Tomb Raider (1996 video game)

Tomb Raider
European cover art
Developer(s)Core Design[a]
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive[b]
Programmer(s)Paul Douglas
Artist(s)Toby Gard
Writer(s)Vicky Arnold
Composer(s)Nathan McCree
SeriesTomb Raider
Platform(s)Sega Saturn
MS-DOS
PlayStation
N-Gage
Pocket PC
iOS
Android
Release
25 October 1996
  • Sega Saturn
    • EU: 25 October 1996
    • NA: 14 November 1996
    MS-DOS, PlayStation
    • NA: 14 November 1996
    • EU: 22 November 1996
    Mac OS
    • WW: 16 March 1999
    Pocket PC
    • NA: July 2002
    N-Gage
    • NA: 7 October 2003
    • EU: 10 October 2003
    iOS
    • WW: 16 December 2013
    Android
    • WW: 1 April 2015
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Tomb Raider is a 1996 action-adventure video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive as the debut entry in the Tomb Raider media franchise. It was first released on the Sega Saturn, followed shortly by versions for MS-DOS and the PlayStation. Later releases came for Mac OS (1999), Pocket PC (2002), N-Gage (2003), iOS (2013) and Android (2015). The game follows archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft, who is hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to find an artefact called the Scion of Atlantis. Gameplay features Lara navigating levels split into multiple areas and room complexes while fighting enemies and solving puzzles to progress. An expansion pack subtitled Unfinished Business was released in 1997, containing new standalone levels.

The initial concept was created by Toby Gard, who is credited as Lara's creator and worked as lead artist on the project. Production began in 1994 and took 18 months, with a budget of £440,000. The character of Lara was based on several influences, including Tank Girl, Indiana Jones, and Hard Boiled. The 3D grid-based level design, innovative for its time, was inspired by the structure of Egyptian tombs. The music was composed by Nathan McCree, who took inspiration from English classical music. Originally announced in 1995, the title went on to receive extensive press attention and heavy promotion from Eidos Interactive.

Tomb Raider was praised for its innovative 3D graphics, controls, and gameplay. The game went on to win several industry awards and is considered to be one of the greatest video games ever made. It is also one of the best-selling games for the PlayStation, with seven million units sold worldwide, and it remained the best-selling title in the Tomb Raider franchise until the 2013 reboot. Lara Croft herself became a cultural icon, rising to prominence as one of gaming's most recognisable characters. Following the game's success, numerous sequels were released, beginning with Tomb Raider II in 1997. A remake, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, was released in 2007. A remastered version of Tomb Raider, alongside Unfinished Business, was released as part of Tomb Raider I–III Remastered in 2024.

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