Lara Croft: 25 years of Tomb Raider also a British gaming icon

One of gaming's most famous icons, Lara Croft, has just turned 25.

Independent, strong, and fearless, Lara Croft forges an unforgettable journey through '90s gaming - making the jump from niche hero to pop culture superstar and making her one of the most acclaimed characters of all time.

In the 2 and a half decades since we've known her, Lara has changed a lot, both physically and emotionally. But no matter what you think of her incredible physique in her early days, Lara has become an enduring British gaming icon that looks set to stay here.

"It's ironic because of the jump because we don't see a lot of female characters in video games," said Dallas Dickinson, who works for Crystal Dynamics as executive producer on the Tomb Raider franchise. With Angelina Jolie in the lead, the original film brought Lara into the public eye. But Dallas believes the series' recent attempts to create an "origin story" for Croft made it more accessible to many.

The franchise's final three games - Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, published in 2013, 2015, and 2018 - explore the adventures of a younger and less experienced Lara.

"What he did with the 2013 Tomb Raider game made sense," said Dallas. "We only realized it then. "The superhero version may not be accessible to some, and because it's getting more real - with consistency at its core - I think it appeals to a whole new generation of gamers."

Initially developed by Core Design and published by Eidos, the original game released in the 1990s made Lara Croft famous worldwide. In 25 years, the game Tomb Raider alone has sold more than 85 million times worldwide.