"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs worldwide. Overcoming every obstacle, Lara has cemented her status among the most iconic video game protagonists. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development by Crystal Dynamics, fans can look forward to another thrilling adventure. To help newcomers and veterans alike, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, allowing you to embark on or revisit Lara's journey 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 a total of 20 Tomb Raider games. These are spread across three distinct timelines, each presenting unique plotlines and a fresh take on Lara and her companions. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, 6 were available on handheld portable consoles, and 6 were supported 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?

If you're new to the franchise in 2025, we suggest starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This marks the beginning of the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's latest expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

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Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating 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 is commissioned by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After gathering all three fragments scattered around the world, Lara is betrayed by Natla and must confront 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 on a mission to track down and destroy a mystical sword before the long-deceased Madame Paveau can rise from the underworld and use it to dominate the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this installment, Lara pursues the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon once wielded by Chinese emperors. She must outrace cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger's power 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's quest in the third mainline game is to find the Infada Stone, one of four crystalline artifacts created from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's sinister plan to use the artifacts to accelerate evolution, potentially mutating the entire planet.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In The Last Revelation, Lara unwittingly releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. As Set's forces devastate Cairo, Lara, with help from Semerkhet, must summon the god Horus to stop the chaos.

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

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the uncertain conclusion of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends, including her butler Winston, share tales of her past adventures to honor her. These stories span the catacombs of Rome, a Russian naval submarine, and a demon-haunted island, showcasing Lara's extensive travels and skills.

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 ventures through Paris and Prague to clear her name and unravel the mystery. She encounters Kurtis Trent, the last survivor 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 original 1996 game, Anniversary sees Lara once again searching for the Scion of Atlantis. The game features revamped puzzles and physics, shifting from traditional item collection and switch-pulling to more interactive environmental puzzles.

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

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Legend reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races worldwide to find the mythical sword 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)

The final chapter of the Legend trilogy, Underworld follows Lara's quest for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, the realm of the dead. As she navigates various ruins and mythologies, she once again faces off against 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 gritty reboot showcases Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai, which goes disastrously wrong, leaving her stranded on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to stop an Ascension ritual and prevent a successor from being chosen for the legendary 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)

In Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara journeys to Siberia to uncover the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with Trinity, a paramilitary group. As both parties race to find Kitezh, the mythical Deathless Ones might prove to be more than just a 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, sees Lara navigating the Americas to find Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse strikes. Facing the monstrous Yaaxil and Trinity, Lara races against time to avert disaster.

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

Crystal Dynamics is also developing a new Tomb Raider game, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, Crystal Dynamics has indicated on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, potentially extending the Survivor trilogy narrative from Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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