Lara Croft GO
- December 4, 2016
- Square Enix Montréal
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Play Store"Lara Croft GO" is a turn-based puzzle game that follows the iconic character Lara Croft on her adventure through ancient ruins. Players must navigate intricate levels, solve puzzles, and outsmart enemies to progress. With stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack, this game requires strategy and quick thinking to uncover the mysteries within.
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Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and sound design that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Challenging puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
- No intrusive ads or pay-to-win mechanics, making for a fair and enjoyable gaming experience.
- The game can crash or freeze at certain levels, causing frustration and loss of progress.
- Some players find the controls to be unresponsive or awkward, particularly the swipe mechanics.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content after completing it.
- graphics1,238 mentions
- 79 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful, stylized visuals and clean design that evoke nostalgia for classic Tomb Raider aesthetics. However, some users noted a downgrade from previous titles, criticizing the shift to a more common low-poly style and expressing disappointment in certain graphical elements. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing and well-suited for mobile gameplay, there are calls for improvements and optimizations, particularly on lower-end devices.
“The graphics are stunning and the soundtrack perfectly captures the mood.”
“Beautiful graphics, sound effects, and music create an immersive experience.”
“Gorgeous graphics, great gameplay, and outstanding music.”
“It's a downgrade, because it's always the same thing from first to last level. The graphic design is now this common low-fi poly style instead of the unique diorama aesthetic from Hitman Go.”
“Sadly it has graphical problems on Pixel C and stalls frequently.”
“The graphics are nothing to get excited over, but the animations are good and the puzzles are fun.”
- gameplay573 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has been widely praised for its engaging and intuitive mechanics, reminiscent of classic Tomb Raider elements while incorporating innovative puzzle-solving features. Players appreciate the smooth progression, well-designed levels, and the gradual introduction of new mechanics that keep the experience fresh and challenging. However, some users noted issues with control responsiveness and a desire for more variety in gameplay, as well as concerns about the game's length and replayability. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, immersive sound design, and satisfying puzzles contributes to a compelling mobile gaming experience.
“The sound effects from the world and Lara, the art, the animations, the music, the relics, the puzzles, and the gameplay are beautiful, immersive, and very reminiscent of the classic games which I absolutely love.”
“The gameplay is fun and enjoyable with the diverse puzzles, the art style is just visually pleasing, along with the perfectly fitting sound design.”
“The gameplay is easy to pick up and there are a fair amount of things to unlock and discover.”
“The controls are way too annoying and the gameplay feels quite cheap and repetitive. There is no tutorial to even explain that there are hidden pots and that you have to slide your finger to move or to say that you have to look out for pots to break by tapping on them, even though you can't get close to them. The controls are so hard that my thumb hurts from playing this for 10 minutes. Credit due though, the atmosphere is great.”
“My main gripe is actually from the beginning of the game, where there are no in-game messages/tutorials about new mechanics such as crumbled spaces or enemies.”
“It's an okay game; I didn't bring myself to finish it as the gameplay is repetitive and not very attractive.”
- music337 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and soothing qualities, effectively enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgic elements that echo classic Tomb Raider soundtracks, while others highlight the calming ambiance that complements the game's visuals and puzzles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and enjoyable nature.
“The soundtrack is really comforting and the visuals are very appealing to the eyes too.”
“The music is perfect for the setting and soothing.”
“The music is a beautiful blend of ambience, relaxation, and adventure in the same level as Monument Valley.”
“Good experience ruined by horrendous background music.”
“What really is annoying though is that it disables any music app even if you turn off sounds in the game settings.”
“The music/sound effects are a little dated.”
- atmosphere129 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining beautiful graphics, captivating sound design, and a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke the classic Tomb Raider feel, creating a unique and enchanting ambiance that complements the challenging puzzles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and engaging for players.
“The atmosphere is really immersive with headphones.”
“Everything about it--from the cleverly designed puzzles, to the stylized graphics, to the atmospheric soundtrack--is perfect!”
“Amazing game with a calm atmosphere mixed with great visuals and puzzles and an incredible soundtrack.”
“Just lacks the gameplay and the atmosphere of Tomb Raider 1.”
“Compared to Hitman Go, the puzzles don't provide a real challenge but the atmosphere makes up for it.”
“It's not usually quite as challenging as its predecessor, but the atmosphere and exploration aspects of this make it feel like a very unique game that recreates the Tomb Raider experience very faithfully.”
- story121 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally praised for its creativity and integration with gameplay, featuring engaging themes and visuals that enhance the experience. However, many players feel that the narrative is lacking depth, with some expressing a desire for more cutscenes or detailed storytelling to accompany the puzzles. While the overall storyline is enjoyable and immersive, several reviews note that it can feel short or incomplete, leaving players wanting more content and narrative development.
“The storytelling via visuals is really good, the mechanics are added world by world and feel very well designed, and it's easy to pick up and play.”
“Amazing adventure game with simple controls, great storyline, nice graphics, and immersive sounds.”
“The story really draws you in.”
“There are no hints, just an option for you to buy all the solutions for $3 (not that you need them); there is not even a story to follow.”
“Genious, only problem is that there is no story, so at a certain point it gets boring just solving puzzle after puzzle.”
“Not giving it 5 stars because it lacks storytelling; also, the relic collection part is a little boring and it forces you to go through some puzzles over and over again, breaking the flow of the game in the meantime.”
- monetization85 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is largely praised for its absence of intrusive ads and mandatory microtransactions, with most users appreciating the upfront payment structure. While there are optional in-app purchases for cosmetic items and puzzle solutions, they are deemed non-essential for gameplay, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend more. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing departure from the typical free-to-play model that often relies on aggressive monetization tactics.
“No ads to annoy, no timer to pressure, no added stress, just fun strategy play.”
“With zero ads nor any in-game purchases, the price is a steal!!”
“Best of all, no freemium and monetization.”
“Charging for a game then charging for in-app purchases is dishonest and unfair.”
“The outfits are unnecessary and require an in-game purchase, which costs as much as the game itself, to unlock.”
“Cons: is a bit overpriced, there are in-app purchases that solve the puzzles for you which ruins the point of the game, it doesn't have great replay value once you have finished it.”
- replayability50 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of finding collectibles and unlocking skins, many feel that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to replay. The presence of collectibles and potential for new content can enhance replay value, but the game's relatively short length and lack of varied challenges limit its long-term appeal. Players who enjoy completionist elements may find enough to return for, but others may feel satisfied after a single playthrough.
“I wish it was a little longer, but there's some good replay value in finding all the artifacts that you missed on the first playthrough.”
“Its amazingly optimized, the puzzles have scaled up rather well so far, always adding new mechanics to keep it fresh, and the jars add a ton of replayability.”
“This game has a lot of replayability; I've completed the game twice.”
“Not much replay value once solved though.”
“The only 'problem' I've thought of is the lack of 'replayability'. I'm glad to know that new adventures are being added, but once you finish them, it's pretty much over. The collectibles system does not make it any replayable.”
“The replay value is limited unless you are a collector searching for the missing pieces to your collected artifacts, but I imagine new chapters will be coming out as they did for Hitman.”
- stability39 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 72 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent freezes during loading screens, particularly at specific levels, which significantly hampers gameplay. While some players have experienced smooth performance without glitches, others have noted that recent updates have introduced new bugs and stability issues, including crashes and device restarts. Overall, while the game is praised for its engaging content, the stability problems detract from the overall experience for a significant number of players.
“Really well made game, quite hard, no glitches so far. I love the fact that you just pay upfront and play with no ads; I wish more games were like that.”
“Runs great, loads quickly, and is simple fun.”
“No issues, no glitches.”
“The game is great but it freezes on the loading screen of level 10 in the second book (Maze of Stones). I restarted the game and my phone countless times, and still nothing.”
“Game started great, but it freezes while loading level 3-10, then can't be played.”
“The game freezes every time on the load screen for level 10 of the stone maze. I would really like a fix as I was loving the game until then.”
- optimization34 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and impressive graphics on various devices, particularly on newer models. However, some players experience performance issues, including stuttering and lag on older or lower-spec phones, indicating a need for further optimization, especially for those with less powerful hardware. Overall, while the game is well-optimized for many, there are notable exceptions that could benefit from improvements.
“It's amazingly optimized; the puzzles have scaled up rather well so far, always adding new mechanics to keep it fresh, and the jars add a ton of replayability.”
“The game's overall performance is remarkable.”
“The graphic itself is greatly optimized; I managed to get 60 fps without any stutter.”
“This game is very good, but it will need some battery-draining optimization.”
“Fps is stuttering even on low settings for Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime.”
“There is a frame rate issue causing stuttering and lag.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its lightheartedness and comedic elements, particularly in relation to iconic character Lara Croft. However, some users find the humor overshadowed by frustrations, such as unexpected prompts and monetization tactics, which they describe as amusingly frustrating. Overall, the game is characterized as easy, funny, and visually appealing, making it a relaxing experience for many players.
“It's funny to live this story with an iconic character from the world of video games, Lara Croft.”
“Very funny, beautiful, and the Tomb Raider spirit is there.”
“Very funny and it's a great way to kill time.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the engaging puzzles and lack of intrusive mechanics, many criticize the repetitive swiping and tedious tasks, such as restarting levels or searching for hidden items. The game is praised for its visuals and solid controls, but the movement and certain objectives can feel monotonous over time.
“The progression of the game integrates new mechanics very transparently, not tedious at all.”
“No annoying in-app purchases, simple and solid controls that work as the bedrock for fun, interesting puzzles, gorgeous visuals that work within the constraints of mobile chipsets, and most importantly to me, no grinding for hours on end and waiting for dozens of timers.”
“Fun for a bit, but gets tedious once one wrong step means you have to restart the whole level.”
“Zzzzzzzzzzzz this is the slowest, most tedious game.”
“Great graphics and puzzles, my only problem is the movement gets rather tedious constantly swiping.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong sense of nostalgia and emotional connection to the game, reminiscent of classic Lara Croft titles. The game successfully evokes excitement through its adventurous narrative, marking it as a standout experience in mobile gaming.
“This game made me feel nostalgic for the Lara Croft games I've played in the past.”
“The first mobile game I've ever played that made me feel the excitement of adventure and story.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game excels in sound, graphics, and puzzle design reminiscent of classic titles, it lacks a strong focus on character development, prioritizing gameplay mechanics over narrative depth.
“The sound is good, graphics are good, and the puzzles remind me of the older games where the focus was on puzzles and exploration, rather than action and character development.”
