Our VerdictTomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
Our VerdictTomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Tomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
PC Gamer’s got your backOur experienced team dedicates many hours to every review, to really get to the heart of what matters most to you.Find out more about how we evaluate games and hardware.
PC Gamer’s got your backOur experienced team dedicates many hours to every review, to really get to the heart of what matters most to you.Find out more about how we evaluate games and hardware.
Lara Croft may need no introduction, but her first three artefact-swiping, wildlife-bothering, lever-pulling adventures were in real danger of becoming exactly the sort of forgotten relics she hunts for. Tomb Raider Remastered hauls this trio of excellent action-adventure-puzzle hybrids and their original expansions—foundational examples of a style of adventure game we’re still enjoying today—back into action. This is the definitive version of these games, feeling both 25+ years old and also brand new at the same time.
Need to knowWhat is it?Three legendary action-adventure games given a loving makeoverExpect to pay£24.99 / $29.99DeveloperAspyr, Crystal DynamicsPublisherAspyrReviewed onIntel i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4080 (laptop), 16GB RAMMultiplayer?NoSteam DeckVerifiedLink:Steam
Need to know
What is it?Three legendary action-adventure games given a loving makeoverExpect to pay£24.99 / $29.99DeveloperAspyr, Crystal DynamicsPublisherAspyrReviewed onIntel i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4080 (laptop), 16GB RAMMultiplayer?NoSteam DeckVerifiedLink:Steam
What is it?Three legendary action-adventure games given a loving makeoverExpect to pay£24.99 / $29.99DeveloperAspyr, Crystal DynamicsPublisherAspyrReviewed onIntel i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4080 (laptop), 16GB RAMMultiplayer?NoSteam DeckVerifiedLink:Steam
Tomb Raider Remastered runs fantastically: Whether played on PC or Steam Deck, it scales to whatever my current display’s maximum resolution is without effort or fuss. No matter how long I played or how many times I jumped between games, saves, or hardware, it never did anything other than work exactly as intended.
I was disappointed to find the old graphics options gone, replaced with the ability to read a dry EULA. Aside from a chance to tweak a few basic control/sound settings (both traditional “tank” controls and modern analogue alternatives are available), there’s basically nothing here I can fiddle with. But the ability to swap between old and new graphics was clearly the priority, and it’s implemented very well here.
The framerate didn’t wobble even when I was mashing the game’s dedicated graphics toggle button, seamlessly switching back and forth between the tastefully updated (and default) new look and the classic style, crude 2D keys and all. It works at any moment—the toggle is so comprehensive it applies to every FMV cutscene, as well as menus, menu fonts, and even the static loading screen art.
These little sharp-edged worlds are the perfect place to play out all of my wildest Indiana Jones fantasies. At times they’re as quiet as a tomb, the only sound Lara’s grunts as she carefully picks her way across ancient pillars or shoves a stone block into place. But five minutes later she might be firing her iconic dual pistols at dinosaurs, or desperately running away from a crushing wall covered in spikes. Within the space of half an hour I’ll have acted like a hero, an adventurer, a puzzle-solving genius… and an idiot who might have slightly misjudged that last jump and sent Lara plunging to her doom. Again.
Image1of14(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
Image1of14(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
Image1of14
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)Tomb Raider Remastered: New and old graphics compared
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
(Image credit: Aspyr)
On the whole this remaster straddles the line between retro authenticity and shiny modernity shockingly well, the repetitively tiled landscapes instantly recognisable without looking like a complete eyesore on modern screens. New 3D foliage, spider webs, items, light shafts, and other miscellaneous details that were previously either painted onto ground, presented as flat objects, or simply nonexistent are so well integrated it’s easy to believe they were always there.
My retro-loving heart has to admit the game does look better for having them—more organic, more worn.
However, the high resolution of the terrain’s textures combined with their abject flatness, devoid of any of the lumps, bumps, and shading we’re all used to these days, leads to an uncanny valley effect at times, the scenery becoming a bit ‘Lego wallpapered over with a geography professor’s field trip photos.’ The improved lighting and draw distance of the remastered graphics also tend to detract from the first Tomb Raider’s quiet sense of isolation: the famous T-Rex reveal loses some of its impact now that the area’s dressed to look like an outdoor jungle under gloomy skies. It doesn’t hit the same when the dinosaur is walking around the corner of an impossibly lush area somewhere in Peru instead of abruptly emerging from the inky void of an airless nowhere.
28 years old and still utterly terrifying.(Image credit: Aspyr)
The colosseum Lara explores later also suffers, looking more like an abandoned tourist hotspot instead of a crumbling ruin deep within the bowels of the earth. But on the other hand the second game’s polished marble floors and torchlit temples have never looked so opulent, Tomb Raider 3’s shoals of fish darting through tropical waters are more vibrant than the ’90s could ever dream of, and after all these years the cutscenes finally make an honest attempt at conveying emotion. They’re not what I’d call convincing, and I wish they didn’t still do the nodding puppet head bobs when they spoke, but they’re definitely better than they were.
For all the things I’m glad they’ve so very carefully kept—the ability to save/load anywhere, the timeless soundtrack, even the supremely creepy way the gaze of a mummified guardian will silently follow Lara around the room—some things really should have been left in the past. Running water sound effects are on the same short artificial loops with clear beginnings and ends, irritating to the point that some locations are genuinely more enjoyable with the sound muted. The camera is rarely better behaved than it was 25+ years ago, sometimes forcing blind jumps into the unknown because it refuses to sit behind Lara when she’s in a tight corner.
Bosses have far too much health, and that only highlights how basic the gunplay is. The AI across all three games have no answer for highly skilled battle tactics like “Standing still somewhere they can’t reach and holding down the fire button,” “Jumping backwards while shooting,” and “What if I bothered to equip the shotgun.” Worst of all, the trilogy’s depictions of anyone who isn’t a sassy British tomb raider with a fondness for teal tank tops has, at best, aged like milk left out in the midday sun, and at their lowest points are nothing less than racist.
The new 3D models really shine in cutscenes.(Image credit: Aspyr)
Playing through these remasters confirmed that the original trilogy really were as amazing as I remembered them outside those very ’90s flaws. Every puzzle solved felt like a well-earned victory, and the sneaky swerves these games pulled as they plunged Lara into an unseen trap remain exciting challenges. Simply nailing a risky jump (and a manual ledge grab) to avoid certain death is still a rush of adrenaline here, a tension modern adventure games have buffed out.
The remaster’s accuracy does confirm that some parts of these games should have stayed buried. So—same as always—this collection is the very best, and very worst, of Lara Croft’s adventures.
Correction: This review originally stated Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered did not acknowledge the racist stereotypes contained within. There is in fact a statement acknowledging “offensive depictions of people rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices” that appears briefly during the first boot of the game only. PC Gamer regrets the error.
The Verdict78Read our review policyTomb Raider 1-3 RemasteredTomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
The Verdict
The Verdict
78Read our review policyTomb Raider 1-3 RemasteredTomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
78Read our review policy
78
Tomb Raider 1-3 RemasteredTomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered
Tomb Raider Remastered is an impressive and authentic update. Too authentic in some places, though.
More about tomb raider 1 3 remasteredTomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remastersLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
More about tomb raider 1 3 remasteredTomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remastersLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
More about tomb raider 1 3 remasteredTomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remasters
More about tomb raider 1 3 remastered
Tomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remasters
Tomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’
Tomb Raider Remastered 1-3 devs downgrade strangely-superior Epic Games version, saying it had ‘work-in-progress materials that do not represent our final quality expectations’
Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remasters
Lara Croft modding maestro reveals he’s been missing because Saber nabbed him for the Tomb Raider ‘dream team’, assembling a crack squad ‘of crazy people’ to put together the remasters
LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
Latest
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
See more latest►
Most PopularTurtle Beach Stealth Pivot reviewIkea Matchspel gaming chair reviewASRock DeskMini X600 reviewZotac Zbox Magnus EN374070C reviewMinisforum AtomMan G7 Ti reviewSamsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra reviewNoctua NH-D15 G2 reviewGulikit KK3 Max reviewBallionaire reviewMarvel Rivals reviewBe Quiet! Dark Rock 5 review
Most PopularTurtle Beach Stealth Pivot reviewIkea Matchspel gaming chair reviewASRock DeskMini X600 reviewZotac Zbox Magnus EN374070C reviewMinisforum AtomMan G7 Ti reviewSamsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra reviewNoctua NH-D15 G2 reviewGulikit KK3 Max reviewBallionaire reviewMarvel Rivals reviewBe Quiet! Dark Rock 5 review
Most PopularTurtle Beach Stealth Pivot reviewIkea Matchspel gaming chair reviewASRock DeskMini X600 reviewZotac Zbox Magnus EN374070C reviewMinisforum AtomMan G7 Ti reviewSamsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra reviewNoctua NH-D15 G2 reviewGulikit KK3 Max reviewBallionaire reviewMarvel Rivals reviewBe Quiet! Dark Rock 5 review
Most Popular
Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review
Ikea Matchspel gaming chair review
ASRock DeskMini X600 review
Zotac Zbox Magnus EN374070C review
Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti review
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra review
Noctua NH-D15 G2 review
Gulikit KK3 Max review
Ballionaire review
Marvel Rivals review
Be Quiet! Dark Rock 5 review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1
Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2
Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3
Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4
Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4
Ikea Utespelare desk review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
