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Lara Croft GO

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Lara Croft GO Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
replayability, grinding
91% User Score Based on 1,788 reviews
Critic Score 81%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

AndroidPlaystation 5Windows PhonePlaystation 4Steam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationPlaystation VitaLinuxPCTabletMac OSPhoneiPadMobile Platform
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Lara Croft GO Game Cover

About

Lara Croft GO is a single player turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Square Enix Montréal and was released on December 4, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"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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Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
Lara Croft GO screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,788 reviews
gameplay115 positive mentions
replayability11 negative mentions
  • Engaging and clever puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge.
  • Beautiful minimalist art style and soothing soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • The hint system is helpful for players who get stuck, allowing them to progress without frustration.
  • Controls are awkward, as the game relies on mouse dragging to move Lara, which can lead to misinputs.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-10 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • Lack of a compelling story or character development, making it feel more like a puzzle game with a Tomb Raider skin rather than a true Tomb Raider experience.
  • gameplay
    404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Lara Croft Go" is characterized by its turn-based puzzle mechanics, where players navigate through various levels filled with obstacles and enemies while gradually learning new mechanics. The game effectively introduces these mechanics at a steady pace, ensuring that puzzles remain engaging and challenging without becoming overwhelming. While the gameplay is simple and accessible, it offers a satisfying depth that rewards strategic thinking, making it a delightful experience for puzzle enthusiasts, though it may not appeal to those seeking traditional action-oriented Tomb Raider gameplay.

    • “Instead of explosive action set-pieces and third-person shooting mechanics, this game leans into quiet, methodical gameplay, offering a thoughtful experience that strips Lara's world down to its essentials—exploration, danger, and clever problem-solving.”
    • “The puzzles are not very difficult, but each stage introduces new mechanics gradually, keeping the gameplay interesting and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is simple at first but steadily introduces new mechanics throughout the entire game, from beginning to end.”
    • “If you only like Tomb Raider for its gameplay, this is not the game for you; if you only like Tomb Raider for its story, this is definitely not the game for you.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious, be advised.”
    • “The controls are a little clunky owing to this being a mobile port -- everything is controlled via the mouse -- but aside from the occasional annoying misclick, this doesn’t do much to get in the way of the gameplay.”
  • graphics
    380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Lara Croft Go* are characterized by a charming low-poly aesthetic that effectively complements its puzzle gameplay, creating a visually appealing and immersive experience. Reviewers praise the clean, minimalist art style and smooth animations, which evoke nostalgia for the classic Tomb Raider series while maintaining a modern, indie feel. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and atmospheric, enhancing the game's relaxing and engaging nature.

    • “Lara Croft Go combines smart, satisfying puzzles with a clean art style and a calm, immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the puzzles are challenging enough to keep you engaged for hours on end.”
    • “The minimalist, almost ethereal art style adds a touch of elegance to the game, capturing the essence of exploration and wonder.”
    • “The graphics are not very good, but it is not really a problem with a game like this, and overall it is still an enjoyable game.”
    • “The graphics aren't as polished as Hitman Go is.”
    • “Let's be honest, it's a mobile port with minimalist graphics and replayability.”
  • music
    237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience without being distracting. Many players appreciate the ambient soundtrack, which complements the minimalist art style and provides a relaxing backdrop for puzzle-solving. While some reviewers noted a desire for more memorable melodies, the general consensus is that the music effectively contributes to the game's immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The music is subtle and ambient, enhancing the atmosphere without ever overwhelming the moment.”
    • “The soundtrack integrates nicely and doesn't drone on, even if you were to finish the campaign in one sitting.”
    • “The music creates an immersive and relaxing atmosphere, and the sounds are just enough to give you the right cues at the right times.”
    • “If I had to be critical of anything, I understand they wanted the soundtrack to be something simple and not all that distracting, but I would've appreciated something a bit more 'present' and not just ambiance (however this does make it the perfect game to just have on in the background).”
    • “The soundtrack features chill ambient tracks, with a strong emphasis on pads and textures, that sounds modern and fits the look and slow pace of the game though it lacks the memorable melodies the classic series got us used to.”
    • “It's a bit underwhelming in the presentation, doing just enough to be visually appealing but not doing anything too exciting with the music, or anything much with the story.”
  • story
    185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal and largely conveyed through visuals and level progression, with no dialogue or traditional narrative structure. While it features a simple, heartwarming adventure involving Lara Croft and her quest for artifacts, many players feel the story is insignificant compared to the puzzle gameplay, which is the main focus. Overall, the storytelling is subtle and atmospheric, but those seeking a rich narrative may find it lacking.

    • “The classic treasure hunt that the popular archaeologist pursues is cleverly made engaging thanks to proper use of short cutscenes and in-game environmental interactions and storytelling, which not only bring tension but genuinely make you want to keep playing, eager to see how the adventure will reach its conclusion.”
    • “Although there are no dialogues in the game, it still manages to narrate a complete story through its gameplay.”
    • “Its effective inferred story, quick pace, plenty of collectibles, and few cinematic moments make gameplay feel surprisingly adventurous.”
    • “If you only like Tomb Raider for its gameplay, this is not the game for you; if you only like Tomb Raider for its story, this is definitely not the game for you.”
    • “There is no dialogue or text at all, and as such pretty much no story or plot; this is just puzzles and vibes.”
    • “The lack of dialogue or voice acting makes the story of gathering artifacts feel small and unimportant.”
  • atmosphere
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Lara Croft Go" is widely praised for its immersive and calming qualities, enhanced by a minimalist art style and a soothing soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for the original Tomb Raider games. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a rich, atmospheric experience that complements its puzzle-solving mechanics, making exploration feel rewarding and engaging. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, ambient sound design, and a relaxing ambiance contributes to a captivating gaming experience.

    • “Lara Croft Go combines smart, satisfying puzzles with a clean art style and a calm, immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music creates an immersive and relaxing atmosphere, and the sounds are just enough to give you the right cues at the right times.”
    • “Lara Croft Go has done one of the best jobs of building atmosphere and creating immersion I've ever seen in a computer game, setting an excellent example that visual design is much more important than technical brute force in graphics.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like a short simple excursion.”
    • “The sound is just fine, adds to the atmosphere but nothing to write home about.”
    • “Not much of a story to the game, but the atmosphere is there that makes it a Tomb Raider classic game.”
  • replayability
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability across the game, with many players noting a lack of significant replay value due to linear gameplay and static puzzle solutions. While some mention hidden collectibles and challenges that can encourage a second playthrough, the consensus leans towards limited replayability, primarily appealing to those who enjoy collecting or completing achievements. Overall, the game offers some replay value, but it is often overshadowed by its linear design and predictable gameplay.

    • “Timeless and endlessly replayable, it’s a true gem.”
    • “Charming visuals, rewarding and challenging gameplay, and a lot of replayability make this a must-have purchase.”
    • “There's a steady stream of small challenges, and a surprising degree of replay value.”
    • “Which points out the lack of replayability.”
    • “The only downside to this game, in my opinion, is that there is no real replay value as the puzzles do not change on subsequent playthroughs.”
    • “Replay value is pretty non-existent; once you know how to get through, there is nothing new to be seen and it amounts to pixel hunting.”
  • optimization
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback. While it runs smoothly on older hardware and performs well on Linux, some users reported long loading times and occasional freezing or stuttering, particularly when using mouse controls instead of touch input. Despite these issues, many players noted that the game is well-optimized for its mobile origins, with no significant crashes or FPS drops.

    • “This game has charming visual design and music, an intuitive and responsive user interface, and runs smoothly on old hardware, and works perfectly on Linux.”
    • “By a game port that came from mobile, Lara Croft Go, although it is done in Unity engine, was well optimized; congratulations to the developers.”
    • “Optimization is actually a lot better than the Windows Store version, with actual full screen mode without the bugs.”
    • “The loading/reload times were a tad long and could have been optimized for the PC release.”
    • “With MSAA enabled, the game has a much higher impact on performance than it could (about ~4x higher GPU usage).”
    • “There's occasional freezing and stuttering; the cursor does some crazy jittering when you mark a hidden treasure.”
  • grinding
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing it as tedious and cumbersome, particularly due to the mouse-dragging mechanics and the need to restart levels after mistakes. While some appreciate the challenge and strategic elements, others feel that the repetitive nature of certain puzzles and the lack of keyboard support contribute to frustration. Despite these issues, a few players noted that the later, more challenging puzzles can redeem the experience, offering a sense of reward amidst the grind.

    • “So instead of a relaxing/casual game, which is fun, they made it a tedious and cumbersome game via a basic Android/iOS port, dragging the mouse around, or using a 'two-handed' controller, when a simple 'single finger' mouse click would have done the job.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious, be advised.”
    • “It gets incredibly frustrating and tedious having to restart the entire level whenever you make a single mistake.”
  • stability
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is inconsistent, with reports of smooth performance on the Steam Deck but significant bugs and glitches when using a PS5 controller on a monitor. Many players have experienced crashes and unresponsive achievements, with little support from developers. While some users report a stable experience with no issues, others highlight frequent freezing and visual glitches.

    • “Runs great, looks great.”
    • “No glitches, stuttering, or crashes.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, with no glitches at all.”
    • “Plays perfectly on Steam Deck with the Deck controls, but when docked to a monitor with a PS5 controller, it's a pretty buggy mess.”
    • “Also, for human relations, do check the forums: thousands of reports of glitches and crashes, little to no response by the developers or publisher.”
    • “As of December 2018, the achievements are buggy - many won't unlock and there is no support from the devs.”
  • humor
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it clever and entertaining, particularly in the context of its puzzles and unique concepts. While some feel it lacks replayability and isn't essential for die-hard fans of the franchise, many appreciate the game's lightheartedness and comedic elements, including amusing boss battles and nostalgic references. Overall, it offers a fun experience, especially for those who enjoy logical puzzle games with a humorous twist.

    • “And the concept is so clever and funny; if you like logical puzzle games with mind twists, I can only recommend!”
    • “Hilarious puzzle game.”
    • “Buut it's very funny; the puzzles really catch your attention, and a free chapter is coming!”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, describing it as a heartwarming adventure that evokes strong feelings, with some even expressing that it brought them to tears. The narrative and immersive environments resonate deeply, enhancing the overall experience as players navigate through cleverly designed levels reminiscent of classic Lara Croft tombs.

    • “The game consists of five main story books, each adding new mechanics as you progress. This heartwarming Lara Croft adventure should take around five hours to complete.”
    • “It definitely made me feel like I was wandering a cleverly made tomb, reminiscent of the adventures that Lara Croft would embark on.”
    • “It’ll replace your life; I cried a bit.”
    • “It'll replace your life; I cried a bit.”
    • “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me.”
    • “I expected a deeper connection, but the story fell flat emotionally.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, particularly in the PC version, which offers free hints and lacks microtransactions, unlike its mobile counterpart. While some users criticize mobile games as cash grabs, the absence of microtransactions and the promise of free expansions in the PC version have garnered appreciation. Overall, players prefer the monetization model of the PC version for its fairness and lack of intrusive purchases.

    • “You don't get the monetization aspect from the mobile versions here, which is nice.”
    • “No microtransactions and a free expansion coming; I have no complaints.”
    • “In those 90 minutes, I didn't even think about using a hint (at least they are free in the PC version; on the phone, they are microtransactions).”
    • “Glory projects gone awry, cheap mobile games, and the infernal franchise cash grab still populate the store shelves.”
    • “Dismissing Lara Croft: GO several times as some sort of shallow spinoff game using the Tomb Raider popularity, a cash grab at worst or lacking content at best, the Steam store was persistent to keep recommending this.”
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81%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews
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8h Median play time
7h Average play time
4h Main story
7h Completionist
6-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Lara Croft GO is a turn-based strategy game.

Lara Croft GO is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 4 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 7 hours to finish. On average players spend around 7 hours playing Lara Croft GO.

Lara Croft GO was released on December 4, 2016.

Lara Croft GO was developed by Square Enix Montréal.

Lara Croft GO has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Lara Croft GO is a single player game.

Similar games include Lara Croft GO, Path of Giants, Timelie, Hook, The Pedestrian and others.