Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered: Lara Croft’s Adventures Return with Modern Enhancements

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered marks the triumphant return of Lara Croft’s most controversial and atmospheric adventures, bringing these classic action-adventure games to modern platforms with substantial visual upgrades and quality-of-life improvements. Released on February 14, 2025, this comprehensive collection follows the successful launch of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered in 2024, completing Aspyr Media’s restoration of Core Design’s original Tomb Raider saga.

The compilation includes three distinct chapters in Lara’s journey: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), where players explore the crypts and pyramids of ancient Egypt while battling a vengeful deity; Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000), which presents Lara’s presumed posthumous adventures through a series of flashbacks spanning diverse locations including Rome, Russia, and Ireland; and the notoriously divisive Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003), a darker, stealth-focused entry that pushed the series in a controversial new direction. Available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, this remastered collection showcases Aspyr’s commitment to preserving gaming history while enhancing the experience for contemporary audiences through 4K resolution visuals, 60 frames-per-second performance, modernized control options, and a host of new features designed to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

The Evolution of a Gaming Icon

The Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered collection represents a fascinating period in the franchise’s history, capturing Core Design’s attempts to evolve the series beyond its initial formula. Following the enormous success of the first three Tomb Raider games, these subsequent entries reflect both the studio’s creative ambitions and the growing fatigue that eventually led to the franchise’s temporary decline. Development of this remastered collection began after the positive reception to Tomb Raider I–III Remastered, with Aspyr taking player feedback into account to refine their approach to these technically and artistically distinct titles.

The development team faced unique challenges when remastering these particular games, as they feature a darker, more story-driven tone than their predecessors. According to Matthew Ray, Aspyr’s brand manager, the team took a “unique approach” to the atmospheric graphical updates, aiming to enhance the visuals while preserving the established art direction that gave these games their distinctive character. This careful balance has resulted in a collection that honors the original experiences while making them more accessible to modern players.

What’s Included in the Collection?

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

Set primarily in Egypt, The Last Revelation represents a significant shift in the series’ approach to level design and storytelling. The game opens with a flashback featuring a teenage Lara Croft training under her mentor Werner Von Croy in Cambodia, before transitioning to Egypt where Lara accidentally unleashes the Egyptian god Set upon the world. Unlike previous entries that featured globe-trotting adventures across disparate locations, The Last Revelation focuses almost exclusively on Egypt, creating a more cohesive and intricate world to explore.

The concentrated Egyptian setting provides some of the series’ most memorable tomb environments, with detailed hieroglyphs and atmospheric ancient structures that benefit significantly from the remaster’s visual enhancements. The game also introduced a more interconnected hub-based structure, moving away from the strictly linear progression of earlier titles and allowing for more complex puzzle designs that span multiple areas.

Tomb Raider: Chronicles

Following the dramatic conclusion of The Last Revelation, Chronicles presents a unique narrative structure where Lara is presumed dead and her closest friends gather to reminisce about her untold adventures. This framing device allows the game to explore four distinct episodes from Lara’s past, each with different gameplay styles and environments ranging from the streets of Rome to a high-tech New York skyscraper.

Chronicles is perhaps the most experimental of the three games in terms of gameplay variety. The Rome chapter offers traditional Tomb Raider platforming and puzzle-solving, while other sections introduce stealth mechanics, underwater exploration, and even a segment where a young Lara must navigate challenges without access to weapons. This variety makes Chronicles an interesting, if somewhat disjointed, entry in the series that showcases Core Design’s attempts to diversify the Tomb Raider formula.

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

The most controversial entry in the original Tomb Raider series, The Angel of Darkness represented Core Design’s ambitious attempt to reinvent the franchise for the PlayStation 2 era. Set in Paris and Prague, the game follows Lara Croft as she becomes a fugitive accused of murder while investigating a sinister conspiracy involving alchemy and ancient artifacts.

The Angel of Darkness introduced RPG-like elements including dialogue choices, a strength progression system, and stealth mechanics that significantly departed from the established Tomb Raider formula. The remastered version includes restored content that was cut from the original release, including additional weapons for the second playable character Kurtis Trent and a restored item vendor named Ren’s pawn shop. While the original game was heavily criticized for its unfinished state and control issues, the remaster aims to present the definitive version of this misunderstood title.

Remastered Features and Enhancements

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered brings numerous technical and quality-of-life improvements to these classic games, making them more enjoyable on modern hardware while preserving their core experiences. The most immediately noticeable enhancement is the visual upgrade, with all three games now supporting 4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second performance when using the modern graphics setting.

One of the collection’s standout features is the ability to toggle between classic and modern graphics at any time with the press of a button, allowing players to appreciate the extensive visual improvements while still being able to experience the games as they originally appeared. Unlike the previous collection, the classic graphics mode now also supports an improved frame rate, addressing feedback from fans of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.

The control scheme has also received significant attention, with players able to choose between the original “tank” controls that defined the classic Tomb Raider experience and a modernized control scheme designed to feel more intuitive to contemporary players. Additional gameplay improvements include the ability to save anywhere, boss health bars that can be toggled on or off, and an expanded photo mode with new depth of field and camera angle options.

For completionists, the collection includes 168 achievements to unlock across all three games, providing additional challenges beyond the main storylines. The remastered collection also includes the rare “Times Exclusive” promotional level for The Last Revelation, making this truly the definitive way to experience these games.

Visual and Technical Performance

The visual enhancements in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered are impressive, particularly in how they maintain the atmosphere of the original games while adding significant detail and clarity. Character models have been completely reworked with improved animations, including more expressive eye movements and the iconic ponytail physics that add life to Lara’s movements. Environmental textures have been updated with high-resolution replacements that add detail without compromising the original artistic direction.

One of the most notable improvements is in the lighting system, which has been carefully redesigned to enhance the moody atmosphere of these darker Tomb Raider entries. The skyboxes have also received particular attention, with completely redesigned skies that dramatically improve outdoor environments, especially in The Last Revelation’s Egyptian settings.

On modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the games maintain a steady 60fps performance when using the enhanced visuals, though frame rates may vary on the Nintendo Switch version depending on the complexity of the scene. The toggle between classic and modern visuals is seamless, allowing players to instantly appreciate the extent of the visual upgrades without interrupting gameplay.

The Gameplay Experience

Despite the visual and technical enhancements, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered remains faithful to the core gameplay that defined these entries, for better or worse. The Last Revelation delivers the most traditional Tomb Raider experience of the three, focusing on intricate puzzle-solving, platforming challenges, and occasional combat encounters throughout its Egyptian tombs and temples. Its level design represents some of the series’ most complex and rewarding puzzle environments, creating satisfying “aha” moments when solutions finally click into place.

Chronicles offers the most varied gameplay of the collection, with each of its four episodes presenting distinct challenges and mechanics. The Rome chapter focuses on traditional exploration and puzzle-solving, while the Russia segment introduces tense underwater sequences in a sunken submarine. The Ireland chapter forces players to navigate without weapons, and the New York segment introduces primitive stealth mechanics inspired by Metal Gear Solid that feel ambitious if somewhat underdeveloped.

The Angel of Darkness remains the most divisive gameplay experience, with its attempts to incorporate RPG elements and stealth mechanics sitting somewhat awkwardly alongside traditional Tomb Raider platforming. The remastered version maintains the original’s controversial stamina meter, which can lead to frustrating moments when Lara loses her grip during climbing sequences. However, the improved controls and restored content help present the game in its most playable state yet, potentially allowing players to better appreciate its ambitious narrative and atmospheric world design.

Critical Reception

The reception to Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered has been mixed, reflecting both the varied quality of the original games and the effectiveness of the remastering effort. Review aggregator Metacritic lists scores of 72/100 for the PC version and a less favorable 55/100 for the Xbox Series X/S release, while OpenCritic reports that only 50% of critics recommend the collection.

Critics generally praise the visual enhancements and quality-of-life improvements, with publications like Eurogamer awarding the collection 4 out of 5 stars and calling Aspyr’s restoration project “fascinating”. The photo mode and toggle between classic and modern graphics receive particular commendation, as does the value proposition of getting three substantial games at an attractive price point.

However, many reviews note that these improvements can’t fully overcome the inherent design limitations of the original games, particularly for The Angel of Darkness. The controls, while improved, still feel cumbersome to many modern players, with some reviewers reporting frustration with the sluggish response to inputs even when using the modern control scheme. Most critics agree that The Last Revelation is the strongest of the three games, with Chronicles feeling somewhat disjointed and The Angel of Darkness remaining problematic despite the restoration efforts.

Is It Worth Your Time?

For longtime Tomb Raider fans, this collection represents an essential preservation of gaming history, offering the definitive way to experience these formative entries in Lara Croft’s journey. The visual enhancements and quality-of-life improvements make these games more approachable than ever, while the option to switch to classic graphics allows purists to experience them as originally intended.

Newcomers to classic Tomb Raider may find the learning curve steeper than with modern action-adventure games, as even with the modernized controls, these titles retain design philosophies from a different era of gaming. The limited guidance, precise platforming requirements, and occasional obtuse puzzles can be frustrating for those accustomed to more streamlined contemporary experiences. However, patient players will discover rewarding challenges and atmospheric adventures that showcase why Tomb Raider became such an influential franchise.

At its budget-friendly price point, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered offers substantial value, with three complete games that collectively provide dozens of hours of gameplay. While the quality varies between entries, the collection successfully preserves an important chapter in gaming history while making it more accessible to modern audiences.

Where to Get Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered?

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered is widely available across all major gaming platforms, giving fans multiple options to experience Lara Croft’s remastered adventures. The collection can be purchased digitally through the PlayStation Store for PS4 and PS5, Microsoft Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo eShop for Switch, and Steam or Epic Games Store for PC players. Physical editions are also available at major retailers including GameStop, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart, though availability may vary by region. The standard edition typically retails for $29.99/£24.99/€29.99, offering excellent value for three complete games with all their enhancements. For collectors, a limited Deluxe Edition featuring exclusive artwork, a digital soundtrack, and developer commentary can be found through select retailers and publisher Aspyr’s official website. Players who already own Tomb Raider I-III Remastered can take advantage of a bundle discount when purchasing through digital storefronts, making it more affordable to complete their collection of Classic Tomb Raider adventures. Additionally, the game is included in subscription services like PlayStation Plus Extra and Game Pass Ultimate, allowing subscribers to access the collection without an additional purchase.