Tomb Raider boasts a storied legacy, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her way, Lara has earned her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. As excitement builds for a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game to help fans start or restart their adventures from the very beginning.
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, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique storylines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Out of these, 14 were released for home consoles, with 6 also available on handheld portable consoles and 6 on mobile devices. 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 these lists.
Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?
For newcomers to the franchise in 2025, we highly recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's latest series of expeditions that culminate in the 2018 release, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
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Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order
For those looking to journey through the Tomb Raider series chronologically, it's crucial to understand that there are three separate timelines to explore:
- 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 hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara faces betrayal by Natla and battles 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 sees Lara tracking down a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of Madame Paveau, who aims to dominate the world with dark magic.
Available on: Game Boy Color | IGN’s Curse of the Sword Review
3. Tomb Raider II (1997)
Lara's quest in this installment is to find the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon sought by the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who wishes to transform into a dragon.
Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review
4. Tomb Raider III (1998)
Lara sets out to secure the Infada Stone, one of four artefacts made from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's plan to use these stones to mutate the planet.
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider III Review
5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
Lara inadvertently releases the Egyptian god Set while exploring a tomb in Egypt. With chaos unleashed on Cairo, she teams up with Semerkhet to summon Horus to restore order.
Available on: PlayStation, Mac OS, PC, Dreamcast | IGN’s The Last Revelation Review
6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
Following the uncertain ending of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends share tales of her past adventures, cementing her reputation as a seasoned explorer.
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 travels through Paris and Prague to clear her name, encountering Kurtis Trent, 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 follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection 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 to find Excalibur before her former friend Amanda Evert.
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)
In the final part of the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, while facing off against the villainous Natla once more.
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)
In this grittier reboot, Lara's first expedition to find Yamatai goes disastrously wrong, stranding her on a hostile island where she must thwart the Solarii Brotherhood and stop the Ascension ritual.
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's journey to Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh pits her against Trinity, a paramilitary group, and the mythical Deathless Ones.
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 final chapter of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara racing through the Americas to prevent a Mayan apocalypse, facing the Yaaxii and Trinity.
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 a nostalgic trip, 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 actively developing a new Tomb Raider game, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, the studio has hinted on Twitter that this new title will extend Lara Croft's saga, possibly continuing the narrative from the Survivor trilogy.
Beyond gaming, Netflix launched the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October, which has already been greenlit for a second season. Meanwhile, Amazon's planned series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer seems to have been shelved.
