the old-school polygons. We're talking hyper-realistic environments where every leaf and ruin looks like something out of a high-budget film.
💡 You might also like: The Pokémon Kanto Starter Quiz: Which Original Partner Actually Fits Your Playstyle?
The story takes Lara to Northern India. There’s been some sort of "mythical cataclysm" that’s torn up the landscape. Basically, ancient secrets are leaking into the modern world, and Lara is racing to stop a group of notorious treasure hunters from getting their hands on them. It feels like a return to form. You’ve got the globe-trotting adventurer back in her prime, not just trying to survive, but actively hunting.
One big change? The voice. Alix Wilton Regan is taking over the mantle. You might know her from Dragon Age or Cyberpunk 2077. She’s bringing a more self-assured, formidable energy to the role.
The Tomb Raider Game Most People Get Wrong
While everyone is looking at Catalyst for 2027, there’s another game dropping sooner. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is coming in 2026.
A lot of people think this is just a simple remaster. It’s not. It is a full-blown reimagining of the original 1996 game. Think of what Capcom did with Resident Evil 2. They’re taking the bones of the first adventure—the Scion, the T-Rex, the Peruvian caves—and rebuilding them from scratch in Unreal Engine 5.
💡 You might also like: Why The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot Still Sticks in Our Brains
It’s a smart move for the 30th anniversary. It gives new players a way to experience the "classic" story without having to wrestle with 30-year-old tank controls.
- Release Year: 2026
- Developer: Crystal Dynamics & Flying Wild Hog
- Locations: Peru, Greece, Egypt, and a "mysterious Mediterranean island."
Why the Amazon Partnership Actually Matters
Some fans got worried when they heard Amazon Games was publishing. But here's the reality: Crystal Dynamics needed a massive bankroll to make a game of this scale. Amazon is providing that, plus they’re building a whole "Tomb Raider Universe."
There’s a TV show in the works at Prime Video written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It stars Sophie Turner as Lara. While the games and the show are separate projects, they are being developed under the same umbrella to make sure the "vibe" is consistent. You won't necessarily need to watch the show to understand Tomb Raider: Catalyst, but they’re definitely going to share DNA.
Is the Open World Rumor Real?
There’s been a ton of talk about whether these new games are fully open world. From what we know, Catalyst is described as the "largest Tomb Raider game to date." It features a "vertically rich platforming playground."
👉 See also: Oblivion Aid for Bruma: Why This Quest Still Breaks New Players
That doesn't mean it’s Skyrim with a bow and arrow. It sounds more like the wide-linear hubs we saw in the last few games, just massively expanded. Think less "empty map markers" and more "seamless wilderness" with actual depth.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to get ready for the 2026 and 2027 releases, you don't have to just sit and wait.
- Play the Remasters: Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered just dropped. It’s the best way to see the "Darkness Trilogy" that influenced where the series is heading now.
- Wishlist on Steam/PS5: Legacy of Atlantis is already popping up on storefronts. Wishlisting helps the devs see the interest levels.
- Link your Amazon Games iD: If you plan on playing on PlayStation, linking your ID early often nets you exclusive skins, like the Mediterranean Wetsuit for the 2026 remake.
The wait has been long, but for the first time in nearly a decade, we have a clear roadmap for Lara Croft. Between a high-fidelity remake of the original and a massive new journey in India, the next two years are looking pretty stacked for raiders.