Square Enix Montreal‘s Lara Croft GO has earned the App Store’s highest gaming honor; Game of the Year. The announcement came earlier today, where a number of games and apps were listed as the “Best of 2015” on Apple’s App Store.
The game is the second in what will now most likely be an ongoing mobile franchise. Hitman GO was a surprise hit from 2014 and also took home some very prestigious accolades. Lara Croft GO was also awarded at the Canadian Videogame Awards‘ Best iOS Game, as well as Best Mobile/Handheld Game at The Game Awards for 2015. Seeing those results, it doesn’t seem too surprising that it’d take home Apple’s big game award.
The folks over at Square Enix Montreal were more than happy to receive the award, posting this photo on Twitter post-announcement with the caption “Now, time to celebrate.”
For those that may not know, the game is a new spin on the Lara Croft and Tomb Raider licence (as was Hitman GO). As Lara, you traverse your way through the caves and lush worlds while uncovering the puzzles that lay before you. Sounds like any other Tomb Raider game, but it’s not. It’s a slower paced game, focusing on the 101 puzzles and strategically placed enemies.
Square Enix Montreal has also just released a big new update for the game titled “The Shard of Life,” adding even more puzzles and monsters to tackle.
The App Store also announced its runner-up game of the year, “Fallout Shelter” and App of the Year, “Periscope.”