Tomb Raider's Lara Croft has been named the most iconic video game character of all time (according to BAFTA), but of course the internet isn't happy. There's always debate over who deserves the crown, but gaming fans believe this decision is a huge disparagement to more deserving candidates, namely Mario and Sonic.
While most would agree that Tomb Raider is one of the best video games of the '90s, Lara's lasting gaming legacy is certainly up for debate. Her recent Tomb Raider I–III Remastered collection certainly reminds us of Lala, and the 90s is definitely on trend right now. And with a new Tomb Raider game in development for the best consoles, it looks like Lara is back.
Lara is undoubtedly a gaming icon, the first gaming character to break out of gaming culture, and has even graced the covers of magazines normally reserved for pop stars and movie stars, such as Face magazine, but she really is Mario Does it have a greater legacy? One thing is for sure: the internet is collectively confused as to how Miss Croft rose to number one.
And the most iconic video game character of all time is…Lara Croft! 👑The globe-trotting bad guy was named the winner of our global vote 🌎 What's your favorite Lara Croft memory? ?View the entire Top 20 list 👇 https://t.co/d2CY1FDKSW#BAFTAGamesAwards pic.twitter.com/T89IfhfudJApril 4, 2024
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According to BAFTA, more than 4,000 gamers from around the world took part in a ground-breaking player vote to determine who wins the coveted title. Mario, Link, Sonic, and even Steve from Minecraft were also included on the list, and fans pointed out how odd Lara's win was.
Adding fuel to the fire, a now-edited BBC article claimed that Lara was the “first female protagonist” in a video game, sparking the ire of X. He replied, “Not knowing Samus Aran disqualifies any opinion about the game.” One user mentioned the iconic Metroid protagonist. “Lara Croft is crazier than Mr. Pac-Man,” another person responded.
I literally can't deal with this shit today. pic.twitter.com/QzZdL2CXETApril 4, 2024
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Are you trying to say that Lara Croft is more iconic than the plumber who saved the entire video game industry?? https://t.co/RkT63INSdqApril 4, 2024
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Some people were generally unhappy with this ranking, with Mario coming in a close second, followed by Hitman's Agent 47. “It's a crime in itself for Lara Croft to be number one, let alone ahead of Mario, Sonic, and Pac-Man,” said one passionate X. user. “Are you saying Lara Croft is more iconic than the plumber who saved the entire video game industry??” someone else chimed in.
While some were clearly dissatisfied with this ranking, others chose to look at the situation on the easy side, with one I'm surprised,” he commented. Personally, I sympathize with everyone's passionate reaction to this news after my favorite video game character was cruelly left off the list. Matt from Wii Sports, you will always be an icon to me.
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(Image provided by: Nintendo)
If you're feeling nostalgic for Lara's newfound glory, check out our collection of the best retro gaming consoles to relive the golden age of retro gaming. For more gaming news, check out the best upcoming game remakes and remasters to watch this year.
