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Tomb Raider trailer: How to play as Lara Croft on mobile

Death is not an adventure - but these games are

Tomb Raider trailer: How to play as Lara Croft on mobile
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| Lara Croft GO

The first trailer for the new Tomb Raider film just dropped, predictably setting the internet alight.

If you missed the pre-release hype - or have been asleep for the past 14 years - this doesn't mean that Angelina Jolie has dusted off here twin pistols and cheesy lines for a third film. Mercifully.

Rather, this is an all new film (starring Alicia Vikander) that takes its tone from the recent video game reboot. The games ostensibly go back to Lara's origins, but in reality they're different games entirely from a new developer, and set in a grittier and more violent universe.

Now that you're up to date, you might be itching to play some Tomb Raider on your mobile. Here are the four ways in which you can do so right now. Kind of.

Tomb Raider

Looking back on my own review of this late-2013 conversion of the very first Tomb Raider game, I was clearly struck by the original's refreshing and liberating lack of hand-holding and shallow set pieces compared to the reboot.

This remains a game in which you can get truly and wonderfully lost scouring dank caverns and negotiating tricky platforms.

Unfortunately, it's also a game of its time - 1996 to be exact. This was before developers got to grips with how best to control characters in 3D worlds, and the result is a deeply awkward experience - even if you have a MFi controller (as I did at the time).

If you don't, this is one dusty relic that should probably be left in the ground.

Tomb Raider II

Back in 1997, Tomb Raider II fully introduced Lara as the globe-trotting archaeologist we all know today.

The plummy explorer shot off to (and shot up) Venice, China, and a sunken ship in pursuit of an ancient dagger.

Unfortunately, those messy touch controls from the original conversion aren't any better here. Indeed, they arguably serve this more elaborate and action-oriented sequel even worse.

We're as fond of a good dose of nostalgia as the next person, but playing Tomb Raider II on mobile might just sully your memory of this PS1-era classic.

Lara Croft: Relic Run

It can't have been a big stretch to come up with Lara Croft: Relic Ruin.

Take the well-established Temple Run formula - a 3D endless runner that involves running and jumping and looting through an ancient tomb - and swap Lara Croft in for the generic hero.

There are also shooting sections that have you tapping the screen to take out mutant lizards, and driving sections that have you... driving.

But this is basically the most generic three-lane autorunner you're likely to come across.

Lara Croft GO

There's no getting around it. Not only have we saved the best til last, but Lara Croft GO is the only mobile game starring Lara Croft that's flat-out good.

It's nothing like the host series though. Rather, Square Enix adopted the Hitman GO formula and applied its prize IP to a slick turn-based puzzler.

This means that every time you nudge Lara to the next node on each grid-like level, the other level elements - enemies, traps etc. - move too. Getting to each level exit is a question of planning and lateral thinking.

This might not result in a game that's particularly faithful to its source material, but it does produce an ingenious clockwork puzzler that's right up there with the very best.

Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.