After the events of Yamatai, Lara uncovers a series of encrypted journal entries left by her father.
The entries point to a forgotten empire buried beneath the deserts of North Africa, ruled by a mythical figure known as:

The Serpent Queen — a monarch said to wield immortality through venom-based rituals.

When a shadow organization called The Diadem Order seeks to resurrect her powers, Lara races across scorching dunes, cursed catacombs, and underground labyrinths carved from black obsidian.

But every step reveals something darker:
Her father may have been involved in sealing the Serpent Queen centuries earlier… using forbidden knowledge.

🔥 Highlights

• her best performance, balancing raw toughness with inner conflict.

• The action sequences are brutal and grounded—hand-to-hand fights, collapsing temples, sandstorms, and a deadly chase through an underground river of quicksilver.

• The villain, Hannah John-Kamen, brings a chilling calmness as the leader of The Diadem Order.

• Ancient traps and puzzles return with creative new twists.

• The third-act confrontation inside the Venom Shrine is visually stunning and terrifying.

🌍 Visuals & Tone

The cinematography is beautiful—sun-baked ruins, torchlit tunnels, and a mythic atmosphere that feels closer to Indiana Jones mixed with survival-thriller energy.

📌 Verdict

A gritty and ambitious sequel that pushes Lara Croft to her limits while honoring the spirit of the games. It’s intense, adventurous, and surprisingly emotional.

⭐ 8.4/10 — “A fearless return to the world of lost empires and ancient curses.”