Lara Croft has once again shown why she remains one of gaming’s most influential characters. Almost 30 years after her debut, she has earned two new Guinness World Records: best-selling videogame heroine and most magazine covers for a videogame character.
The Tomb Raider series has now crossed 100 million copies sold, which makes Lara the most commercially successful female protagonist in gaming history. This number has been known for some time, but the new world record gives it an official stamp. It also confirms how strong the franchise still is, even after multiple reboots and big changes behind the scenes.
The second record highlights her cultural reach. Lara has appeared on 2,300 magazine covers across gaming, entertainment, lifestyle, and even mainstream news publications. For a video game character to appear on titles like TIME and Newsweek was a huge deal years ago. It showed that gaming was no longer a niche industry. It was part of global culture.
What makes these records more interesting is the timeline of the franchise itself. Tomb Raider has not had a smooth journey. There were years when the brand struggled with poor reviews and development issues. The Angel of Darkness almost damaged the franchise completely, and the game faced so many problems that some retailers pulled it from shelves. It was a sign that the franchise needed to rebuild trust.
However, Lara survived because the studios behind her understood the value of the character. The 2006 reboot revived interest. The 2013 reboot modernized the story and created a new generation of fans. Even when the series slowed down after Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the fanbase stayed loyal. That long-term trust is the real reason Lara is still breaking records today.
Also see: Tomb Raider games in order
In my view, Lara’s new world records matter for two reasons. First, they confirm that strong characters can outlast weak games, reboots, and industry changes. Second, they show that franchises with history and emotional value still have huge potential, even in a market crowded with live-service games.
Crystal Dynamics has already confirmed that a new Tomb Raider game is in development on Unreal Engine 5. With these records coming at the same time, it is clear that the studio wants to bring Lara back with confidence.
