# Tomb Raider’s missteps include rushed sequels and unwanted companions

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/lara-croft-is-30-we-look-at-the-video-game-icons-biggest-blunders/
- Published: 2026-10-25T10:00:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T10:22:19+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/oct/25/lara-croft-is-30-we-look-at-the-video-game-icons-biggest-blunders
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Gaming, Technology, World

## Key points

- Lara Croft’s first game arrived 30 years ago.
- The franchise has sold more than 100 million games.
- Annual releases and design missteps drew criticism.

## Summary

Lara Croft turns 30 this month, marking three decades since the first Tomb Raider game helped make her a major video game and pop culture icon. The article looks back at less successful moments in the series, arguing that commercial pressure, misguided design choices and unwanted companions sometimes undercut what players enjoyed about the games.

It recalls promotional campaigns that placed Lara in awkward adverts, including one selling the idea of a wedding dress, and says publisher Eidos pushed developer Core Design to release a game each year. After Lara was buried at the end of The Last Revelation, Eidos demanded a follow-up, resulting in Tomb Raider: Chronicles. The 2003 game The Angel of Darkness is criticised for its bugs, controls and gloomy setting, while later games are faulted for adding sidekicks that weakened the solitary exploration of the earlier titles. The franchise has sold more than 100 million games.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.