Tomb Raider Games: A Chronological Play Guide

Tomb Raider boasts a rich history, with Lara Croft navigating the perilous depths of ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming countless challenges, Lara has cemented her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. As we eagerly await a new Tomb Raider game in development at Crystal Dynamics, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider title. This guide is perfect for those looking to embark on or revisit Lara's thrilling adventures from the very start.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play in release order

How Many Tomb Raider Games Are There?

As of 2025, there are 20 Tomb Raider games, spread across three distinct timelines, each offering unique storylines and a fresh take on Lara and her companions. Of these, 14 were released for home consoles, with 6 also available on handheld devices and another 6 on mobile platforms. Stand-alone titles such as Tomb Raider: The Prophecy, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Lara Croft Go, Lara Croft: Relic Run, and Tomb Raider Reloaded are not included in our lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

If you're new to the franchise in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy and sets the stage for Lara Croft's latest adventures, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

See it at Amazon

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating through three different timelines:

• Original Saga Timeline
• Legend of Tomb Raider Timeline
• Survivor Trilogy Timeline

First Timeline - Original Saga

1. Tomb Raider (1996)

The inaugural Tomb Raider game follows Lara as she's commissioned by businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments from around the world, Lara faces betrayal by Natla and must battle her on a volcanic island teeming with monsters.

Available on: PlayStation, iOS, Android, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider Review

2. Tomb Raider: The Curse of the Sword (2001)

Exclusive to the Game Boy Color, this sequel to the original's handheld version has Lara hunting a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of the malevolent Madame Paveau and her world-dominating dark magic.

Available on: Game Boy Color | IGN’s Curse of the Sword Review

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara embarks on a quest for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon capable of transforming its wielder into a dragon, pursued by the cult leader Marco Bartoli.

Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara seeks the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artefacts. Her mission is to thwart Dr. Willard's sinister plan to mutate the planet using these powerful stones.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider III Review

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Unwittingly releasing the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, Lara teams up with Semerkhet to summon Horus and stop Set's destructive rampage across Cairo.

Available on: PlayStation, Mac OS, PC, Dreamcast | IGN’s The Last Revelation Review

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the ambiguous conclusion of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends recount her past adventures, from the catacombs of Rome to a haunted island, celebrating her legacy and raising the question of her fate.

Available on: PlayStation, PC, Mac OS, Dreamcast | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Chronicles Review

7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

Framed for the murder of her mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara journeys through Paris and Prague to clear her name and uncover the truth. Along the way, she encounters Kurtis Trent, the last of the Lux Veritatis Society, who harbors a dark secret.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 2, Mac OS X | IGN’s Angel of Darkness Review

Second Timeline - Legend of Tomb Raider

1. Tomb Raider Anniversary (2007)

A remake of the 1996 original, this game revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis, featuring enhanced puzzles and physics that shift the focus to environmental challenges.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, Mobile, OS X, PS3 | IGN’s Tomb Raider Anniversary Review

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

This reboot reimagines Lara's origins as she races globally to claim the mythical sword Excalibur before her former friend Amanda Evert does.

Available on: GBA, Gamecube, PC, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Legend Review

3. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

The final chapter of the Legend trilogy, Underworld follows Lara as she searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Her journey takes her through various ruins and mythological realms, culminating in a confrontation with the villainous Natla.

Available on: Nintendo DS, PS3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Mobile, PlayStation 2, OS X | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Underworld Review

Third Timeline - Survivor Trilogy

1. Tomb Raider (2013)

This grittier reboot sees Lara stranded on a hostile island after her expedition to find Yamatai goes wrong. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to stop the Ascension ritual and prevent the rise of the Sun Queen.

Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, OS X, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Linux | IGN’s Tomb Raider (2013) Review

2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)

Lara explores Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As both parties race to uncover Kitezh, the mythical Deathless Ones might prove to be more than legend.

Available on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, PS4, macOS, Linux, Stadia | IGN’s Rise of the Tomb Raider Review

3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)

The concluding chapter of the Survivor Trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider has Lara journeying through the Americas to locate Paititi and avert a Mayan apocalypse. Faced with the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity's relentless pursuit, Lara races against time to save the world.

Available on: PS4, PC, Xbox One, Linux, macOS, Stadia | IGN’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider Review

How to Play ALL the Tomb Raider Games By Release Date

• Tomb Raider (1996)
• Tomb Raider II (1997)
• Tomb Raider III (1998)
• Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
• Tomb Raider (Game Boy Color, 2000)
• Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000)
• Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (Game Boy Color, 2001)
• Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (GBA, 2002)
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
• Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
• Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010)
• Tomb Raider (2013)
• Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014)
• Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015)
• Lara Croft Go (2015)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
• Tomb Raider Reloaded (2023)

What’s Next for Tomb Raider?

For fans yearning for the nostalgia of the original games, Aspyr released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered hit the shelves in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, set to be powered by Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new adventure will continue Lara Croft’s saga, possibly extending the narrative from the Survivor trilogy.

Beyond gaming, Netflix launched its animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in October, which has already been greenlit for a second season. Meanwhile, Amazon's planned Tomb Raider series, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer, appears to have been shelved.