Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Games & Tech

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider is a media franchise that began with an action-adventure video game series created by British developer Core Design in 1996.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Tomb Raider is a media franchise that began with a 1996 video game. It follows British archaeologist Lara Croft on dangerous artefact hunts.

What it is

Tomb Raider is an action-adventure franchise centred on Lara Croft, a fictional British archaeologist. The series is known for its combination of exploration, environmental puzzles, and combat in perilous settings like ancient tombs and ruins.

Key details

The franchise originated with Core Design in 1996 and was originally owned by Eidos Interactive. Ownership later passed to Square Enix Europe and then to Embracer Group in 2022, with CDE Entertainment now operating the series. A major reboot occurred in 2013 with the Survivor trilogy.

Why it matters

Tomb Raider has expanded beyond games into films, comics, novels, and other media, making Lara Croft a major video game icon. The 2001 film *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* was an international co-production that included Canada, giving the franchise a Canadian connection.

In short

  • Launched in 1996 by Core Design.
  • Centres on archaeologist Lara Croft.
  • Gameplay mixes exploration, puzzles, and combat.
  • Expanded into films, comics, and novels.
Canadian angle

Tomb Raider has had Canadian involvement through at least one film adaptation: the 2001 feature *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* was an international co-production that included Canada.

Quick questions

What is Tomb Raider?
Tomb Raider is a media franchise that began as a video game series and centres on Lara Croft, a British archaeologist and adventurer.
Who created Tomb Raider?
The franchise originated with British developer Core Design.
Who is Lara Croft?
Lara Croft is the fictional main character of Tomb Raider and the series’ central protagonist.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_Raider
    Supports: Franchise origin, ownership history, main character, and media expansion.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_Raider_(1996_video_game)
    Supports: 1996 debut game, developer/publisher, and gameplay premise.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Croft
    Supports: Lara Croft as the franchise’s protagonist and character description.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Croft:_Tomb_Raider
    Supports: Canadian involvement in the 2001 film adaptation.