"Chronological Guide to Playing Tomb Raider Games"

Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has carved out a legendary path through ancient ruins and treacherous tombs across the globe. Her relentless spirit and ability to overcome any obstacle have cemented her status as one of the most celebrated figures in video game history.

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 comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider game released up to 2025, allowing you to embark on or revisit Lara's journeys 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, the Tomb Raider franchise boasts a total of 20 games, spread across three distinct timelines, each offering unique narratives and a fresh take on Lara Croft and her companions. Out of these, 14 games have been released for home consoles, with 6 also available on handheld and portable devices, and another 6 on mobile platforms. Standalone 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 the following lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For those new to the franchise in 2025, we recommend beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This entry kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's modern expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider

2See it at Amazon

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

To fully appreciate the evolution of Lara Croft's adventures, it's essential to recognize the three different timelines within the series.

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

First Timeline - Original Saga

1. Tomb Raider (1996)

The inaugural Tomb Raider game introduces Lara Croft as she's hired by Jacquelin Natla to recover the mystical Scion of Atlantis. After collecting the three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara faces betrayal and must battle Natla 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 follows Lara as she seeks to destroy a mystical sword before the malevolent Madame Paveau can use it to rise from the underworld and dominate the world.

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 that can transform its wielder into a dragon. She must outpace the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the same prize for his own nefarious purposes.

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 installment is to locate the Infada Stone, one of four ancient artifacts created from a meteorite. She must prevent Dr. Willard from using these 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 this game, Lara unwittingly frees the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb. She must summon Horus, the god of the sky, to stop Set's destructive rampage in Cairo.

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 recount her past adventures, including explorations in Rome's catacombs, a Russian naval submarine, and a haunted island, highlighting her 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 navigates Paris and Prague to clear her name. 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, this title revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles and physics, shifting focus from item collection to environmental interaction.

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 searches for the mythical sword Excalibur, racing against 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 game in the Legend trilogy, Underworld sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, confronting 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)

This gritty reboot follows Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai, which goes disastrously wrong, leaving her stranded on a hostile island and facing the Solarii Brotherhood cult.

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 and encountering 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 concluding chapter of the Survivor Trilogy, Lara races through the Americas to find Paititi and prevent a Mayan apocalypse, battling the monstrous 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 those eager to relive the nostalgia of the original 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 currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, 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 extend the Survivor trilogy narrative that concluded with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

Beyond gaming, Netflix introduced 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 series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer appears to have been canceled.