Tomb Raider Returns With Brand-New Free Game, Available Today

After its new direction with the reboots, the Tomb Raider series has been going back to its roots in more ways than one with its upcoming releases, offering plenty for fans of the series to be excited for. Unfortunately, it seems like we’ll be waiting a long time before we get our hands on either the new Tomb Raider: Catalyst sequel or the Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis remake announced last year.

Thankfully, if you’re like me and can’t wait to revisit the familiar characters and locations from the beloved series far sooner, a recent release for the series could be a great alternative. Made by one of the original Tomb Raider Remastered developers, this is the perfect way to live through the nostalgia of the original trilogy through a brand-new perspective that is well worth your attention.

Available to download entirely for free, the Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition release has just been released, allowing you to experience the entire classic Tomb Raider trilogy in the form of a retro handheld platformer. This is all thanks to the efforts of two developers who worked on the original Tomb Raider Remastered games, one being DelcaTheKitten on X.

While there is no shortage of games similar to Tomb Raider as far as action-packed exploration is concerned, Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition is unique in offering a true reimagining of the series with a fresh perspective. Acting as a highlight reel of the first three Tomb Raider entries rather than a direct adaptation, the free game offers 10 unique levels that take “Lara Croft across iconic locations such as India, Greece, and Venice.”

The short experience feels like a true love letter to fans of the series, and it’s already received glowing reviews for the uniqueness and sheer level of detail in the 2.5D adaptation. Given the developer’s track record on the official remasters, the postiive reception isn’t much of a surprise.

Even offering a classic collection system in the form of 100 optional Golden Crystals for you to discover, a full completionist run will even unlock an additional 11th stage to make the system worth engaging with. Tomb Raider: Side-Scrolling Edition doesn’t just offer simple platforming either, as the trailer for the game posted to the developers’ official YouTube channel showcases plenty of hazards, movement options, and even some light combat mechanics.

While the upcoming Tomb Raider games already have plenty to learn from the successes and failures of the prequel trilogy, creative projects like Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition perfectly capture what made the original games so beloved. Hopefully, the official new entries in the series can replicate this magic despite their overhauled gameplay experiences.

First TV Show

Revisioned: Tomb Raider

Created by

Toby Gard