Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (iOS) review

Forget your convoluted narratives about ancient prophecies and shadowy organizations. Guardian of Light keeps it refreshingly simple. Lara, ever the intrepid explorer, stumbles upon the Mirror of Smoke, a powerful artifact nicked by Xolotl, a nasty Mayan underworld type. Naturally, she's not alone. Enter Totec, a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior. Bound to the mirror, Totec reluctantly teams up with Lara to retrieve it before the bad guys unleash some serious ancient Mayan mayhem.

It's a buddy-cop setup (if you play co-op) with a distinctly Indiana Jones flavor, and while the story isn't exactly Shakespeare, it serves its purpose. Think of it as the narrative equivalent of a good action movie: plenty of explosions and just enough plot to keep things moving. As Lara, you’re pretty much chasing Xolotl, who is always laughing and running to the next mission area like that Skeletor ‘Until we meet again’ meme.

This is where Guardian of Light truly shines. Forget the clunky controls of some mobile ports; this game feels made for touchscreens. Movement is fluid, aiming is precise, and the game smartly uses gestures for special moves. The isometric perspective works brilliantly, giving you a clear view of the action and allowing for some clever puzzle design. I played this game back in 2010, and I still love it in 2025.

The core gameplay loop is simple but addictive: explore, solve puzzles, and shoot anything that moves. Lara's moveset is that of the classic nimble adventurer, armed with dual pistols and a grappling hook. You can also play as Totec in co-op, being a beefy Mayan warrior who prefers spears and a shield. Don’t worry, he can also use guns. The entire game can be played in single-player or with a buddy in co-op.

The levels are well-designed, with plenty of hidden areas and challenging platforming sections. And while the combat isn't particularly deep, it's frantic and fun, especially when you're facing down hordes of skeletal warriors and giant spiders. (Seriously, those skeletons are creepy).

There's a satisfying sense of progression as you collect relics, upgrade your weapons, and unlock new abilities. Each level comes with a set of challenges to complete, which unlocks better upgrades and weapons; this is totally optional but really interesting to complete.

Okay, let's be realistic. Guardian of Light is not going to win any awards for graphical fidelity in 2025. The visuals are a bit dated, but honestly, it’s the addictive gameplay that really sells the point here. The Diablo-style top-down Lara Croft game is actually a superb idea and one that works. The environments are varied and colorful. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's perfectly serviceable. Besides, who needs cutting-edge graphics when you're busy grappling across ancient ruins and blowing up bad guys?

If you have an iPad, the game looks a wee bit sharper and better and has a better frame rate as well. I played the game on my Apple iPhone 16 Pro, and it worked without a single lag or frame drop. The phone does tend to heat up, but I recommend using a mobile controller for maximum twin-stick shooter fun and to keep the heat away from your mitts.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a blast from the gaming past that still holds up remarkably well as a smartphone game today. It's proof that gameplay trumps graphics any day of the week. The intuitive controls, clever puzzle design, and addictive co-op gameplay make it a must-play for any fan of action-adventure games.

Sure, the graphics are a bit old, and the story is as cheesy as a packet of Peppy Cheese Balls, but who cares? This game is pure, unadulterated fun. If you're looking for a mobile game that you can sink your teeth into (and don't mind a bit of retro charm), then give Guardian of Light a go. You might just find yourself hooked.