One might not expect Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem to show up in the same breath these days, but these franchises share many parallels. Each one hails from smaller studios in the '90s from Britain and America, respectively, and gradually went on to become culturally significant series with many games to their names. Their protagonists, Lara Croft and the titular Duke Nukem, are such iconic characters that they have attracted many publishers and developers over the years, not to mention multimedia adaptations. Duke Nukem and Tomb Raider are names to know in gaming, something another popular property recently took note of.
Announced on July 7, 2025, World of Tanks is running a surprise collaboration event from July 10 to July 21, offering Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem-themed battle passes and bundles for fans to work towards. World of Tanks’ strategic vehicle shooting is a far cry from the third and first-person action Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem are known for, but it's close enough to justify giving them the spotlight. Crossovers for Tomb Raider are nothing new, but seeing it out next to Duke Nukem like this does put into perspective how close the former is to following the latter’s dark path.
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Duke Nukem and Tomb Raider Have Arrived From Different Directions
It's no secret that Duke Nukem has fallen on hard times in the past decade. Ever since Gearbox Software bought the rights to the series in 2010 and finally shipped the ill-fated Duke Nukem Forever in 2011, gaming’s signature macho main character hasn't seen much action. Despite a couple of teases for new games and even a movie with either Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes or Legendary Entertainment, nothing ever manifested, and the best the King got was a new fifth episode in 2016’s Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour, as well as other remasters on the Evercade retro handheld.
Tomb Raider’s Immediate History Seems More Productive Than Duke’s
Comparatively, Tomb Raider looks like it's doing great. As one of gaming’s leading ladies, Lara Croft saw plenty of spin-offs, tie-ins, and an entire reboot trilogy, capped off most recently with remasters of the first six mainline Tomb Raider titles. Some Tomb Raider games even came to the Evercade alongside Duke Nukem. That's all without getting into the pile of crossovers that classic and reboot Lara Croft have participated in, which include more star-studded names like Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Call of Duty. A period of inactivity did follow the reboot trilogy's finishing, but Tomb Raider’s timeline seems positive — up to the present.
Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem Aren't Meeting In A Good Place
Despite Their Clout, These Game Franchises Can't Get Games Of Their Own
Setting Duke Nukem and Tomb Raider next to each other in World of Tanks is, ironically, what highlights their ample similarities. Besides the cultural cache of their heroes, Duke Nukem and Tomb Raider both have Netflix shows in the works, one being the second season of the lukewarmly-received Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, and the other being headed up by Adi Shankar of Devil May Cry fame. Films for both of these series, with Tomb Raider already boasting several cinematic ventures, could also manifest at any time. However, the most unfortunate comparisons lie in both series’ medium of origin.
Prospects for Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem video games aren't looking bright right now. In the 2020s, official sources have claimed that Crystal Dynamics is working on a new mainline Tomb Raider entry, but considering the developer’s layoffs and the splintering of Crystal Dynamics’ current owner, Embracer Group, Tomb Raider is probably in development hell. Still, that's better than Duke Nukem’s release schedule, which is empty. If Tomb Raider’s tables don't start turning, this storied franchise could unfortunately end up languishing alongside Duke Nukem as crossover fodder with little else going on.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- September 14, 2018
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Foundation Engine
- Franchise
- Tomb Raider
WHERE TO PLAY
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she is forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Combining the base game, all seven DLC challenge tombs, as well as all downloadable weapons, outfits, and skills, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience Lara’s defining moment.
Survive and Thrive In the Deadliest Place on Earth: Master an unforgiving jungle setting in order to survive. Explore underwater environments filled with crevasses and deep tunnel systems.
Become One With the Jungle: Outgunned and outnumbered, Lara must use the jungle to her advantage. Strike suddenly and disappear like a jaguar, use mud as camouflage, and instill fear in enemies to sow chaos.
Discover Dark and Brutal Tombs: Tombs are more terrifying than ever before, requiring advanced traversal techniques to reach them, and once inside they are filled with deadly puzzles.
Uncover Living History: Discover a hidden city and explore the biggest hub space ever found in a Tomb Raider game.
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
