Core Design

Core Design was a British video game studio founded in 1988 in Derby. It ranks among Europe’s most prominent video game developers and made an indelible mark on history by creating one of the most iconic game series of all time—Tomb Raider. The studio significantly influenced the genre of action-adventure games and helped define 3D games in the second half of the 1990s.

The studio’s best-known titles include Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider Chronicles, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, as well as Fighting Force, Fighting Force 2, Project Eden, Curse of Enchantia, Shellshock, and Thunderhawk.

Games from Core Design were known for their combination of action, exploration of vast locations, logic puzzles, and cinematic storytelling. The Tomb Raider series gained the most popularity; it introduced the legendary archaeologist Lara Croft to the world and became one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. Thanks to Core Design, Lara Croft became one of the most famous characters in gaming history.

Following the release of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, the Tomb Raider franchise changed development studios, and Core Design was later renamed Rebellion Derby. Nevertheless, Core Design remains one of the most significant studios in gaming history; its games are still considered classics today and have inspired an entire generation of developers and players.