Can you believe it’s been 23 years since Lara Croft made her debut in a little game called Tomb Raider? Over two decades later, this iconic heroine shows no real signs of slowing down and continues to entertain and inspire gamers, artists, writers, and cosplayers across the world. She may only play for sport but what a legacy she is leaving behind!
Many fans have noticed that the official Tomb Raider social media accounts didn’t acknowledge the game’s anniversary this year and while this was a little disappointing, I don’t want to devote too much time or energy criticising their decision here or theorising about why this anniversary was overlooked. Fans have kept the franchise alive during its darkest times and will continue to do as long as they feel a personal connection with its heroine and her many adventures, so let’s celebrate *that* instead.
Here’s just a small selection of the fan art, cosplay photos, birthday wishes, and other commemorative tweets that were posted on Twitter on Tomb Raider’s 23rd anniversary.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1187655209344012288π―ππππ π©πππππ ππ ππ "π»πππ πΉπππ ππ" πππ πππ ππππππππ πππ ππππππ πππππππππ ππ πππ ππππ "π³πππ πͺππππ" πππππππ! π
— ΛΛΛ πΊπππππ πͺππππ ΛΛΛ πΊπ΄.βͺοΈΒ°β’ (@SerenaCroft) October 25, 2019
πͺπππππ ππππππππ! β¨πΎ#tombraider #laracroft #birthday #fanart pic.twitter.com/qo3UQAGXzH
Today marks Tomb Raider's 23rd anniversary! π Over the years we've seen the heroine cross a number of mediums, stepping from video games to the big screen, to comic books, mobile titles, board games, an animated series, brand crossovers, and so much more. Here's to 23 years! π₯ pic.twitter.com/BzOCQf63KI
— Positively Tomb Raider (@PositivelyTR) October 25, 2019
Oh my goodness my baby turns 23 today πππ«π«π₯°π₯°
— AJ (@cupofdragons) October 25, 2019
Happy Anniversary to the franchise that mostly likely changed my life and for many other people!
Long live Lara Croft! pic.twitter.com/Wm3eQpv868
Happy 23rd Birthday #TombRaider Thank you for getting me into gaming, strong female characters and for also introducing me to a fan community where I have a lot of close friends who all love Lara β€ pic.twitter.com/j9oPv0cyTh
— sineadcroft πΉ (@SineadCroft1) October 25, 2019
She continues to inspire me throughout my whole life. Some may try to narrow her down to eye candy, but she gave me a sense of adventure, determination, and strength, and most importantly the will to never give up. Happy 23rd Birthday Lara Croft. So glad I found you β₯οΈ pic.twitter.com/RYilNYFFzR
— β¨ Raymond Croft β¨ (@rayXcroft) October 26, 2019
Β‘#TombRaider cumple 23 aΓ±os! π
— Alex's Tomb Raider Tweets (@AlexsTRBlog) October 25, 2019
La franquicia protagonizada por #LaraCroft estΓ‘ de celebraciΓ³n.
Hace ya 23 aΓ±os del lanzamiento del #TombRaider original, el 25 de octubre de 1996; un juego que revolucionΓ³ la industria.
Β‘Por muchos mΓ‘s aΓ±os de aventura! #TombRaider23 pic.twitter.com/aMm2ZGUlJo
Happy 23rd anniversary to Tomb Raider! Laraβs very first awesome adventure hit consoles OTD 1996 and itβs no exaggeration to say it changed my life in so many ways. Long may she reign! #TombRaider23 https://t.co/nNxPRa7Jvk
— Chris π¬ (@ChrisCarpineti) October 25, 2019
π₯³ π₯³ π₯³ π₯³ π₯³ pic.twitter.com/RooNGpkHMb
Happy 23rd birthday of the start of something amazing!
— Vasco πΉ ππΊπ¦ (@VascoSilva92) October 25, 2019
The first Tomb Raider game ever was released, becoming a huge landmark in gaming industry. Can't believe it's been so long! Happy Birthday! pic.twitter.com/ekgn9iGIeX
Happy 23rd birthday to the game that literally changed my life forever. I am so grateful to have had the chance to discover this game as it came out. I am so proud to say that this game has turned my life upside down and made who I am becoming today. Thank you so much @tombraider pic.twitter.com/MTm59tj5xA
— Nicolas Croft (@nicolascroft) October 25, 2019
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite franchises ever! #TombRaider 1 was released 23(!) years ago, today! π pic.twitter.com/8Wgg7QTEWC
— Roel Veldhuyzen (@RoelVeldhuyzen) October 25, 2019
Happy 23rd anniversary to THIS LADY RIGHT HERE #tombraider #LaraCroft pic.twitter.com/MCZwbq3g7Y
— Jar Cup! (@jar_cup) October 25, 2019
TOMB RAIDER HAS EXISTED FOR 23 YEARS ISNβT THAT WILD?? pic.twitter.com/74DDkuh8ze
— Floof and Sport (@tomb_raiderers) October 25, 2019
The iconic queen π
— Taryn Platt - Raising donations for #EXTRALIFE (@taryn_platt_) October 24, 2019
The stained glass TR drawing project is done! We're celebrating 23 years of Tomb Raider this week, I am so proud of what this series has become. π Both of these drawings are going to someone when the TRC's Extra Life raffle goes live! #tombraider #laracroft pic.twitter.com/H8xFBJH7NH
I know Iβm late but it wouldnβt be right for me to not acknowledge TRβs 23rd anniversary. If this game never existed, I would never have met my husband and my gorgeous son wouldnβt be here! TR is a part of my life everyday and Iβm sure itβll stay that way for a very long time! pic.twitter.com/AxCROHeNje
— Lori_en (@Lori_en) October 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1187706413205864449"A scar means I survived."
— Crofty Cosplay (@CroftyCosplay) October 25, 2019
Happy Anniversary @TombRaider! This may not be of classic #LaraCroft, but here's a new shot of my #ShadowOfTheTombRaider #cosplay.@EidosMontreal @SquareEnix pic.twitter.com/UDZi8eUvHs
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1187747332051361792FR | La saga Tomb Raider fΓͺte aujourd'hui ses 23 ans. Nous souhaitons un Bon Anniversaire...
— Lara Croft France π (@LaraCroftFrance) October 25, 2019
EN | The Tomb Raider saga celebrates today its 23rd birthday. We wish a Happy Birthday...
βΊ https://t.co/jVl9IIY046 #TombRaider #LaraCroft pic.twitter.com/sMc7WrJR6c
23 years ago today the gaming landscape was changed forever. Happy birthday, #TombRaider. pic.twitter.com/LmJPQNA93j
— ππ ππππ‘ π«π«πΉ (@elmrivo) October 25, 2019
Itβs Lara Croft Day! Happy 23rd anniversary to my hero!
— Saylum (@saylumcroft) October 26, 2019
Ft. Baby Saylum cosplaying pic.twitter.com/5uhgfZ7UAH
23 years ago, Lara Croft burst into the gaming scene with dual pistols blazing. I will never forget watching the intro for the first time and hearing @BlondShelley deliver the iconic "I only play for sport" line. Right then and there, I knew Lara was something special. pic.twitter.com/TnS5qcWEpu
— EvanΒ³Β³Β³ (@SoulGlitc_h) October 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1187841918413295617Happy birthday girlie!! pic.twitter.com/I8fkCltXC8
— Kyle (@atlasliddell) October 25, 2019
Happy 23rd Anniversary to the queen of all gaming Lara Croft!#laracroft #tombraider #anniversary pic.twitter.com/IeG9Opu39W
— DJ CROFT (@DJCroft_) October 25, 2019
23 yrs. ago, for me the greatest adventurer was born...Lara Croft. For me it is the pinnacle in gaming of this genre. Her iconic personality was brought to life originally by the amazing voice talent of @BlondShelley who shaped Laraβs adventurous spirit and persona. #TombRaider23 pic.twitter.com/4Eit2rJ3LU
— ππβ’ (@CardiacDrop) October 25, 2019
Happy 23rd anniversary to the game that started it all and to everyone involved in what was a game changer within the industry, and our very hearts, lead by Lara Croft. Hereβs to the next 20+, hoping one day to see the original era reimagined for a new generation β€οΈ#TombRaider23 pic.twitter.com/mmgtzB2KGi
— πππ ππππ π ππππ β¨ (@thecrofttomb) October 25, 2019
23 years for #tombraider! What an incredible series that inspired me to do so many things. Will forever have fond memories π Ty to all the Core Design devs who gave us this gift. 12 year old me would be so proud to know what I've accomplished today because of Lara π pic.twitter.com/lRyAMk2vr3
— Katie Fleming (@Katie_Fleming) October 26, 2019
Happy 23d anniversary to the most iconic video game heroine of all time, Core Design would have never thought this game would become such a hit and how many lives it would change. Thank you for all the great memories π#tombraider #TombRaider23 pic.twitter.com/SHtHDxbEXu
— Eliana ππ (@FoxyLollyy) October 26, 2019
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— Tomb Raider Arabia (@TombRaidrArabia) October 25, 2019
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Tomb Raider celebrates its 23rd Anniversary Today , whatβs your fondest memory?l
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.#ΨͺΩΩ Ψ¨_Ψ±Ψ§ΩΨ―Ψ± #ΩΨ§Ψ±Ψ§_ΩΨ±ΩΩΨͺ #Ψ¬ΩΩ Ψ±Ψ² #ΩΩΩ Ψ±Ψ²#tombraider #laracroft #games #gamer #γγ₯γΌγ γ¬γ€γγΌ pic.twitter.com/uq242i0KW3
Happy Lara Croft Day! 23 years ago I was introduced to this game that changed my life <3 #TombRaider #TombRaiderClassic #LaraCroft #LaraCosplay #Crossplay pic.twitter.com/yQussbSmne
— GeckoKid π³οΈβπ (@GeckoKid_WOW) October 26, 2019
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Fans weren’t the only ones celebrating this milestone. Some of the team who were responsible for creating this ground-breaking 1996 game chimed in to celebrate Lara Croft’s ongoing success and share some juicy details about the game’s development.
Wow. 23 Years. Still such an honour to be the original voice of such an icon and to be a small part of such an incredible legacy β₯οΈ https://t.co/EwHPRFaT19
— Shelley Blond (@BlondShelley) October 25, 2019
There was also Vicky Arnold who transformed the script and helped hone Lara's character. She wasn't fulltime on the team but was crucial. As were all the others at Core who helped us out near the end. https://t.co/i5Q09Wkb4B
— Paul Douglas (@cnhyv) October 25, 2019
The latino character was a short-lived creative dead-end for us.
— Paul Douglas (@cnhyv) October 26, 2019
There were a few drawings from Toby that inspired the early Laura Cruz name but as soon as we got to brainstorming motives, means and background we decided to make her a fellow Brit. https://t.co/5MynReFcwi
#TombRaider Released 23 years ago today, such a great project for me to work on. Every #indiedev with a dream can achieve something special. Quoting our CEO, remember why you do this #indiegame pic.twitter.com/GwuMbOnPnJ
— Troy Horton (Game Scouting @ Team17) (@troylkhorton) October 25, 2019
So here’s to Lara’s continued success! Long may she grace our screens and continue to inspire us in our own personal endeavours.
Note: If I missed your tweet commemorating Tomb Raider‘s 23rd anniversary, please don’t take it personally; there were just too many to highlight here! Feel free get in touch with me on Twitter (@TRHorizons) and I’ll RT your tweet.
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