Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for iPhone Review: Perfect for a commute
No, you're not seeing things — Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a spinoff title of the Tomb Raider series, has been on mobile devices before. I had to check myself when I saw a trailer earlier this year announcing a new release of the game.
Reaching out to Feral Interactive, the developer of this fresh port, it turns out this is a whole new version, made to run as well as possible on devices like iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPad Pro M4, and lots more. All of the 14 levels are included too, compared to 10 from the previous port.
If you're unaware, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an isometric action-adventure game in which players control Lara across levels set in Mexico. The game features plenty of Tombs and puzzles to solve, and it also has cooperative play, meaning a friend can join via a Wi-Fi connection between iOS or Android devices and take control of a Mayan Warrior called Totec.
I've been playing this new port for several weeks on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and, ultimately, it's the perfect pub/commute game. Here's why.
Dropping Bombs since 2010
First off, here's what's new in this port:
- Fully customizable Virtual Control Pad
- Two sets of controls to Roll and Jump
- Two joystick styles (Trackpad and Joystick)
- Gamepad support (keyboard and mouse support is also available on iPadOS)
- New Russian and Brazilian Portuguese language support (text only)
- Online multiplayer (2-player co-op)
- iCloud support means saved game data can sync on multiple iOS devices
- Performance mode (60/120Hz, depending on device)
- 3 DLC packs are included at no extra cost:
- Things that go boom
- All the Trappings
- Hazardous Reunion
- Not included for licensing reasons:
- Kane and Lynch Character Pack
- Raziel and Kain Character Pack
Quite a lot, then. Essentially, this is the same version you've likely played when Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light first came out in 2010, but with all the DLC included and a 120Hz mode for compatible devices. Just make sure you've got at least 4GB of storage free to install it. Feral says that the game can be installed on iPhone XR models and above, as well as iPads from 2017 onwards and iPad Pro tablets from 2017 onwards. All have to be running iOS/iPadOS 17 and later too.
Everything plays as well as it did when I first tried the game out, back in 2010 on my PlayStation 3 console. Throwing spears to get to higher places, or shooting countless enemies with Lara's trademark twin pistols are still a satisfying time. It's also a rare moment for me when the virtual controls on my iPhone's display work so well, that I don't need to use a controller. Not once did I have an issue controlling Lara — every jump landed, every switch was thrown down without getting annoyed. However, the game does support third-party controllers if you have one.
The music and effects deserve a mention, too. These are all taken from what's called the LAU Trilogy by fans, consisting of Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, and Tomb Raider: Underworld. All of the tracks and effects are used well here, and the added benefit of Keeley Hawes returning to voice Lara Croft again is a nice touch.
Playing games on an iPhone is a mixed bag for me. Some work well yet others feel like they're on the App Store to fulfill a quota on a publisher's checklist. However, using emulators, something Apple allowed back in April 2024, is a fun time, with Gamma, Delta, and RetroArch all freely available to transform your iPhone into a console from the early 90s. But when it comes to Guardian of Light, it feels tailor-made for mobile devices.
Alongside the virtual controls mentioned earlier, it's a perfect game to play when sitting on a bench walking the dog, or sitting in a pub as you wait for someone — I did both last week, and I managed to collect some treasure and solve some puzzles. The game quicksaved and I resumed where I left off later in the week. It's a great game for situations like those, and the fact that it natively fits my iPhone 15 Pro Max's screen size is even better. No texture was low-quality, and everything ran like butter.
Overall, if you've not played Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light, or, like me, you've not played it since its 2010 release, this new port is perfect for iOS and Android owners to pass the time, wherever they are.
A short review this week — but it gets to the point on why you should give Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light a go sometime. It was a fresh take on the Tomb Raider series, to Crystal Dynamics' credit, and above all, it's a fun time, especially when cooperative mode is added into the mix.
As mentioned before, it's a perfect game to play when you're in a queue, sitting in a bar, or on a commute. The puzzles are fun, the atmospheric music and effects keep you immersed, there's great replay value in collecting gems and artifacts, and the exploration in every level will keep you coming back.
Its sequel, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is just as good as Guardian of Light, so I'm hoping it comes to iOS and Android devices soon. Ultimately, if you're sitting having a pint and you don't want to end up doom-scrolling, Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light is a fantastic alternative that plays just as well as it did in 2010.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light is available from February 27th for compatible iOS and Android devices for $9.99/£7.49. Code was supplied by Feral Interactive.
