20 minutes with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis left me unconvinced, but keen to play more
The Tomb Raider franchise is undergoing a major revival with multiple games in development and a television adaptation featuring Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner in the pipeline. One of these projects, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, was demonstrated at Summer Game Fest, offering attendees 20 minutes of hands-on time with the reimagined take on Lara Croft’s first adventure.
The game is positioned as an anniversary title for the franchise, though it will launch after 2026. The demo showcased the opening in a visually dense jungle environment with detailed environmental design. A notable new feature is Lara’s scanner tool, which highlights interactive objects and points of interest within the game world to aid exploration and puzzle-solving.
Impressions from the demo were mixed regarding execution. While the visual presentation impressed with its lush, detailed environments, the controls felt unpolished during the hands-on session, leaving some uncertainty about the final product’s gameplay feel. However, despite these initial control concerns, the experience generated enthusiasm for what Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis could become with further development and refinement before release.