Fancy getting lost in a near-endless maze full of mysterious artifacts and deadly traps? It’s called Tomb Raider, and with the upcoming double-title release that’s about to be released on Nintendo Switch the following year, you’re bound to fall in love!
Ever since the release of the very first Tomb Raider game in 1996, Lara Croft cemented her place as the go-to action-adventure puzzle-solving pit diver only rivaled by the likes of Indiana Jones.
Her popularity stretches far and wide, and you can see the character playing a pivotal role in numerous works of popular culture, including Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider movies that conquered our hearts in the early 2000s.Â
Moreover, Lara Croft starred in the Dark Horse comic series and has a dedicated board game called Tomb Raider Legends. She has left its traces in iGaming as well, as there is a Lara Croft-themed slot game titled Lara Croft Temples and Tombs that can be found on many popular brands such as Betway Casino.
To celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, not one but two Lara Croft titles are expected to be released at some point in 2022 for Nintendo Switch, namely:
- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
To bring you some high-grade adventuring and puzzle-solving action, Crystal Dynamics has joined forces with Feral Interactive. Previously, these two companies worked on a Tomb Raider reboot trilogy released on Linux and macOS platforms, none of which are mainly known for offering a selection of gaming titles of any kind. Since the Tomb Raider franchise is not typically released on Nintendo consoles either, the proud owners of Nintendo Switch have quite a treat to look forward to.
Although Nintendo Wii has had a Tomb Raider release before, this is the first time for Nintendo’s popular handheld console. On top of that, word on the street is that another Tomb Raider title is in the works for mobile devices, also coming out somewhere in 2022. Unfortunately, as is the case with the other two Lara Croft titles for Nintendo Switch, the exact details of its release remain a closely-guarded mystery.
To get a glimpse into what we can expect, let’s take a brief into the 2010s and 2016’s original releases.
The most crucial detail to note is that you will be experiencing the gameplay from a top-down isometric perspective, unlike what’s the trend for typical Tomb Raider releases.
Furthermore, the emphasis lies on co-op mode that will test both your gaming abilities and how synchronized and coordinated you can stay with your partner in crime. Of course, Guardian of Light also supports a regular single-player mode for those who prefer to go solo. Temple of Osiris, on the other hand, is geared towards the most hardcore multiplayer enthusiasts, allowing up to 4 players to be playing at the same time.
Following their initial respective release dates, both of these titles received warm critical acclaim, and Nintendo Switch seems like the perfect platform to host them. Whether they’ll be available as separate purchases or bundled together remains anyone’s guess. If they end up being well received by Nintendo’s audience, we can surely expect more Lara Croft releases as time goes on.
At any rate, when a whole new generation gets to be introduced to the franchise through a port, it’s always healthy for the entire community. Nintendo fans tend to gravitate towards action and platformers, so these games, right alongside their fast-paced gameplay and character progression flavor, should be a natural fit.
Until then, be sure to quench your thirst for some good old Lara Croft gaming action by checking out the other titles that bear the franchise’s official name. And when 2022 finally arrives, we’ll be greeted by none other than Lara herself as part of a real-life Tomb Raider experience that’s scheduled to take place in London.
