The Craft of Play: Recreating the Feeling of Tomb Raider

At Gamescom 2026, I got time with Jeff Adams from Crystal Dynamics and Michał Kuk from Flying Wild Hog to talk about Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. We spoke about what new and returning players should feel, the features that make Lara recognisably Lara, and the work behind recreating her movement. That includes an iconic handstand which took months of adjustment, because matching the original shape wasn’t enough. It had to create the same feeling. The Craft of Play is my series looking at the people, processes and decisions behind the games we love. Created, presented and edited by Cassie Hughes / GeekyCassie. Featuring: Jeff Adams Experience Director, Crystal Dynamics Michał Kuk Creative Director, Flying Wild Hog Filmed at Gamescom 2026. Additional footage courtesy of Crystal Dynamics Special thanks to Crystal Dynamics, Flying Wild Hog and Bastion. Music: “Tenebris” by Elephant Music #TombRaider #TheCraftOfPlay #legacyofatlantis 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Making Lara 02:35 Lara's Acrobatics 04:35 Final Word