Few game series come close to matching the cultural impact of Tomb Raider—and now is the perfect opportunity to experience Lara Croft’s early days for yourself, except with updated graphics and controls that have been brought up to modern standards.
Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is now available for free via the Epic Games Store. It includes the first three games in the franchise plus all the expansions released for them:
- Tomb Raider I (1996) + Unfinished Business expansion
- Tomb Raider II (1997) + Golden Mask expansion
- Tomb Raider III (1998) + The Lost Artifact expansion
The first three installments were originally developed and published by Core Design, but these remasters were developed by the current license holder Crystal Dynamics in collaboration with Aspyr.
The original game code was used for these remasters, but the visuals are significantly bumped up with numerous improvements, and the controls have been tweaked (as Lara Croft initially handled like a tank). While the gameplay still takes some getting used to, it should now be much easier overall to shoot and climb with Lara.
If you wish, you can toggle back to the classic graphics, and it’s also possible to modify the various levels and play them in a special challenge mode. (This mode was added later, as were 10 new outfits for Lara.)
Why this free game is worth grabbing
On Metacritic, the Remastered collection got fairly positive ratings and settled on an average of 75 points. Reviewers praised the timeless Lara Croft adventure that’s available across all three games.
Many of Tomb Raider‘s distinctive features have been retained so as not to alter the core of the games too much. However, the modern updates ensure that both new and returning fans will find the remaster appealing.
Unlike the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, this is “merely” a remaster and not an elaborate remake. You should expect any bugs or technical issues that haven’t been fully resolved to still occur.
How to get this free game
Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Starring Lara Croft normally costs $29.99 on the Epic Games Store, but from now until May 28th at 11 AM ET, you can get it for free. All you need to do is log in with an Epic account, add the game to your cart, then add it to your library. You can keep it and continue playing even after the free period is over.
