Tomb Raider Pinball | Xbox Review

July 9, 2025 Scott Clark

Zen Studios seriously doesn’t know how to stop! You all know how much I love pinball, so I won’t even continue expressing that adoration. The Tomb Raider series of video games, however, if something I’ve only really recently experienced. For some reason, I missed out on all of the games prior to the 2013 reboot, but played all three of the current iterations all the way up to Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which Zack reviewed for us. Despite. my limited experience with the older titles, I still appreciate what Lara has meant to the industry. Her latest edition comes in the form of two unique pinball tables. Although I definitely have a favorite between the two, both are solid entries in the Pinball FX platform and are easy recommends.

Adventures of Lara Croft

The first table in the package is called “Adventures of Lara Croft” and is what you’d probably expect from a table based on our favorite heroine. Depending on which mission you choose, you’ll follow her to familiar locations including Peru, Egypt, China, and Tibet. You’ll even come across familiar characters from the games like Mark Willard, Werner Von Croy, or Natla and the Atlanteans. There’s even a mode that allows you to utilize Lara’s iconic dual pistols in a third-person shooting mode to rack up more points.

I mean it when I say that I don’t believe there’s ever been a table created by Zen Studios that I would consider to be of poor quality. “Adventures of Lara Croft” doesn’t break that streak for certain. It’s a solid table, but it’s not quite as accessible as the other entry in the pack. This table feels more aligned for those who are experts with the silver ball. There’s nothing wrong with at in the slightest. Pinball is pinball after all. I enjoy this table immensely, but it’s definitely not one I would recommend to beginners. The challenge is definitely there for the dedicated fans.

Secrets of Croft Manor

The second table is based on Lara’s family residence, and it’s easily my favorite of the two. “Secrets of Croft Manor” is not only easy to get into, it’s somehow even more exciting than her adventures on the other table. I can’t tell you why, but I found myself super engaged in Lara’s training and unlocking secrets of the manor. There’s something about being contained in one location solving puzzles in pinball form that drew me in. That’s not to say that this table doesn’t offer a challenge. It’s just easier to get going at the beginning.

One standout for me in particular was the table’s use of magnets (yes, I know it’s still just a digital table, but hey). During one mission, Lara is in the training room. She has to balance on beams while dodging spinning rods. This is done by magnetizing the ball in one of three tiers in the middle of the table. The player releases the ball to a lower tier or flicks it up to a higher tier depending on where rotating rods appear form each side. It’s a fun representation of a familiar set piece from the games that works incredibly well. And that’s just the beginning of the many ways to rack up your scores on this particular table.

Tomb Raider Pinball Final Verdict

The only negative I can say about Tomb Raider Pinball is that there’s not a physical version of these tables that I can play. Sure, one table is a bit easier to get into than the other, but that means that the dual set are perfect for beginners or pros. Even if you’re not a pinball fanatic, but you love Tomb Raider, you owe it to yourself to give these a shot. If you’ve never got into the silver ball, but could easily be your gateway into a new genre of gaming that you never saw coming.

To hear me talk more about Tomb Raider Pinball, be sure to listen to the June 25th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:21:03 time stamp.

This review is based on a Xbox copy of Tomb Raider Pinball provided by Zen Studios for coverage purposes. It also available on PlayStation, Switch & PC.