PlayStation · 1999
Tomb Raider III
Tomb Raider III expands Lara Croft's globe-trotting adventures into a freer, open-ended structure that gave players more latitude in how they approached each location.
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive
- Format
- CD
- Genre
- Action-Adventure
- Released
- 1999
01
Overview
Developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive, the third mainline Tomb Raider entry shifts the series toward a more open-world design. Players follow Lara Croft across several distinct regions, choosing which areas to tackle and in what order rather than moving through a strictly linear sequence. The game builds on the established platforming and puzzle-solving formula while adding new movement options and a wider variety of environments.
02
Why it matters
This entry is often cited as a turning point in the series for giving players a greater sense of exploration and agency. Its open-world approach influenced how subsequent Tomb Raider titles handled level structure and player freedom.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete copy includes the CD-ROM, an instruction manual, and the retail case, though exact contents vary by region and press run. Packaging artwork and included extras can differ between North American, European, and Japanese editions.
04
Playing it today
The PlayStation version runs well on original hardware and on modern emulation setups with appropriate PS1 support. Save state or memory card saves both work, though the original game relies on in-game save points rather than pause-and-save.