Tomb Raider is one of the most iconic franchises in all of gaming, with Lara Croft still to this day one of the industry’s greatest icons. It’s been 8 years since the last new entry in the series, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, was released, and while we’ve gotten multiple remastered collections, fans have looked forward to what’s next for quite some time. The answer is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a from-the-ground-up remake of the original game almost three decades later. During Summer Game Fest: Play Days 2026, I had the chance to go hands-on with 50 minutes of the game in its iconic Lost Valley level, and overall, I’m thoroughly impressed with what I’ve seen so far.
Legacy of Atlantis is the second remake of the original game, and with that comes massive nostalgia and expectation from fans. I know some online were skeptical of how this remake might turn out, but the demo I played reassured me that this team is well aware of what Tomb Raider is and what fans want from it. Right out of the gate, it was hard not to appreciate just how visually impressive the game was. There is such a high level of detail throughout, whether in foliage, environmental assets like water, or Lara’s character model. The lighting, especially, was stunning, with some really neat filtering of sunlight done through the jungle trees.
As an earlier level in the game, The Lost Valley offered a few puzzles to complete. Lara has quite a few tools at her disposal, including a grappling hook that allows you to swing across waterfalls, pull objects, and more. I was able to use the grappling hook to pull down a gear I needed to complete a puzzle, and that process was a fun challenge. It’s been said that multiple new puzzle mechanics are being added to Legacy of Atlantis, and I’m excited to see how these end up being.
Naturally, Legacy of Atlantis is still a linear game, but it appears that its environments will have plenty to discover off the beaten path. Hidden collectibles are available to seek throughout, in addition to a scanner that gives insight into some of the architecture and relics in the environment. As a huge fan of a good adventure story, I love that there are all sorts of things to find in the environment. You are rewarded for checking out interesting areas or walking through an unknown path. Discovery and exploration are such key parts of an adventure like Tomb Raider, and these elements greatly enhance it.
Beyond exploration, combat is a key focus that you’ll have to get familiar with throughout the adventure. Lara has her iconic dual-pistol setup, and these felt so satisfying to use. Each shot felt snappy and right in line with what I’d hope for from gunplay. My preview had me sidestepping around and firing away at dinosaurs as they lunged toward me, and I had so much fun shooting them down. It’s just an absolute blast dodging all over as Lara with flips and cartwheels as you shoot down enemies.
My favorite addition Legacy of Atlantis brings to the table is the new Focus meter. We all know Lara’s dynamic, expressive dodges, and the teams at Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog have built a mechanic around this that is genuinely exciting. As you dodge away from enemies, a small meter on the bottom left fills. Once a circle is filled in, you can tap the right bumper to enter Focus Mode, which slows down time and has Lara strike a sweet pose mid-air to shoot enemies. This addition is so much fun and, truthfully, makes combat a joy. As I dodged away from dinosaurs, I could quickly slow down time and deal massive headshot damage while upside down. It makes playing as Lara a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the system shapes up in the full release.
Throughout the demo, Lara had plenty of witty lines that felt right in line with what I’d expect from her character. It feels right in line with the confident Lara found in early games and films, and I’m very happy with the voice acting I heard from Alix Wilton Regan so far. I am interested to see how the cutscene direction and overall dialogue are for the rest of the game, as I enjoyed what I experienced.
I was already stoked to play Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, but after my demo, it’s instantly one of my most anticipated games of 2027. The Amazon Games team I spoke with during my preview made it clear that this experience has been built by huge fans of the series for fans, whether veterans or newcomers. The original game is still here, but some enhancements go beyond a remake here. Based on my time with the game, I think those additions are really going to pay off. The stylish gameplay and new mechanics look to make this the best version of Lara’s debut adventure, and it’s looking like that very well may be the case after spending some hands-on time with the game.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set to launch on February 12, 2027, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
