Since first exploding onto the gaming scene all the way back in 1996, gun-toting archaeologistLara Crofthas acquired a variety of allies in her pursuit of hidden relics and secret cities. Her best friends, over the course of the games, have served as a diverse group of trusted, loyal allies who have provided both friendship and assistance throughout her adventures.
From clever, knowledgeable guides to tough, resilient comrades-in-arms, many of Lara Croft’s most famous allies have played crucial rolesin both theOriginalandLegendstimelines. These characters' commendable loyalty and invaluable contributions to the success of Croft’s countless, dangerous missions have seen them often presented as essential figures within her inner circles, cementing their places as cherished allies in the classic gaming franchise.
5Alister Fletcher: A Human Encyclopedia
First Game Appearance: Tomb Raider Legends
Serving as Lara Croft’s supremely knowledgeable research assistant, Alister Fletcher is a goldmine of historical intel.Where Lara Croft treasure-hunts, Fletcher is fully focused on learning, spending much of his time immersed in study.
For 15 years, Fletcher has been working towards a doctorate at Oxford University. His project just keeps growing, as he connects more and more events and pieces of information from over the years. Due to his endless fountain of knowledge, Fletcher frequently fleshes out the mysterious artifacts and locations Croft searches for. In doing so, he provides both the character and the player with intriguing, world-building knowledge. In a harsh reminder of just how dangerous Lara Croft’s adventures can get, Fletcher was infamously killed off inTomb Raider: Underworld. During an attack on Croft Manor,Fletcher is murdered by Croft’s sinister Doppelgänger, ending his arc on a dark note.
4Zip: The Series' No.1 Tech Whiz
First Game Appearance: Tomb Raider Chronicles
This brilliant computer and surveillance genius came in very handy for Lara Croft when she wantedto break into Von Croy Industries. Initially a worker there, Zip was fired for hacking into the FBI’s database.
After his firing, the prodigious hacker starts up his own surveillance company, at which point he comes to Croft’s attention. Navigating her through the dangerous area, Zip manages to both get revenge on the company that fired him and strike up a friendly dynamic with Croft herself. In theLegendstimeline, Zip has a more prominent role, serving as Croft’s eyes and ears out in the field through his tech wizardry. Rather than running his own company, he is depicted as working exclusively for Lara Croft in these games. Along with serving as an important clue-giver and watcher, Zip also adds some lighter fun in theLegendsgames, dropping witty one-liners through Croft’s headset.
3Winston: Lara Croft’s Most Loyal Servant
First Game Appearance: Tomb Raider 2
Lara Croft’s trusty butler displays great loyalty to her, and also serves as her chauffeur. In theLegendstimeline, Winston is the latest in a long line of members of his family to have provided service to the wealthy Croft family.
Serving as the Alfred to Lara Croft’s Batman, Winston goes above and beyond in all areas of his work. In the original timeline, Winston is a war veteran who hits it off with Lara’s father, Lord Henshingly, and leaves his job as a gamekeeper in Ireland to serve as the Croft family butler. Despite Lara’s penchant for adventure alienating her from her wealthy family, Winston remains a trusty servant when needed, and is caring and loyal. When Lara is presumed dead in Egypt, Winston is depicted in a state of somber mourning, reiterating the emotional bond he sharedwith the gutsy archaeologist.
2Sam Nishimura: Lara Croft’s Best Friend From College
First Game Appearance: Tomb Raider (2013)
The search for the mysterious Yamatai draws in documentary filmmaker Sam Nishimira, whose past is connected to the area. Serving as Lara Croft’s main palin Dark Horse Comics’The Beginning, Nishimura has since crossed over into the game series.
Nishimura and Croft first hit it off in their early days in college. From there, they became travel buddies before the future documentary-maker revealed the mystery of Yamatai to the seminal action heroine. The quest to find the lost Kingdom of Yamatai introduces Sam to the oftenhigh-stakes, potentially-fatal treasure-hunting lifestyleof her best friend. Captured, rescued, and everything in between, her respect for Lara Croft never wavers. In one of the more supernatural moments in the series, Sam is possessed by the mystical Sun Queen Himiko, and is once again saved by Croft. While she nearly always gets into trouble along the way, Sam Nishimura’s loyalty to her friend never wavers.
1Jonah Maiava: A Dependable Ally With A Knack For Cooking
Lara Croft’s trustiest ally is a jack of all trades, serving as a cook and covering a variety of other important, menial tasks when at sea. Sporting somethingresembling a Spidey sensewhen it comes to detecting danger ahead, Maiava is frequently depicted as an invaluable travel companion.
Among the survivors of the dangerous Yamatai expedition in 2013’sTomb Raider, he pops up again inRise of the Tomb Raider. There, he comes in handy when the search for Kitezh, a mythical Siberian city, begins. Rescuing Lara Croft from a murderous mercenary at one point, his second game appearance sees him get put through the wringer, including torture and mortal injury at the hands of the murderous Konstantin. A tough, well-meaning friend to Lara Croft, Jonah’s unique blend of life experiences and skills have highlighted what makes him such an important cogin Croft’s treasure-hunting machine.
Tomb Raider
Adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. With her fearless acrobatic style, she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way toward the truth of it’s origins and powers - leaving only a trail of empty tombs and gun-cartridges in her wake.
On this trail are the most breath-taking 3D worlds yet seen - where exploration, puzzle and platform elements blend in a seamless real-time environment.
Over 5,000 frames of animation on the main character, Lara, alone.
