Tomb Raider Slot
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Few video game characters can truly claim superstar status. In a very small field, we have Super Mario, Pac-Man, and Lara Croft. These are the true icons of gaming. The characters even your non-gaming mother-on-law will recognise. Close on their heels are Donkey Kong, Nathan Drake, Solid Snake, Kratos, Duke Nukem, Earthworm Jim, and scores more. But when it comes to the leading ladies of video gaming, Lara Croft is the babe to beat. Only Princess Peach comes close.
- One of the most popular Microgaming slots.
- Nostalgic revisiting of Tomb Raider.
- Huge payout of x337,500 your stake.
- Starting to show its age - released in 2004!
- No cutscenes or animations.
- Can be tough to trigger the Tomb Bonus.
The Tomb Raider online slot was first released in October 2004. Online software giants Microgaming struck a licensing deal with Eidos, and one of the first video game themed slots was born. We are struggling to find an earlier example.
The Tomb Raider game was also the very first online slot to feature SpinLite, from developers Spin3; a platform that enabled users to download the game to their mobile. It’s probably the main reason why this slot’s design is so rudimentary. The Tomb Raider online slot, exactly like the video game, is the first in a line of several sequels. As of 2023, there are three more games: Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword (2008), Lara Croft: Temples and Tombs (2019), and Lara Croft: Tomb of the Sun (2023).
But: we’re keeping it old school here. Let’s turn back the dial, grab our matching pistols, pull on the shorts, tank top, and combat boots, and get ready to spin some reels, as we kick some undead/bad guy ass. Watch out: Lara is in the house (tomb?).
Tomb Raider Slot Look and Feel
To be honest: the Tomb Raider online slot is not aging well. If you got your old PlayStation out, and took a look at the original 1996 game, you would be amazed just how basic the graphics are. At the time, as with the online slot, they were revolutionary. The Tomb Raider online slot is a five-reel game, sitting in a basic 5 x 3 grid. The reels are sat in what appears to be a cave (tomb). The font and icon styling are all identical to the original game. It has the same ‘low-res’ look and feel.
The audio is a clever blend of classic slot sounds and idents based around the game soundtrack. When you spin the reels, you get the sound of a rock sliding across the floor. When you hit the scatter symbol, you are rewarded with an animation and a hit of audio. We particularly like Lara flying through the air, gunshots-a-blazing, when you land a winning payline with a wild. There are lots of clever little touches throughout the game, both audio and visual. However, this was clearly a game designed with one eye on the mobile application. The visuals are very simplistic, by modern standards.
How To Play Tomb Raider Slot
The Tomb Raider online slot comes with 15 paylines. There is no option to play them individually. You have to bet them all every time. On the main screen, you can set your total bet value from 0.30 up to a maximum of 75.
Game play is basic. You spin the reels and hope that Lara will work her magic and unearth some hidden treasure. There is no auto play, but there is a turbo option – represented by a lightning flash. In the UK, gambling legislation has now set a minimum pause of 2.5 seconds between spins. The turbo option may not be available. Although this game has been around for the best part of two decades, it still comes with both a wild and a scatter. The latter is represented by a gun-toting Lara. If you hit two, you win 2x your wager. If you hit five scatters, you win 400x.
Three or more scatters unlocks the Free Spins bonus round. More about this in the Bonuses section below. There is also a Tomb Bonus, triggered by three or more bonus symbols on an active payline. Again: details to follow. This is a fairly run-of-the-mill online slot, as far as game play is concerned. You have scatters, wilds, free games, and a bonus round. Everything you want from an online slot. It was revolutionary in its day and was designed to work on a mobile. Compromises were made.
Tomb Raider Slot Symbols
Fans of the Tomb Raider video game will have a lot of fun identifying and referencing the various icons and visuals used in the online slot. The base game icons are the card rankings, from ten to ace.
The first icon is the tiger. Always a tough call in Tomb Raider to shoot these endangered creatures. Next up, we have an action pose or Lara and the Scion of Qualopec – this is what Lara is raiding the tombs for!
The Wild icon is the Tomb Raider logo and the online slot’s jackpot at 400x your total bet. The wild substitutes for all symbols, except the scatter and the tomb bonus. The Scatter is a portrait of Lara and the key to the free spins. The Tomb Bonus is another icon.
In Summary
There’s no denying that this 2004 online slot is showing its age. Researching this, we looked back at the old 1997 original game and – yup – it’s a pixelated mess that you wouldn’t even play on your phone. However, the game play still rocks – and the same is true for the Tomb Raider online slot. With an RTP of 96.56%, and two bonus levels, there is plenty to like about this slot. It has the history of being one of the first mobile games from Microgaming.
Over the years, Lara has come in a multitude of different iterations; Angelina Jolie, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Appleton. and Minnie Driver are just a few of the faces and voices behind this iconic character. Take the Tomb Raider for a spin and give Lara a little love…
Bonuses
Work your way through the tombs and discover the two treasures, hidden within the Tomb Raider online slots.