Tomb Raider Underworld Xbox Series X

[Amilcar Labrosse]

May2024's very first Xbox Game Pass update has brought Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition to the service more than 10 years after it launched on Xbox One, however, don't let the game's age put you off trying it out. This Tomb Raider reboot may have originated as an Xbox 360 game way back in 2013, but it's easily the best modern Tomb Raider game in my opinion, and it's up there with the best this franchise has to offer.

After developer Crystal Dynamics had gotten to grips with the series during the early days of Xbox 360, it decided a big change was needed following the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld. The team went the full reboot route once again, opting for an origin story that took Lara back to her roots - and it really worked.

Sure, there's been lots of debate in recent years about the balance between combat and exploration in the newer Tomb Raider titles, but I think the 2013 reboot got things just about right. I could have taken a little less gung-ho fighting, sure, but the game's grounded location with the island of Yamatai really helped it feel like you were exploring an actual place - and you weren't being fed overly-designed corridor levels filled with waves of enemies for 15 hours.

In fact, this is one of the only 'open world' games that I've actually enjoyed exploring to its fullest in recent memory; finishing all of the little side quests and collectible hunts scattered around the island. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition isn't fully open world as such, but it has lots of interconnected open areas where you can backtrack at your leisure, and this hybrid structure made the game and its map feel nice and manageable throughout the whole experience.

As for the game's actual tombs, I quite enjoyed the fact that they were optional and felt naturally integrated into the game's environment. I know, I know - it's a bit silly for a game called 'Tomb Raider' to have its tombs as an optional mechanic, but the fact that I was still desperate to go ahead and explore them every time that neat little wind chime tickled my ears says everything you need to know. Plus, this particular game is supposed to be set before Lara Croft became an actual 'tomb raider', so, you know, just putting that out there.

The game's storyline is probably Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's weakest point - but let's be honest, story has hardly been a series high-point since Tomb Raider began beaming its way into our living rooms back in 1996. These games are all about selling that fantasy of being a badass gal exploring ancient civilisations, solving intriguing riddles and taking out plenty of baddies - and this Tomb Raider title delivers on all of that. If you've never jumped into this game and you like your third-person action-adventures, you really have no more excuses now that Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is playable on Xbox Game Pass.

Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin' in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he's not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that's far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.

The best one is Rise of the Tomb Raider, especially the 20 Year Celebration edition, because it has a combination of action and old-style tombs and some very cool DLC included. The 2013 game is basically killing enemies.

I wonder if people think its the 'best' because it was the first of the rebooted games and was quite different to its predecessors as we got a young Lara that had much more character depth and development as well as a change in its Game-play loop.

The Subsequent games built on that but maybe didn't feel quite as fresh/new as a result. Personally I really enjoyed the Trilogy of games and ALL the DLC. The first also tried to do a MP mode that I thought was really mediocre.

This trilogy in general is amazing. Played them when they first came out on PS then again when they dropped updates on XB. If my catalog wasn't so deep id jump back in. But finally jumped into Jedi Survivor

The first game of the trilogy is definitely the best when it comes to the story and overall pace. Rise was quite decent but it didn't have the emotional impact that I was looking for. Shadow was okay I guess, interesting premise but it felt rushed and didn't have a satisfying conclusion. Overall they are a must play.

The first one was great but Rise was my favourite. The 20 year update was huge as well, so much added content. I spent a lot of time in the survival mode. I liked Shadow, it's a good game, but felt it was the weakest of the trilogy.

@BAMozzy I am now replaying for the "n" time Rise and the reason for me that the first entry is the best is because it has almost no open world. You are directed to an area and that is it (unless you want to get all items). With each new game the amount of side quests and collectables increased.

the first one is goated , it came out back when i was 16 and the intensity of it all blew me away and had me hooked , the deaths were something else too. & the multiplayer was actually decent. just another testament to how legendary the 360 era is

As a PS5 main, I actually prefer the first 2 of the Tomb Raider reboots to Uncharted, in terms of gameplay at least. Where Uncharted shines is the characters dialogue and interactions, it really is spot on. Tomb Raider though, particularly 'Rise', is much better in gameplay terms. Not as keen on Shadow though

@Swirly I completely agree. Voice acting and storytelling are more cinematic in the Uncharted games, but camera and everything concerning gameplay are better in the Tomb Raider games. I also agree that Rise of the Tomb Raider is the strongest entry and Shadow of the Tomb Raider the weakest.

Such a great trilogy of games! I recently played through all 3 on my Steam Deck OLED and had a blast, especially using gyro to aim and look around made it much more of an enjoyable experience to me over the Playstation & Xbox versions years ago.

I remember playing this on PC when it first came out and then a few years later on PS4. I really enjoyed this game. I never played the other 2 in the series so I can't say if this is the best but again I enjoyed it.

Lara Croft has been a Feminist Icon since game 1. Just because Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and the other studios have made many mistakes doesn't take away from how groundbreaking she was in her first game.

I replayed this one just recently, it's definitely my favourite of the three. I think the setting was the best, the mystical island meant it could include all sorts of different environments from sandy beaches to forests to snowy mountains as well things like ancient tombs and rusty science labs. Borrowing elements from Lost and The Descent was great too.

The sequels were OK, but I found there was too much back tracking and I didn't think the addition of crafting was an improvement. I preferred looting bodies for used arrows instead of holding a button down to magically make more. I didn't think the story or the characters were as good in the sequels either. Oh well, it will be interesting to see what the next reboot brings.

I recently played the whole Survivor Trilogy. All three games are awesome! They are very entertaining games with story driven cinematic gameplay. It was a real pleasure to have this kind of immersive and scripted gameplay with Lara having to climb and jump while the whole world is getting destroyed around her.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is the eighth pillar installment of the Tomb Raider series. The story continues from the events in Tomb Raider: Legend as a direct sequel, but also addresses unexplained plot elements by association with Tomb Raider: Anniversary; the 2007 remake of the original Tomb Raider (1996). The three games are subsequently merged into the renowned stand-alone Tomb Raider Trilogy of the late 2000s, by the series' second continuation developer Crystal Dynamics. Underworld is the third game in the series to be developed by Crystal Dynamics and is also the first Tomb Raider game to be released on the PlayStation 3.

Underworld is an action-adventure video game with different versions developed by Crystal Dynamics, Buzz Monkey Software, and Santa Cruz Games, all published by Eidos Interactive. Crystal Dynamics developed the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions, which were released in November 2008. Santa Cruz Games developed the Nintendo DS version, which was also released in November 2008. The Wii and PlayStation 2 versions were developed by Buzz Monkey Software, although the PS2 version saw a January 2009 release in Europe and March 2009 in North America. Eidos released two new chapters of Tomb Raider: Underworld, Beneath the Ashes and Lara's Shadow, developed by Crystal Dynamics, as exclusive downloadable content for the Xbox 360 on the Xbox Live Marketplace in February and March 2009 respectively.

Underworld received mostly positive reviews for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions. Critics praised the environments, Lara's motion captured movements, story, puzzles, exploration, graphics and the less linear style of gameplay, although some aimed at its "haywire" camera angles and "dodgy" combat system. The PS2 and Wii versions received mostly negative reviews. Most cited them as having poor graphics, being oversimplified and "dumbed" down, and being full of bugs.

As of 27 February 2009, the game has sold 2.6 million copies worldwide. On 25 May 2009 it was announced Tomb Raider: Underworld would be re-released as part of the Xbox Classics and Platinum Range lines for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively.

The interactive cut scenes from previous titles were replaced with "adrenaline moments". Instead of specific button presses, time slows down and gives the player a chance to get out of harm's way while retaining complete control of Lara.

Tomb Raider: Underworld begins with Lara Croft in the halls of her own mansion home when an explosion suddenly sets the whole building ablaze. Making her way to the front door, Lara is surprisingly fired upon by one of her closest friends, Zip. The game then rewinds back in time to a week before the explosion, just after the events of Tomb Raider Legend. Lara is searching for Avalon, the mythical resting place of King Arthur, hoping it will lead her to an explanation for the disappearance of her long lost mother. Underneath the Mediterranean Sea Lara discovers an ancient temple designating itself as "Niflheim", one of the many Norse underworlds. Deep within, she discovers one of Thor's gauntlets. Most of the gauntlet crumbles to dust when she touches it, except for a small stone on the wrist that glows with an eerie blue light. Some mercenaries arrive and knock Lara out. When she comes to, the lead mercenary detonates a bomb that seals Lara in the gauntlet chamber, while remarking that "Amanda Evert sends her regards."

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