"Chronological Guide to Playing Tomb Raider Games"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring 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 you start or restart your journey with Lara, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game.

**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, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games are available on home consoles, six on handheld devices, and six 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 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, the first in the "Survivor" trilogy, sets the stage for Lara Croft's latest series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

For those embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series, 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 sees Lara hired by Jacquelin Natla to locate the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments worldwide, Lara is betrayed by Natla, leading to a climactic battle on a monster-filled volcanic island.

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

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

A Game Boy Color exclusive, this sequel follows Lara as she seeks 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 pursues the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon that can transform its owner into a dragon. Her adversary, Marco Bartoli, is also after the dagger for its transformative powers.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four artifacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's plan to use these artifacts to mutate the planet.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In Egypt, Lara unwittingly releases the god of chaos, Set. Assisted by Semerkhet, she aims to summon Horus to combat this world-ending threat.

**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, friends of Lara recount her past adventures, cementing her reputation as a skilled and well-traveled 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 and uncover the truth, pursued by Kurtis Trent of the Lux Veritatis Society.

**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 reimagines Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with enhanced puzzles and physics-based gameplay.

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

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

A reboot of Lara's origins, she races worldwide 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 chapter of the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir to unlock 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 grittier take on Lara's story follows her first expedition to find Yamatai, which goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island where she must stop the Solarii Brotherhood and 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 explores Siberia in search of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity, and uncovering the truth about the 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 find Paititi and avert a Mayan apocalypse, all while 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 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 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 sparse, Crystal Dynamics has indicated on Twitter that this new adventure will continue Lara Croft's saga, potentially extending the Survivor trilogy that ended with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

Beyond gaming, Netflix launched the 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 shelved.