Summary
2013’sTomb Raiderreboot put a distinct spin on the franchise compared to its predecessors. Previous iterations had mostly been linear games that mixed puzzle-solving with action scenes. The 2013 game retained both, but allowed a bit more room for players to explore, and also played up some new themes. Lara always had a reputation as a survivor,but now it has become a core theme of the new series, with each game being centered around her ending up in an isolated environment and having to adapt, to the point where her signature dual pistols were swapped for a bow. This continued with the sequels, allowing this iteration ofTomb Raiderto be known as the “Survivor Trilogy.”
Curiously, while survival is a big theme in the plot, it is not usually part of gameplay. There are aspects of survival games, like being able to make use of the environment, collecting, improving skills, dealing with predators, and crafting better equipment, butthey are not really “survival” games. Outside of the Endurance ModeinRise of the Tomb Raider, they’re still focused more on action-adventure. As great as these games have been so far, there is a lot more they could do to fully embrace the “survival” aspect.
5Animal Behaviors
Not Every Encounter With a Predator Has to End in Violence
All three of the “Survivor” games include animals running around the in-game world. Before that, animals usually served as minor enemies, but 2013’sTomb Raideradded in the hunting mechanics, and with them, a greater variety of wildlife to encounter, but there is still more that can be done. BothRiseandShadow of the Tomb Raiderhave portions where Lara has to fight against predators, but it mightmake sense to have other options besides direct confrontation.
One approach might be allowing ways of evading them by observing their behavior. For instance, predators need to sleep, and in those moments, the players focus on moving quietly to avoid waking them. Another possibility would be to use scent camoflauge or decoys. A more realistic system where they aren’t always actively targeting Lara directly could also help.
4Day/Night Cycle
Different Times of Day Can be Game Changers
WithRiseandShadow of the Tomb Raiderstarting to border on open-world, a logical next step would be a proper day/night cycle. This is a common feature in many open world games, andTomb Raiderwould have an opportunity to take advantage of it. The previous games had specific sections set during day and night, but no real flexibility between the two. Allowing the game to shift between the two (outside any sections where one or the other is required) would likely affect Lara’s experience in the wilderness.
During the day, it might be easier to find prey, and the light makes it easier to navigate. Night would be better for stealth but risks more active predators combined with limited visibility. For different quests, Lara might have to evaluate which time of day is better for her current objective.
3Hunger/Thirst
If Lara is Going to Survive, She Needs to Eat
Although hunting and foraging mechanics have been a big part in the more recent games, they’ve been tasks used more for obtaining XP and crafting resources than immediate survival. Lara only seems to require food when it is directly relevant to the story, usually for the purposes of a tutorial. Otherwise, she seems to do just fine. WithTomb Raidercontinuing to embrace its survivalist themes, incorporating a mechanic for food or water would be a good way to move further in that direction.
Rise of the Tomb Raideralreadyhad some success with thisin Endurance Mode. Food would presumably be obtained through hunting and gathering like other resources, but campfires are already a thing, so cooking could also be included. Depending on the setting, there might be room to add limitations, with some animals being poisonous. Granted, it might make sense to disable this feature during some of the actual tomb raiding sequences, but for general exploration it would be a great addition.
2Rest
As She Gets Stronger, Lara Can Endure a Lot More
Much like food, Lara only seems to need sleep when it’s relevant to the plot. Being a Tomb Raider is exhausting, and the games do try to show some of that - mostly through cutscenes. These can be great from a storytelling perspective, as they make Lara feel more humanby showing her more vulnerable side, but that is usually the extent of their role. Adding an exhaustion mechanic, and an ability to sleep, would certainly fit thematically.
Aside from adding to the survivalist aspect, it would make combat encounters a bit more challenging, since enemies might attempt to defeat Lara by tiring her out. For added difficulty, Lara might also need to find safe places to rest. The games already use campsites as a break from the action, so it could conceivably be added there. Of course, this would need to be something that could be improved over time, meaning Lara would be able to endure a lot more as she progresses.
1Weather
Plan Activities According to the Forecast
The “Survivor Trilogy” enjoyed throwing Lara into remote locations, which sometimes meant dealing with extreme weather. However, this usually only applied as needed for the story and mostly served an atmospheric purpose.
Adding ina weather cycle would create a more varied experience, and impact Lara’s ability to handle different situations. It could also come with strengths and weaknesses. In a cold setting for instance, like inRise of the Tomb Raider, a blizzard could reduce visibility but produce more favorable stealth conditions.
