Parents' Guide to

Tomb Raider: Legends

By Jeremy Gieske, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Action, strategy, and beauty -- teens.

Game Xbox 360, Nintendo DS 2006
Tomb Raider: Legends Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

Dimitriov P.
Dimitriov P. Parent of 3-year-old
April 2, 2023
age 9+

Good!

Really good! even though the graphics are bad, the story, and the game play is good. Its not too violent, since you cant see the blood because of the graphics, though, I wouldn't say its easy to play, as some of the puzzles are difficult.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

Opening sequences show a young Lara and her mother exploring the ruins of an ancient civilization, discovering a sword embedded in a stone. When her mother pulls the sword from the stone, she is engulfed in an explosion and appears to be killed; Lara is left to piece together what's happened. Soon, she discovers that much of the secret revolves around the broken shards of a powerful sword, which have been scattered around the world. But it's not so easy to get them: A former friend and her right-hand man want the pieces for their own purposes -- and their methods can be ruthless.

Players need both good reflexes and brain power to advance. Sometimes it's all about timing, and sometimes it's about solving puzzles.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (12):

TOMB RAIDER: LEGENDS is better than most of the installments in the series because it sticks closer to the allure of the original formula: great graphics, a great storyline to carry the action, and game-challenging puzzles. Some levels contain intense firefights, with exploding tanks of propane, mounted machine guns, and vicious guard dogs. Overall, though, shooting sequences tend to be limited to one or two major incidents per level. In the end, this a fun and challenging installment in the popular series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Lara. How do you feel about the way the game portrays her -- in sexy costumes and wielding weapons? Is she a stereotype, or does her blend of brains, beauty, and bravery break the mold? Who is the intended audience for the Tomb Raider franchise? Is Lara meant to inspire girls -- or to make guys drool?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate