Tomb Raider Games: A Chronological Play Guide

Tomb Raider boasts a storied legacy, with Lara Croft venturing into ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle she encounters, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists of all time.

With Crystal Dynamics currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, fans can look forward to another thrilling Lara Croft adventure. To help enthusiasts start or restart their journey through Lara's world, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game released up to 2025.

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How to play in chronological orderHow to play in release orderHow Many Tomb Raider Games Are There?

As of 2025, there are 20 Tomb Raider games spread across three distinct timelines. Each timeline offers unique plotlines and a fresh take on Lara Croft and her companions. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, 6 supported handheld portable consoles, and 6 were available 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 our lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers to the franchise in 2025, we recommend beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This marks the start of the "Survivor" trilogy, which follows Lara Croft's latest series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series means navigating three different timelines:

Original Saga TimelineLegend of Tomb Raider TimelineSurvivor Trilogy TimelineFirst Timeline - Original Saga

### 1. Tomb Raider (1996)

The inaugural Tomb Raider game follows Lara as she's hired by businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to locate the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments of the Scion 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)

Exclusively for the Game Boy Color, this sequel to the original Game Boy Color version sees Lara hunting down a mystical sword to prevent the resurrected Madame Paveau from using it to 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 sequel, Lara searches for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon coveted by the cult leader Marco Bartoli for its ability to transform its owner 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 ancient artefacts crafted from a meteorite. She aims to thwart Dr. Willard's plan to use these artefacts 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)

Lara inadvertently releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. To combat Set's havoc in Cairo, she enlists Semerkhet's help to summon the god Horus and restore order.

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 recount her past adventures, including explorations in Rome's catacombs, a Russian submarine, and a haunted island, cementing her legacy and raising questions about her fate.

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. She's pursued by 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)

This remake of the original 1996 game revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles and physics, shifting from traditional item collection to more dynamic, 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 game reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races globally to secure 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 chapter of the Legend trilogy sees Lara seeking Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Her journey spans various cultural ruins and mythological realms, culminating in a confrontation with 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)

In a grittier reimagining, Lara's expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood's Ascension ritual and thwart the selection of a new 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, facing off against Trinity, a paramilitary organization. Her quest to uncover Kitezh may reveal the truth about the Deathless Ones, the city's supposed immortal guardians.

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 sees Lara traversing the Americas to reach Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse unfolds. With Trinity and the monstrous Yaaxii in pursuit, her race against time is critical.

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?

Crystal Dynamics is also working on 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 extend Lara Croft's saga, possibly continuing from the Survivor trilogy concluded 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, which had Phoebe Waller-Bridge attached as writer and executive producer, appears to have been canceled.