While the license tomb Raider prepares his big comeback with Tomb Raider: Catalyst, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and a series on Amazon, fans know they will have to wait. None of these projects are happening right away, and nostalgia for the PS1 trilogy is starting to kick in.
This is precisely where Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Editiona newly released fan game that reimagines the first three episodes from a new perspective. Developed by two former Tomb Raider Remasteredthis free project comes at the right time for those who want to find Lara Croft now in a short but dense adventure.
Tomb Raider Side-Scroller Edition: who is behind this surprise free game?
Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition is signed by Axel Hattéaka Delca, and Trxyetwo developers who have already worked on the recent official remasters of tomb Raider. Their project started at least in 2022, with several prototypes shared with the community before the final release on May 1, 2026.
Built with the Tomb Raider Level Editor and distributed on the community platform TRCustomsthe game reuses models, sounds and physics from the PlayStation era. The Time Extension site even describes the whole thing as a “fan project not to be missed”, a real love letter to episodes by Core Design.
Tomb Raider Side-Scroller Edition free game: what is the adventure like?
Here, the famous PS1 levels are reinvented as a 2.5D platform game seen from the side. Concretely, the environments remain in 3D, but the camera follows Lara Croft on a lateral plane, like the best side-scrollers. Rather than a faithful port, it is a narrative summary of the first three tomb Raider.
The content aligns 10 main levels which take Lara to India, Greece, Venice, Peru, the wreck of the Maria Doria or even Antarctica. Completionists can hunt for 100 optional Gold Crystals: collecting everything unlocks a secret eleventh level. Between tight-timing traps, precise platforms, some light combat and well-hidden secrets, the experience remains short but demanding, in line with the PS1 episodes.
How to download Tomb Raider Side-Scroller Edition for free and why hurry?
Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition is an unofficial and entirely non-monetized project, presented by its authors as a work of passion. It is available for free on TRCustomsthe community site dedicated to levels created with the Tomb Raider Level Editor.
- Go to TRCustoms and search for the project page Tomb Raider: Side-Scroller Edition.
- Download the archive offered by the developers.
- Unzip the files to a folder of your choice.
- Launch the provided executable and set your keyboard or controller commands.
Like any ambitious fan game, there is no guarantee that it will remain downloadable indefinitely, which reinforces the desire to get started as long as it is easily accessible. To wait before Tomb Raider: Catalyst and Legacy of Atlantis, this free side-scroller ticks all the boxes: respect for the PS1 DNA, calibrated challenge for veterans and ideal gateway for newcomers curious to discover the origins of Lara Croft.