With over ten games in the franchise, Tomb Raider has had its fair share of foes, whether they’re big-time villains, career rivals, or common enemies. However, the most significant of Lara’s enemies typically appear in multiple games, like Jaqueline Natla and Amanda Evert.
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As one of the most famous villains in the series, Werner Von Croy is no exception to this rule. Appearing in all three of the Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered games, Von Croy has a deep history with Lara Croft, and the two weren’t always adversaries. Let’s explore Werner Von Croy’s origin, chronological history, and character development across the three games.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation — Mentorship
We first meet Werner Von Croy in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, the fourth game in the series and the first in the Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered trilogy.
The game begins in 1984 in Cambodia, where Von Croy and his pupil, a teenage Lara Croft, are looking for an elusive artifact called the Iris. As they explore the tomb, he tells her, “You are an exemplary student, Lara—although you have not yet learned the root of all adventuring—the craving to win at whatever cost. I throw down the gauntlet to you, my child.”
Judging by his interactions with Lara, Werner’s earlier days in his career were spent teaching and mentoring. He enjoys and respects archaeology but also values winning above all else.
As her mentor, Von Croy sees potential in Lara as a future tomb raider and treasure hunter, but his ego prevents him from accepting she may know more than he does. When they find the Iris, Lara notes an inscription on a plinth, warning against removing the artifact.
Instead of heeding the warning, Werner dismisses Lara, reminding her that he is “the renowned archaeologist-adventurer” and she isn’t. He then approaches the artifact, attempting to remove it. This triggers the tomb to collapse and Werner becomes trapped. Lara is forced to leave without him to ensure her own survival.
Egypt, Villainy, And Possession
After the incident, the game flashes forward to present day. Here, Lara and a guide search for the Tomb of Set in Egypt, now mysteriously equipped with the Iris. It’s revealed that Von Croy hired the guide.
Jump to Von Croy Industries And The Iris to learn how Lara acquired the Iris during the time gap.
At this point, we’re aware that Von Croy is not only alive but actively meddling in Lara’s plans. Her mentor quickly becomes her adversary.
Later in the game, Von Croy becomes possessed by the Egyptian god Set and causes more chaos and destruction as he carries out his nefarious plans. Set is the final boss, and Lara defeats him by bringing the pyramid down, trapping him there for eternity. Then, Lara attempts to escape the pyramid while it collapses. Von Croy, no longer possessed by Set, meets her at the exit.
Von Croy offers Lara his hand to help her escape, but she doesn’t take it. She’s seemingly crushed under the pyramid along with Set, and Von Croy is forced to leave her behind.
Tomb Raider: Chronicles — Searching For Lara
Werner Von Croy appears again in Tomb Raider: Chronicles, the fifth game in the series. At this point, everyone believes Lara is dead after the previous game’s events. A few of Lara’s friends gather at Croft Manor to commemorate her life and adventures.
However, Von Croy is absent, still searching for her in Egypt. One of Lara’s friends describes Von Croy’s search as “pursuing his inner demons, driven half to madness in quest for her final resting place,” and that he “will not find peace in himself” until he finds her. This quote suggests that Von Croy feels a sense of responsibility toward Lara and is likely guilty about what has transpired between them.
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Before the final level, Winston, Lara’s faithful butler, brings her acquaintances to her trophy room, showing them the Iris, one of the key artifacts in the previous game. Winston explains that the Iris is “the artifact which led to the animosity between Miss Croft and Von Croy, ending ultimately in this terrible business.”
Von Croy Industries And The Iris
The game then flashes back to Lara breaking into Von Croy Industries to steal the Iris. This occurs sometime within the time gap in The Last Revelation, between Lara’s experience with Von Croy in Cambodia and her visit to Egypt.
Though it’s unclear what the pair’s relationship is like during this period, it’s obvious they are no longer working together and that Von Croy may even resent her for leaving him behind. After dealing with various puzzles and enemies, Lara eventually finds the Iris and takes it.
Von Croy is alerted of an “intruder” in the building and is shown footage of Lara taking the artifact. He quickly recognizes her and sends his henchmen after her. Of course, Lara escapes with the artifact, leading to the events in the previous game.
At the end of Chronicles, the game flashes forward to the present day. Here, Von Croy discovers that Lara is still alive, but we don’t see any interaction between them.
Tomb Raider: Angel Of Darkness — Werner’s Death
The final game in this trilogy is Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness, which is the final game in which Von Croy appears. The game begins with Lara and Von Croy meeting in his Paris apartment. He tells Lara he’s been contracted to find five Obscura paintings by a man named Eckhardt.
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Von Croy is terrified of his current client, explaining that he’s being stalked. He then asks Lara to find the remaining paintings. Still feeling betrayed by Von Croy’s abandonment of her in Egypt, Lara angrily refuses his request. She seems unaware that Von Croy had been searching for her while missing.
During the confrontation, a gunshot rings out and the room goes dark. Once Lara regains her vision, she realizes that Werner is dead.
Lara spends the remainder of the game solving the mystery behind Eckhardt and the Obscura paintings, ultimately fulfilling Werner’s request. Von Croy’s request suggests that he still holds Lara in high esteem, and trusts she’ll be able to handle the conflict.
Lara And Werner’s Friendship
Judging by their final interaction in Angel of Darkness, it’s clear that Lara and Von Croy never rekindled their friendship and don’t communicate regularly. In her conversation with Von Croy’s friend, Margot Carvier, she explains that she “never expected” Von Croy to reach out after Egypt.
However, they’ve seemingly had a relationship outside the three games. During the conversation, there’s a dialogue option in which she refers to Von Croy as her friend.
We also see her pick up a framed photo in Von Croy’s apartment. The picture depicts an adult Lara, in one of her classic outfits, posing next to Von Croy.
The photo suggests that the two likely worked together and possibly continued their mentorship after the events in Cambodia and before Lara stole the Iris. So, while the timeline is cloudy, Von Croy has clearly undergone a redemption arc, taking him from arrogant teacher to villain to friend.
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