The 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Tomb Raider series has produced some of the most iconic games ever made, and its pop-cultural impact cannot be overstated. Lara Croft, more than almost any other character, has become a shorthand for the kind of grown-up appeal that gaming has grown into over the years, from her self-consciously "adult" incarnation to the reboot's more grounded take; and through it all, she's been a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:trailblazer for female representation in video games.
It makes sense, then, that fans would want more material to dive into - more stories, more perspectives, more Lara. T♍he Tomb Raider extended universe has given rise to several books based on the series, of all different kinds of genres and stories. But for the discerning fan, which Tomb Raider books are most worth your time?
8 🎶 The Tomb Raider Coloring Book ꦉ
Coloring books aren't just for children anymore - as many adults can tell you, diving into a coloring book for a while can be a great way to center yourself. The Tomb Raider Coloring Book, then, is a great way to take a breather after playing through one of the more intense sections of a Tomb Raider game.
The book also doubles as a tribute to the vibrant fandom around the franchise; it features several different artists with varying styles, including multiple illustrations submitted by fans. It's a great way to see just how many ways you can interpret a beloved character like Lara Croft.
7 Lara C💎roft And The Blade Of Gwynnever
Though it's one of the more recent novels in the Tomb Raider franchise, Lara Croft And The Blade of Gwynnever is more of a throwback to the classic games. It focuses less on Lara's origin story and the trauma she carries with her, and more on her adventuring and kicking historical butt.
As such, if you're looking for psychological depth, this book probably isn't going to give you what you want. However, if you're interested in a straightforward, rollicking adventure complete with time-hopping supernatural shenanigans, it'll be right up your alley.
6 ꦺ Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals
Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals is written by the same author as The Blade of Gwynnever, Dan Abnett. However, The Ten Thousand Immortals is written in the canon of the reboot games - bridging the gap between 2013's Tomb Raider and its sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider.
It's much more interested in depicting Lara's psyche as she processes her post-traumatic stress from the events of the first game. The Ten Thousand Immortals does a great job of expanding Lara's character, showing the rugged adventurer in a newer, more human light.
5 🌼 Tomb Raider: The Official Cookbook And Travel Guide
One of the strongest assets of the Tomb Raider franchise is its sense of place; Lara's adventures take her all over the world, and the games double as both an action-packed blast of fun and a sort of virtual vacation.
So it makes sense that Tomb Raider: The Official Cookbook and Travel Guide would join the ranks of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:cookbooks based on video games, letting you learn more about the cultures that Lara encounters through the medium of food. If you're interested in good food, or even just learning more about the real-world locations that inspired the games, this cookbook is a great place to start.
4 🅷Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Movie novelizations don't always have the best reputation, but Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a surprisingly good read. For one thing, the movie is actually one of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:best video game-to-screen adaptations and played a big part in solidifying Lara's icon status.
For another, while the movie doesn't work very hard to align itself with the games' continuity, the book actually does call back to events in the original Tomb Raider games, bringing both in line with each other. It's clear that a lot of thought was put into this book.
3 ✤ 20 Years Of Tomb Raider: Digging Up The Past, Defining The Future 🅷
Published for the series' 20th anniversary in 2016, 20 Years of Tomb Raider is a must-read for any fan of the series. The book is written by Meagan Marie, a longtime fan who worked at Crystal Dynamics for many years. As a result, 20 Years of Tomb Raider is packed with detail, featuring interviews with series staff and insights into every aspect of the series.
It also includes gorgeous archival artwork, including promotional materials, concept art, and more. Since even iconic locations like Croft Manor have 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:changed drastically over the years, it's amazing to have a resource showing how those changes came about to make Tomb Raider a gaming touchstone.
2 🎃 Tomb Raider Archives
Given the pulpy adventure stories that inspired the series, it's natural that Lara's adventures would be adapted into comics; after all, visual media is perfect for depicting heart-pounding action, and Lara's stamina is nothing less than superhuman. But the comics based on the original games were out of print for several years, and worse, the books that were available were in fragile paperback form.
But in 2016 the Tomb Raider Archives entered publication. These volumes compile those first comics into glossy hardcovers, showcasing their gorgeous art better than ever before. They even include the old cover illustrations for each comics' installment, a nifty inclusion for fans who read the original run.
1 The M🌳a🌠king Of Tomb Raider
While every other book on this list is an officially sanctioned publication, Daryl Baxter's The Making Of Tomb Raider is an unofficial look into the development of the original Tomb Raider games. But that's not a bad thing.
Baxter fills the book with in-depth interviews with the creative team, allowing for an uncommon level of insight not just into those iconic games, but into the headspace of the developers and the landscape of game development at the beginning of the 3D revolution. As Tomb Raider developer 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Gavin Rummery can tell you, it's a fascinating story that you can't get from any of the official books.