"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide"

Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has a storied history of exploring ancient ruins and overcoming formidable challenges. Her adventures have cemented her status as one of the most celebrated figures in video gaming. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Lara's saga. To help both newcomers and returning players, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of all the Tomb Raider games, allowing you to embark on or revisit Lara's thrilling 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, the Tomb Raider series boasts a total of 20 games, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique storylines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games are available on home consoles, with six also compatible with handheld portable consoles, and six designed for mobile devices. Stand-alone titles like 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 chronological and release order 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, which continues through to 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider, offering a modern and gripping introduction to Lara's latest adventures.

See it at Amazon

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)

Lara's inaugural adventure begins with her being hired by Jacquelin Natla to locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments across the globe, Lara faces betrayal and battles Natla 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 to destroy a mystical sword before the resurrected Madame Paveau uses it to conquer the world with dark magic.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara hunts for the Dagger of Xian, a weapon capable of transforming its owner into a dragon, pursued by the cult leader Marco Bartoli.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In her quest for the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artefacts, Lara aims to thwart Dr. Willard's plan to 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, and must summon Horus to stop the ensuing chaos 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, exploring various global locales and facing demonic forces.

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

7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

Framed for her mentor's murder, Lara navigates Paris and Prague to clear her name and uncover the truth, shadowed by the enigmatic Kurtis Trent.

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, Lara again searches for the Scion of Atlantis, with redesigned puzzles and 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)

A reboot of Lara's origins, she races 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)

Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, confronting Natla and exploring mythological realms.

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 darker retelling, Lara's first expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island where she battles the Solarii Brotherhood and the Sun Queen's legacy.

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 Trinity and 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 final chapter of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara racing through the Americas to stop a Mayan apocalypse, 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 eager to relive the classic adventures, Aspyr released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was launched in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is hard at work on a new Tomb Raider game, set to utilize Unreal Engine 5 and be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, the developers have hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, potentially extending the narrative from the Survivor trilogy.

Outside of gaming, Netflix's animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, debuted in October and 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 shelved.