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Tomb Raider: Underworld

17 years ago

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) concludes Crystal Dynamics' Legend-Anniversary-Underworld trilogy. Lara Croft investigates Norse legends and Thor's Hammer; exploration, sonar map, grappling hook, motorbike and extensive environmental puzzles shape the single-player adventure. Native versions came out on Windows PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS and later PS2.

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Developer
Buzz Monkey Software, Crystal Dynamics, Nixxes software, Santa Cruz Games
Publisher
Eidos Interactive
Genre
Action, Adventure, Plattformer, Rätsel
Game modes
Singleplayer
Game series
Tomb Raider
At Steam
View store page
On this page 13 sections

What is Tomb Raider: Underworld?

Tomb Raider: Underworld is a single-player action-adventure released in 2008 by Crystal Dynamics. Lara Croft travels from Mediterranean underwater ruins through the temples of Thailand and Mexico to the Arctic. Her search for the fate of her mother leads her to remnants of Norse mythology and the hammer of the god Thor.

The game focuses on exploration, acrobatics, environmental puzzles and occasional combat. It is the narrative conclusion of the interconnected games Legend, Anniversary and Underworld – not part of the later Survivor trilogy, which begins in 2013.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources

Release

17 years ago

The European launch took place on Nov 21, 2008. Native versions were released at that time for PC with Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS. The PS2 version followed in Europe only in January 2009 and is therefore not counted as a simultaneous launch. In North America, the first versions came out as early as Nov 18, 2008.

Additional Xbox 360 chapters came out in 2009: Unter der Asche on Feb 24 and Laras Schatten on Mar 10. These are expansions of the existing Xbox 360 game, not standalone new releases for Xbox One or Xbox Series.

  1. PC

    First European release for Windows; according to the official Tomb Raider site, worldwide launch period.

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  2. PS3

    European PlayStation 3 release.

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  3. Xbox 360

    European Xbox 360 release; later Xbox One / Series play is backward compatible.

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  4. Wii

    Standalone Wii version with extended Wii Remote features.

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  5. Nintendo DS

    Standalone Nintendo DS version with touchscreen interactions.

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  6. PS2

    Delayed European PS2 release; regional dates at end of January.

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  7. Xbox 360

    Story DLC Under the Ashes released.

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  8. Xbox 360

    Story DLC Lara's Shadow released.

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Updated 16.10.2026

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Platforms

Standalone releases exist for PC (Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2. The Nintendo versions are not simple identical copies: the DS version uses touchscreen controls, while the Wii version offers a tool for uncovering artifacts and interactions designed for the Wii Remote.

The Xbox Store currently lists the Xbox 360 game as playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This is backward compatibility, not proof of native Xbox One or Xbox Series versions. The platform history therefore does not count these devices as new releases.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources

Gameplay

Underworld expands Lara's movement in three-dimensional locations. She hangs from ledges, climbs, uses her grappling hook to swing along walls, and pulls or moves objects to open up paths. Some sections use an off-road motorbike.

Combat centres on her signature dual pistols, other weapons and a targeting system that can lock onto two enemies at once. The adrenaline meter allows targeted slow-motion shots. Unlike Anniversary, Underworld does without classic quick-time events and instead uses short adrenaline moments within the game itself.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources
Official game scene from Tomb Raider: Underworld featuring Lara Croft in the 3D game world.
· Crystal Dynamics Image source

Trailer

Trailer zu Tomb Raider: Underworld

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DLCs and expansions

Two larger story chapters were released for the Xbox 360 version. Unter der Asche sends Lara back to the ruins of the Croft estate, where she searches underground vaults for an artifact. The expansion came out on Feb 24, 2009.

Laras Schatten followed on Mar 10, 2009 and for the first time lets you play as the main character's doppelgänger. Her movement and melee attacks differ from Lara's abilities. Both chapters require the main game and are listed on the Microsoft Store as extra content for the Xbox 360 version, even though that version can be played on later Xbox devices via backward compatibility. There are also cosmetic costume packs, which do not fundamentally change the main story.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources

System requirements

The original Windows release lists these minimum requirements on Steam: Windows XP or Vista, a Pentium 4 over 3 GHz or an AMD Athlon at 2.5 GHz, 1 GB RAM on XP or 2 GB on Vista, and 8 GB of hard drive space. The minimum graphics card is listed as a GeForce 6800 GT or ATI Radeon X1800 XT. Recommended specs include a Core 2 Duo at 2.2 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 4400+, 2 GB RAM and a GeForce 9800 GTX or Radeon HD 4800 card.

These details describe the historical game requirements from 2008. Today's Steam client only supports Windows 10 or newer. This does not automatically mean the old game is officially tested or guaranteed to work on every modern Windows system.

The details apply to PC (Windows, historische Anforderungen).

Minimum

Operating system
Windows XP or Vista (as of 2008); Steam client now Windows 10+
Processor
Pentium 4 over 3 GHz / Athlon 2.5 GHz
RAM
1 GB (XP) / 2 GB (Vista)
Grafikkarte
GeForce 6800 GT / Radeon X1800 XT or better
Storage
8 GB

Recommended

Operating system
Windows XP or Vista (historical specs)
Processor
Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz / Athlon 64 X2 4400+
RAM
2 GB
Grafikkarte
GeForce 9800 GTX / Radeon HD 4800
Storage
8 GB

Editorial details

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources

Sonar, grappling hook and motorbike

The active sonar scanner creates a spatial image of the surroundings. This makes orientation easier and can reveal overlooked rooms or locations. Unlike a regular map menu, the player still has to explore the environment on their own.

The versatile grappling hook is used not only for swinging and abseiling but can also be physically attached to certain objects. The toolkit is complemented by a permanent light source, Lara's PDA and a motorbike for terrain sections. These devices are core mechanics, not unlockable microtransactions.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources
Lara Croft in an official game scene from Tomb Raider: Underworld.
· Crystal Dynamics Image source

Wii, DS and PS2 differ

The Nintendo versions have their own focus. Wii uses the motion and pointing functions of the Wii Remote, offers a multi-purpose tool for digging up artifacts and has adjusted combat and camera elements. Nintendo DS uses the touchscreen for inventory, weapon switching and opening chests, among other things.

The PlayStation 2 version is also technically adapted, and partly in its level design, to its older hardware. If you use videos or walkthroughs of the PC, PS3 or Xbox 360 version, you may therefore notice differences in paths, puzzles and enemies. You should not assume that all six versions are an identical port.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources
Official image from Tomb Raider: Underworld as an example of the original game presentation.
· Crystal Dynamics Image source

Single-player and treasure hunting

Underworld is a single-player adventure. Instead of an online mode, exploring the campaign areas is the focus. The areas contain hidden treasures and relics, some of which unlock additional background material.

After completing the story, a Treasure Hunt mode becomes available, letting you search previously visited areas again for finds. The official series overview describes this return as a more relaxed search with fewer enemies and route selection via Lara's PDA.

Updated 16.10.2026

Sources

Similar games

More from Crystal Dynamics

Game series

Crystal Dynamics developed Tomb Raider: Legend in 2006, Tomb Raider: Anniversary in 2007 and Underworld in 2008. The official series treats these three games as a connected Legend-Anniversary-Underworld era (LAU). The story order is Anniversary, Legend, Underworld; the release order differs.

To understand the storyline, Lara's search for her mother, Amanda Evert, and the backstory involving Natla are especially important. If you play Underworld first, you start at the end of this story arc. Eidos Interactive released the original in 2008; the current official product pages list Crystal Dynamics as rights holder and publisher.

More from Tomb Raider

Updated 16.10.2026

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