What it is
Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a substantial remake of Lara Croft’s 1996 debut, rebuilt around the enhanced Tomb Raider: Legend engine. It keeps the original adventure’s globe-trotting structure and focus on exploration, traps and puzzles, while adding modernised movement, combat, storytelling and level design. The Xbox 360 version arrived in the UK on 26 October 2007, several months after the PC and PlayStation 2 editions.
- UK release
- 26 October 2007 on Xbox 360
- Platforms
- Xbox 360; playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility
- Developer
- Crystal Dynamics, with Buzz Monkey Software Xbox 360 support
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive
- UK price
- £15.99 digital on the UK Xbox Store
- PEGI
- PEGI 16 — Violence
- Genre
- Action-adventure with platforming, combat and puzzle-solving
- Game Pass
- Not included; cloud playable with Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate when purchased
- Online mode
- No — single-player only
- Engine
- Enhanced Tomb Raider: Legend engine
Story and setting
Lara is hired by the mysterious Natla to recover the Scion, an ancient artefact connected to Atlantis. The search takes her through Peru, Greece, Egypt and the lost island of Atlantis, with the game expanding the original’s sparse plot and giving more space to its characters and dialogue. It also sits within the Legend, Anniversary and Underworld continuity, although it retells the first game rather than continuing directly from Legend.
The Xbox 360 version features Keeley Hawes as Lara, alongside Natla, Larson, Pierre and other returning characters. The story is still secondary to the environments, but Anniversary gives the original’s major moments clearer context without turning the game into a dialogue-heavy adventure.
How it plays
This is a third-person action-adventure built around traversal and spatial problem-solving. Lara climbs, swims, balances across narrow surfaces, swings from ropes and uses a grappling hook to pull objects, traverse gaps, climb or descend and run along walls. Levels are generally larger and less linear than those in Legend, often asking you to understand how a room works before you can open the next route.
Combat is present but not the main attraction. Lara has her trademark unlimited-ammunition dual pistols, a shotgun, dual.50-calibre pistols and dual mini-SMGs, with lock-on targeting and an adrenaline-based dodge helping her deal with animals, creatures and bosses. Hidden Artifacts and Relics unlock outfits, artwork, music, commentaries, cheats and other rewards. Completed areas can be replayed on different difficulties or as Time Trials, giving the Xbox 360 release a useful second layer beyond the main campaign.
Xbox 360 version and extras
The Xbox 360 edition was developed by Crystal Dynamics, with Buzz Monkey Software credited for Xbox 360 support, and originally published by Eidos Interactive. Feral Interactive was responsible for the later Mac release, not the Xbox 360 version. Anniversary uses the enhanced Tomb Raider: Legend engine, rather than a separate engine officially identified on the Xbox 360 product materials as “Crystal Engine”.
Xbox 360 owners received a complete retail version on disc, but the game was also distributed through Xbox Live as two episodic packs. Episodes 1 and 2 covered Peru and Greece, while Episodes 3 and 4 covered Egypt and the lost island; both listings included Croft Manor and required Tomb Raider: Legend. These episodes are historical Xbox Live distribution for the same adventure, not a separate multiplayer mode or a story expansion.
Platforms, editions and UK price
The original game was released for Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 2, PSP and Wii, with later Mac and PlayStation 3 versions appearing through other releases. The current UK Xbox listing supports play on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility. It lists the digital Xbox version at £15.99 and says cloud play is available with Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate, but the game must still be purchased. It is not listed as included in the Game Pass catalogue.
There is no current retail launch price to quote for a new Xbox 360 copy. Physical copies are now second-hand, and the price varies by condition, completeness and seller. The Xbox 360 version is single-player only, with no co-op, competitive multiplayer or online campaign.
Reception and verdict
Anniversary was received favourably, though critics noted that its age showed in places. The Xbox 360 version has a 77 Metascore on Metacritic. Eurogamer awarded it 9/10, VideoGamer gave it 8/10 and GameSpot scored it 7.5/10, praising the balance between homage and modern controls while pointing to occasional frame-rate problems and a conservative approach to the formula.
The 360 version remains a good choice for players who want the Legend-era interpretation of Lara’s first expedition rather than the original’s rigid controls or the later Survivor trilogy’s cinematic survival story. Its strongest sections are the large tombs, intricate traversal routes and puzzles that make the environment feel like the real opponent. Its weaker points are an occasionally awkward camera, dated combat and some technical roughness, particularly when compared with modern remakes.
Not yet confirmed
- A reliable archived UK RRP for the Xbox 360 standard retail edition has not been confirmed; current physical prices are second-hand and vary by seller.
- No official Xbox 360 patch history or modern native remaster of Tomb Raider: Anniversary has been confirmed by the rights-holder.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary: your questions
When did Tomb Raider: Anniversary release in the UK on Xbox 360?
The Xbox 360 retail version launched in the UK on Friday, 26 October 2007. The PC and PlayStation 2 versions released earlier, on 1 June 2007.
Is Tomb Raider: Anniversary on Xbox Game Pass?
It is not included in the Game Pass catalogue. The UK Xbox listing currently shows a £15.99 purchase price and cloud play for Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate subscribers who own the game.
Does Tomb Raider: Anniversary have online multiplayer?
No. It is a single-player adventure with no online multiplayer or co-op.
Is Tomb Raider: Anniversary backwards compatible on Xbox?
Yes. The Xbox Store lists it as playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility.
Is Tomb Raider: Anniversary a remake of the first Tomb Raider?
Yes. It retells the 1996 Tomb Raider adventure, keeping its main locations and Scion storyline while redesigning the levels, puzzles, movement and combat around the Tomb Raider: Legend technology.
