"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at 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 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 a total of 20 Tomb Raider games, spread across three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games were released for home consoles, six were also available on handheld portable consoles, and six were designed for 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 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, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

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Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

To experience the full chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series, it's essential 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 is hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments scattered worldwide, 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 to the original's Game Boy Color version sees Lara on a quest to find and destroy a mystical sword before the long-dead Madame Paveau can use it to resurrect and dominate the world with dark magic.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this installment, Lara hunts for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon once wielded by Chinese emperors. She must outpace 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 mission in the third mainline game is to find the Infada Stone, one of four crystalline artifacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart the nefarious Dr. Willard, who plans to use the stones to accelerate evolution and mutate the 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 inadvertently releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. With Set's forces wreaking havoc in Cairo, Lara, aided by Semerkhet, seeks to summon the god Horus to stop the impending doom.

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

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the ambiguous ending of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends, including Winston the butler, recount her past adventures. From the catacombs of Rome to a Russian naval submarine and a haunted island, Chronicles showcases Lara's extensive travels and skills, leaving fans to wonder if she's truly gone.

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 explores Paris and Prague to clear her name and solve 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 1996 original, Anniversary follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis. With updated puzzles and physics, the game shifts from item collection to more interactive, physics-based 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 title reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races worldwide to find the mythical sword Excalibur before her former friend Amanda Evert can claim it.

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 game in the Legend trilogy, Underworld sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Exploring various ruins and mythological underworlds, she confronts 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 the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood cult from completing the 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)

Lara explores Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As both race to uncover Kitezh, the mythical Deathless Ones may 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 follows Lara through the Americas as she seeks the city of Paititi to prevent a Mayan apocalypse. With the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity in 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 eager to relive the nostalgia of the original Tomb Raider games, Aspyr released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered launched in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics has confirmed a new Tomb Raider game is in development, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it might be a continuation of the Survivor trilogy that ended with 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 already 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.