Longevity is a difficult thing to achieve for video game developers. Over the years, many great studios have gone out of business for one reason or another. This is why it's very impressive when one manages to stick around for a lot of years, such as Crystal Dynamics.
The company was founded in the early '90s and has remained active ever since. However, its legacy in the industry is built on more than just being around for a long time. The studio has managed to create some great games in all its years of existence. And the following ones are the best.
8 Marvel's Avengers
Marvel's Avengers has come in for a lot of criticism since its release, mostly for its live service elements and somewhat repetitive missions. However, the game isn't all bad. In fact, there is plenty to like about the superhero adventure.
For starters, the combat feels very satisfying and fun. Crystal Dynamics somehow managed to make all the Avengers play differently but still be similar enough that it doesn't cause confusion. On top of that, the main story is a captivating one about the titular heroes trying to get back on track after a significant fall from grace.
7 Soul Reaver 2
Outside of Tomb Raider, The Legacy Of Kain series is the biggest in the Crystal Dynamics library. And Soul Reaver 2 serves as a strong entry in the said series. In it, you play as a wraith named Raziel, who continues to hunt down his old master Kain to achieve vengeance. Along the way, though, things get more complicated for the protagonist.
The gameplay is typical third-person hack-and-slash fun. But Raziel has several powers that make things more original. One of his abilities allows him to switch between two planes of existence on a whim. Unsurprisingly, this mechanic is used in several puzzles.
6 Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light
Crystal Dynamics decided to mix things up after Tomb Raider Underworld by developing a different type of Lara Croft game. This one doesn't have the Tomb Raider name or a traditional third-person camera. Instead, it looks and plays more like an isometric arcade-style game.
While it feels a lot different than Lara's other adventures, it isn't a complete departure. After all, it's still an action game with plenty of enjoyable puzzle-solving. Croft doesn't need to fight and solve riddles alone this time, though, as she has the Mayan warrior known as Totec by her side. This means cooperative play is available.
5 Tomb Raider: Anniversary
The original Tomb Raider game came out all the way back in 1996. It was an iconic title, but it eventually became dated. However, Crystal Dynamics fixed that issue by releasing Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
The title is a remake of the first game that mostly keeps the story and environments of the original but has updated visuals and gameplay. Like in the original, it puts plenty of focus on puzzle-solving, as Lara needs to pass all sorts of trials and challenges to find the Scion Of Atlantis.
4 Tomb Raider: Legend
Legend was Crystal Dynamics's first Tomb Raider game, and it served as a much-needed reboot for the series. The few entries prior to this one didn't exactly hit the heights fans expect of Lara's adventures.
This one, however, brought the series back to its roots while enhancing what came before with better environments and smoother climbing mechanics. It even tells an engaging story, which wasn't common for the series back then. To this day, it remains one of the best Tomb Raider titles ever.
3 Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
The original Soul Reaver documents the start of Raziel's journey, where he is betrayed and killed by Kain before being resurrected as a wraith. The new undead Raziel wants to get his hands on his former master.
Like its successor, Soul Reaver 2, the gameplay in this one is a mix of puzzle-solving and fighting. The combat is of a hack-and-slash variety where you use different combinations to set up a finisher. Solving puzzles, on the other hand, is usually about utilizing Raziel's ability to switch dimensions. Some of the mechanics are really impressive, considering the game came out in 1999.
2 Tomb Raider
Crystal Dynamics's second reboot of Tomb Raider came in 2013. Once again, it served as a breath of fresh air for the series, as it took Tomb Raider in a completely different direction. This game is far more grounded than anything that came before it. Lara isn't an unbelievable gymnast that can take on a T-Rex on her own.
Instead, she's a bright but inexperienced adventurer who is forced to become a survivor when her ship crashes on a mysterious island. It's a compelling transformation that you get to see before your very eyes. It isn't all about story and character, though. The title also contains realistic shooting and climbing mechanics.
1 Rise Of The Tomb Raider
Rise Of The Tomb Raider does what every sequel should do by taking what worked about the original and building upon it. For example, the core gameplay is basically the same as in 2013's Tomb Raider, with a few small adjustments. Yet, the environments are bigger and more varied. Plus, it's a much more technically superior game, meaning it's smoother to play and more visually impressive.
Lara has also come a long way, as she's no longer a rookie. She still might not be able to pull off the insane acrobatics, but she is a lot more capable than she was in the 2013 game. In fact, Lara once again proves her status as one of gaming's best heroines by taking on a paramilitary force to stop them from gaining immortality.