New Tomb Raider Game Is Doing Something the Franchise Hasn’t Done in Almost 30 Years

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The Tomb Raider series is famous for its adventurous, worldwide journeys, but it surprisingly revisits certain locations more than others. Over the past three decades, Lara Croft has traveled to diverse places like icy wastelands and underwater cities. However, the games often feature similar settings – Mayan temples, Greek and Roman ruins, and the imagery of lost civilizations that players already know well. While these familiar locations are effective, they’ve gradually made the experience feel less groundbreaking and diminished the sense of discovering something truly new.

I’m really looking forward to Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and it’s not just because of the updated gameplay and graphics. For the first time in over two decades – since a quick visit in Tomb Raider III back in 1998 – Lara Croft is venturing into India, a location rarely seen in video games. This could be a significant development for the series, allowing a previously brief setting to become a central and meaningful part of the story when Tomb Raider: Catalyst is released in 2027, and potentially breathe new life into the franchise.

Lara Croft’s Return to India

India hasn’t played a significant role in the Tomb Raider series. Lara Croft only briefly visited the country in the opening moments of Tomb Raider III back in 1998. While memorable for its lush jungles and mysterious ancient ruins, that introduction was short-lived. After that, India was never featured again in Lara Croft’s adventures.

The next Tomb Raider game, Catalyst, will significantly feature India, unlike previous entries that only briefly touched on the region. Set entirely in Northern India, the game lets players explore a new landscape while discovering the story of an ancient disaster, long-lost secrets, and a powerful, newly awakened force. As usual, Lara Croft is in a race against time to find hidden truths and prevent villains from exploiting this power. The most exciting part is the deep dive back into India and the fresh possibilities it offers.

As a gamer, I think India would be an amazing setting for a new Tomb Raider game. Seriously, imagine exploring ancient temples swallowed by the jungle and cities steeped in incredible mythology – it’s way more exciting than the same old ruins we’ve seen a million times! It feels like bringing Lara back to where the series started, where discovering the unknown was the whole point. I’m really hyped to see what kind of tombs, temples, and puzzles the developers come up with, and how they’ll shake up the platforming!

Why India as a Setting Matters in Tomb Raider and Gaming

Mainstream video games, particularly large-scale action-adventure games, rarely feature India as a setting. This is surprising given the country’s rich history, varied landscapes, and fascinating mythology. While a few games have touched on Indian themes, these are uncommon and don’t represent a widespread practice in the industry.

I’ve noticed a few games have tried to set things in India, but it’s surprisingly rare. Raji: An Ancient Epic is probably the most famous – it really dives into Hindu mythology and looks gorgeous doing it. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy had a little bit of India in it, which was cool, and showed how amazing a full-on Indian setting could be. But after that, there aren’t many others. Hopefully, upcoming games like Raji: Kaliyuga and Unleash the Avatar will change that and we’ll see more games exploring such a rich and interesting part of the world.

The reason setting part of Tomb Raider: Catalyst in India is so significant is because it offers something new. The Tomb Raider series has always been successful with stories about myths, archaeology, and ancient history, but it often draws from familiar cultures. India’s incredibly rich mythology – full of gods, epic tales, the idea of creation and destruction, and deep spiritual meaning – provides a unique and inspiring backdrop. It allows the game to explore themes that fit well with the Tomb Raider spirit, but in a way that feels fresh and hasn’t been done much in other games.

The choice of a unique setting like India in a popular game like Tomb Raider has wider implications for the industry. It signals that players are open to diverse cultures and that developers are willing to be innovative. If done well, this could move beyond simply using India as a temporary trend and establish it as a legitimate and inspiring location for future games, offering a refreshing change from the typical medieval European settings.

Tomb Raider Needs to Explore New Ideas

The Tomb Raider series, after almost three decades, is at a crossroads common to many established franchises: how to change and stay fresh while still feeling like itself. The latest trilogy reimagined Lara Croft, emphasizing survival and realism, but some players missed the series’ original sense of adventure and mystery. A new Tomb Raider game set in India feels like a natural progression for this beloved gaming icon.

India provides a rich backdrop for inspiring fresh ideas in a game like Tomb Raider. Unlike stories focused solely on finding lost objects, Indian mythology delves into complex themes of right and wrong, destiny, the passage of time, and the connection between people and the gods. This offers an opportunity to move beyond simple treasure hunts and create a story that truly resonates with players, challenging their perspectives and forcing Lara to make difficult decisions.

India’s varied scenery has the potential to create really interesting levels in a Tomb Raider game. While jungles, ruins, and historical sites have been used before, focusing on actual Indian culture and mythology could make them feel fresh and different. This could help the series feel more like a true adventure and less predictable.

Ultimately, setting a new Tomb Raider game in India demonstrates a commitment to innovation and progress, rather than relying on familiar territory. It recognizes that to stay engaging, the series needs to genuinely surprise players – not just with updated graphics, but with fresh concepts, unique locations, and compelling narratives.

The new Tomb Raider game, Catalyst, is making a significant choice by going back to India – something the series hasn’t done in nearly three decades. This isn’t just a cool fact; it’s a smart move creatively. It allows Tomb Raider to explore a rarely seen setting and mythology in gaming, and recapture the excitement that originally made Lara Croft’s adventures so popular. If done right, this could be the start of a fresh and exciting direction for the franchise.

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2025-12-14 20:13