After years without any major mainline titles, developer Crystal Dynamics has announced two brand new upcoming Tomb Raider games. Fans of the iconic archaeologist now have not one but two reasons to be excited, as the character will be returning for two adventures releasing in the next couple of years.
Published by Amazon Game Studios and developed by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, these games were announced during The Game Awards 2025. These dual releases will give longtime fans a reason to return to the franchise and newcomers an easy entry point into the series.
For those excited about these upcoming Tomb Raider games, this article will discuss everything, ranging from their story and visuals to their release dates. We will also look into how these two titles might shape the future of this series that has remained dormant for years.
A deep look at the upcoming ‘Tomb Raider’ games
Crystal Dynamics announced two new Tomb Raider titles to be released in 2026 and 2027. One of them is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, which is a modern reimagining of the first Tomb Raider game from 1996.
This game has been developed by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog using Unreal Engine 5. Being a reimagining means this title will feature updated gameplay mechanics, a polished narrative, and enhanced visuals. Therefore, unlike most other remasters that are released nowadays, this will not be a simple visual overhaul, which is good news for gamers who wanted to enjoy the first game in the franchise but found it too outdated in every sense.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will release for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at an unspecified date in 2026.
The second one of the upcoming Tomb Raider games is Catalyst. This one is being developed by Crystal Dynamics alone using Unreal Engine 5.
It will be a direct sequel to 2008’s Tomb Raider: Underworld and feature a story set in Northern India, where a mythical cataclysm has exposed ancient ruins and awakened forces guarding them. Players will be controlling Lara Croft as she explores this region, all the while competing with some rival treasure hunters.
This game will be released for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2027 at an unspecified date.
The developers have not confirmed if any of these titles will see a Nintendo Switch 2 release, but after seeing incredible ports of Cyberpunk 2077 and the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, we can certainly be hopeful.
How can these games shape the future of the ‘Tomb Raider’ franchise?
Tomb Raider: Catalyst and Legacy of Atlantis mark the return of the series to its adventure roots after the trilogy that started with the 2013 game and ended with 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which gave fans a grim, darker look at the franchise.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst will also be connected to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider TV series, which will star Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner as the adventurer.
This will mark the beginning of an ambitious future for the series. We might even see yet another big-screen adaptation in the future. After all, a number of video game movies have become massive financial successes recently; if done correctly, maybe this one will also be a hit.
(Hero and Featured Images Credit: Amazon Game Studios)
This article first appeared here
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
