Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a platform action video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and iOS as part of the Tomb Raider series through digital distribution. Unlike previous games in the series, the game does not carry the Tomb Raider brand and has a heavy emphasis on cooperative gameplay. In multiplayer, players take the role as either Lara Croft or a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior named Totec. They must work together in order to stop the evil spirit Xolotl and retrieve the Mirror of Smoke. A single-player campaign mode is available that does not include the non-playable character AI following or helping Lara.
What it feels like
The fast-paced action-platformer gameplay with gunplay delivers kinetic rush and moment-to-moment thrill. The cooperative puzzle-platformer design invites mischievous experimentation and teamwork-based problem-solving in exploration.
What it's about
The Mayan setting, mythological guardian Totec, and supernatural antagonist Xolotl draw from Mayan mythology and lore. Retrieving an ancient artifact and defeating an evil spirit follows a classic heroic quest structure, grounded in the adventure narrative.
How it plays
Jumping and navigating hazardous geometry is a core challenge throughout the campaign, integral to progression and level design. Aiming and firing ranged weapons with tactile feedback is central to combat encounters and moment-to-moment gameplay. Puzzles are woven into the game world and require interaction with environmental systems to progress.
How it looks and sounds
The fixed isometric camera angle is the primary perspective, confirmed by Steam tags and inherent to the action-puzzle-platformer structure. Camera frames the character from a third-person viewpoint, though the isometric angle is the dominant framing.
How it's structured
The core experience is a full story campaign designed for two players cooperating to defeat Xolotl and retrieve the artifact, definational to the design. The game is explicitly designed with heavy emphasis on cooperative gameplay on the same machine, with two playable characters working together. Online multiplayer allows cooperative play between Lara and Totec across internet connections.
Kindred games
Shares Co-op Campaign, Local Co-op, Isometric, Platforming.
Both lean into Co-op Campaign, Local Co-op, Isometric, Platforming.
Shares Gunplay, Local Co-op, Twin-Stick Shooting, Isometric.
Both lean into Gunplay, Twin-Stick Shooting, Local Co-op, Isometric.
Shares Co-op Campaign, Local Co-op, Platforming, Online Co-op.
Both lean into Co-op Campaign, Local Co-op, Platforming, Online Co-op.
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Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Local Co-op, Co-op Campaign, Platforming, Online Co-op. 89% positive across 4,629 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Local Co-op, Co-op Campaign, Platforming, Online Co-op.
A lesser-known kindred — Co-op Campaign, Local Co-op, Gunplay, Platforming. 90% positive across 4,382 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Co-op Campaign, Gunplay, Local Co-op, Online Co-op.
A lesser-known kindred — Platforming, Gunplay, Local Co-op, Online Co-op. 91% positive across 4,562 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Platforming, Gunplay, Local Co-op, Online Co-op.