Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos is the fresh new Tomb Raider board game that is slowly but surely bringing Lara Croft into tabletop gaming. The game by Iconiq Studios promises to translate all the action, puzzles, and adventures of the cherished video games into the physical form. The mixed reactions include those who are excited and those who are just sad for another Tomb Raider videogame to come out.
At the very start of the Kickstarter launch earlier today, the project started to gain momentum. The game takes place on the island of Kairos, with Lara Croft battling enemies, solving puzzles, and racing against the clock–in other words, classic Tomb Raider activities made into a board game. Judging by the overwhelming early response, one half of the conclusion: it was already funded; actually, that’s a big shock, given the fans behind it.
Somehow, others were unhappy. A brief secondary look would have knocked them all off-their-postes reaction had that enthusiasm with a pinch of frustration. Some players are screaming with joy-“Already fully backed. I didn’t expect it to be so fast 🥳,” tweeted one fan. Others just side-eyed it-A user commented bluntly, “Erm… No thanks.”
That and the other big crowd. “Tell your boss we’re tired of waiting for a new game,” another player tweeted, many of the replies repeated this sentiment. Yet another added, “I really wish we finally get news on the actual new TR video game that is being developed. We have got more GTAVI information than on the new TR.” Ouch.
Then, there was drama about the design itself. Many players said they hated Lara’s appearance in the promotional material. One called it “decadency,” while another said her hair looked like “a teenager’s hair.” And that started this weirdly childish… homophobic trolling? One user casually called the entire thing “the most gayest shit I have ever seen,” which, uh, sure. That’s a take.
While we’re talking about the board game-what does it actually contain? All the Kickstarter page sheds light on is some hodgepodge of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving with miniatures, cards, and a modular board for endless replayability. It is for 1-4 players, meaning even solitary adventurers can get their Lara fix. The speed it funded, though, makes it painfully clear that we need more Tomb Raider in any shape or form.
What players really are wondering, however: when are we going to be seeing that next-gen Lara adventure? The last mainline game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, came out in 2018, and while a new game obviously is in development, we’ve heard pretty much zip about it for quite a while now. Players are clinging to the hope that Summer Game Fest will finally be when something gets announced, with multiple replies begging for news.
Apart from this, the only other big newsworthy thing for Tomb Raider at the moment is this board game. Whatever your thoughts on it-tentatively supports Lara’s loud and sometimes chaotic fanbase. It should tell you that he will easily surpass his funding goals, given the early momentum that went into it.
So, are you going to be backing this one, or are you holding out for the next-generation Lara? Either way, in or out, Crypt of Chronos is happening.
