10 Video Game Reboots That Saved Dying Franchises

7. Tomb Raider

By the end of the 2000s, the Tomb Raider franchise was in need of change. It's not that the games themselves had dipped in quality - in fact the final release of this era, Underworld, brought some much needed refinements to the formula - it's just that the world had moved on.

Lara's adventures represented an era of the medium that was no longer relevant. In 2008 everything was gritty and adult and mature, and Lara's good old-fashioned brand of action was no longer cool.

Fortunately, Crystal Dynamics had a vision of how to make the series relevant again - essentially by transforming it into a bloodier Uncharted. I don't mean that as a dig either; 2013's Tomb Raider embraced the developments in platforming action Sony's series had made, while still keeping its own unique identity thanks to the survivalist themes and grittier setting.

It was awesome, and it's a shame that the franchise couldn't maintain the momentum with the sequels.