Rise of the Tomb Raider: A close-up of Lara Croft

Lara Croft herself is a beacon of how Crystal Dynamics has shaped itself around the Tomb Raider franchise. Her archery skills and knack for obliterating vases aren’t as scrutinized these days as her performance - how she walks, runs, jumps and screams at the icy edge of a disintegrating cliff. We dwell on how snow clings to her hair, how her eyes widen with defiant fire, how she’s dirtied in an environment that is essentially made for only her to explore and react to. Lara is a virtual actor on the world’s