One might not expectTomb RaiderandDuke Nukemto 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 NukemandTomb Raiderare names to know in gaming, something another popular property recently took note of.
Announced on May 10, 2025,World of Tanksis running a surprise collaboration event from July 10 to July 21, offeringTomb RaiderandDuke 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 actionTomb RaiderandDuke Nukemare known for, but it’s close enough to justify giving them the spotlight.Crossovers forTomb Raiderare nothing new, but seeing it out next toDuke Nukemlike this does put into perspective how close the former is to following the latter’s dark path.
Duke Nukem and Tomb Raider Have Arrived From Different Directions
It’s no secret thatDuke Nukemhas fallen on hard times in the past decade. Ever since Gearbox Software bought the rights to the series in 2010 and finally shippedthe ill-fatedDuke Nukem Foreverin 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’sDuke 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 Raiderlooks 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 thefirst six mainlineTomb Raidertitles. SomeTomb Raidergames even came to the Evercade alongsideDuke 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 likeFortnite,Fall Guys, andCall of Duty. A period of inactivity did follow the reboot trilogy’s finishing, butTomb 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
SettingDuke NukemandTomb Raidernext to each other inWorld of Tanksis, ironically, what highlights their ample similarities. Besides the cultural cache of their heroes,Duke NukemandTomb Raiderboth have Netflix showsin the works, one being the second season of the lukewarmly-receivedTomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, and the other being headed up by Adi Shankar ofDevil May Cryfame. Films for both of these series, withTomb Raideralready boasting several cinematic ventures, could also manifest at any time. However, the most unfortunate comparisons lie in both series’ medium of origin.
Prospects forTomb RaiderandDuke Nukemvideo games aren’t looking bright right now. In the 2020s, official sources have claimed that Crystal Dynamics isworking on a new mainlineTomb Raiderentry, but considering the developer’s layoffs and the splintering of Crystal Dynamics’ current owner, Embracer Group,Tomb Raideris probably in development hell. Still, that’s better thanDuke Nukem’s release schedule, which is empty. IfTomb Raider’s tables don’t start turning, this storied franchise could unfortunately end up languishing alongsideDuke Nukemas crossover fodder with little else going on.
Shadow of the 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.
