Tomb Raider Slots

The Tomb Raider series of slots was first introduced by MicroGaming back in 2004. The original was a 15 win line video slot game which included a free-spins round and ‘pick-em’ bonus. This has since been upgraded, both in terms of graphics and game-play. The new version (Tomb Raider 2) is a 30 line slot, and includes more advanced features like cascading wilds.

This review covers both of the popular Tomb Raider slots, with the latest second version covered first. Below is an overview of the basics, focusing on the nuts and bolts of how to play this game. Next the bonus rounds are covered in detail. After that I rewind to look at the original version of this game (which is still very playable). At the end of this page you’ll find a summary.

How to Play the Tomb Raider Slot

The official name of the newer Tomb Raider slot is ‘Secret of the Sword’. This has up to 30 win-lines, which you can choose from before you spin. You can play from 1c to 20c per line, which makes the minimum and maximum spins 30c to $6. Some casinos offer play in Pounds or Euros, which bumps up the spin amount a little. The biggest regular win is 7500 coins (you’ll get this for 5 Lara Crofts). You can win many times this amount during the bonus feature rounds.

Compared with the first version of this game, Tomb Raider 2 includes many more Lara-themed symbols. There are also the playing card symbols which make up the many smaller wins. The different Lara’s pay the bigger amounts – ranging from 300 to 7500 coins when you hit 5 on any win line. The portrait of Lara is the Wild symbol in this game, this substitutes for any symbol except for the scatters.

Scatters are the Excalibur key, and trigger the free-spins round (see below) which in turn can trigger the new ‘passport’ feature. You will also win smaller amount of between 2 and 100 coins.

The general game-play in this slot is smooth and professional, as you’d expect from modern MicroGaming titles. There are enough wins to keep your bankroll rolling over nicely while you are waiting for the all-important features to hit.

Feature Rounds on Tomb Raider 2 Slots

There are 3 features to cover here. First the randomly triggered Super-Mode, then the regular free-spins round and finally the passport feature.

Super-mode is a random feature, which will trigger occasionally regardless of what is on the reels. You’ll get 5 free-spins with sticky wild’s – which stay in place for the duration of the feature. This can result in some big wins.

The regular free-spins round is triggered by hitting 3 or more of the Excalibur key amulet. This has the excellent ‘Rolling Reels’ feature on top of the 10 free spins. This means the symbols in any winning line disappear, and the feels fall down to replace the gaps. This can result in more wins, and the reels moving down again. If you hit more scatter symbols during the free-spins round you will be awarded more spins. The super-round cannot be triggered during the free-spins feature.

Bigger than both of the previous features is a Global Adventure Bonus, which is triggered by getting 5 passport symbols on the center rows of each reel. You’ll then go on an interactive adventure to collect sword fragments, which involves clicking on different locations. The animation looks great for these, with animations on top of the reels. There is a bonus inside this bonus round – the Shootout – which is a pick-em round with some huge prizes.

The Original Tomb Raider Slot

First released in 2004, the 15-line video slot which had the original Tomb Raider theme is simple by comparison with the latest version. It still plays smoothly and looks fine, however the bonus rounds and features are limited by the technology around at the time. Compared to many slots, this one has aged well, and you can still win big in the free-spins and pick-em bonus rounds. One to check out if you are a fan of the more relaxing and less interactive type of slot games.

Tomb Raider Summary

The latest Tomb Raider game is a solid slot, and the feature rounds work over several levels. For me the standard game play was a little quiet, with many spins just returning smaller amounts. Once the feature started this game does come to life. The rolling-reels free spins round can quickly add up to a lot of wins.

Adding a jackpot (whether progressive or not) would certainly add a new dimension to this slot game. I’ll look forward to new versions being created to cash in on the continuing popularity of the franchise. Whether you enjoyed the movies or not – the games are definitely ones for your shortlist.

Lead Writer: Toby is a very experienced online gambler who particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and guiding them toward more enjoyment in their own play.