Common Sense Media Review
By Galen McQuillen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Awesome logic puzzles add a new twist to Tomb Raider.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Lara Croft GO
What's It About?
LARA CROFT GO is a puzzle game featuring the protagonist from the Tomb Raider series of games. Players guide Lara through beautifully rendered ancient ruins on a grid-based track with step-by-step swipes and taps. Through 101 increasingly difficult levels, she deals with vicious wild animals, switches, moving platforms, spinning saw blades, and crumbling floors. Hidden throughout each level are relics and gems, which players can hunt for to unlock extra outfits when complete sets are found. The game is a departure from previous titles in the franchise and shares much more in common with puzzle hits such as Monument Valley than any of the Tomb Raider action-platform games.
Is It Any Good?
It's an extremely good game and well worth the cost of admission, but make sure to use the controls precisely. The gameplay is simple, but the puzzles are challenging enough to make getting through each stage feel like a real accomplishment. The graphics are absolutely phenomenal, and the soundtrack is full of beautiful ambient tracks that almost make you want to leave the headphones in and bliss out for a while. If a player gets too eager and swipes too quickly, however, Lara sometimes goes in the wrong direction and dies, which requires a player to start a level again. It's also important to note that the game requires some pretty high-level critical thinking: If your kids absolutely hate puzzle games, there's a chance they won't enjoy this one, but the action-packed animations and persistent sense of danger may lure them in anyway. If you're looking for a way to encourage persistence and patience and can tolerate a bit of fantasy violence and skimpy costumes, this would be an awesome way to do it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about logical thinking and persistence in solving puzzles. How can you discover new rules and patterns and then use those to figure out solutions? What are ways you can cope with frustration when games (or real-world problems) get difficult or when nothing seems to work?
Discuss the portrayal of women in games and other popular media. Why do female characters in video games often wear revealing clothing or have exaggerated body features?
Given the series' emphasis on discovering ancient relics, it's worth talking about the ethics of archaeology and treasure-hunting, especially in reference to Indiana Jones or the National Treasure films. It might even be a great way to raise excitement about a visit to the museum.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : logic , problem solving , solving puzzles , strategy , thinking critically , Emotional Development : persevering
- Pricing structure : Paid (optional in-app purchases)
- Release date : November 25, 2015
- Genre : Puzzle Games
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Publisher : Square Enix
- Version : 2.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 7.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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