"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle, Lara has cemented her status as one of the most iconic video game protagonists. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans can anticipate another thrilling Lara adventure. To help you embark on or revisit this journey, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, allowing you to start (or restart) your spelunking adventures 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 20 Tomb Raider games, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, six supported handheld portable consoles, and six 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 the lists below.

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 marks the beginning of 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

If you're eager to experience the Tomb Raider saga chronologically, be aware 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's commissioned by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After locating the three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara is betrayed by Natla, leading to a showdown 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 game's Game Boy Color version has Lara pursuing a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of Madame Paveau, who aims to dominate the world with her dark magic.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this sequel, Lara hunts the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon that can transform its owner into a dragon. Her adversary, cult leader 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)

The third installment sees Lara seeking the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artifacts. She must thwart Dr. Willard, who plans to use these to accelerate human evolution, causing global mutation.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In The Last Revelation, Lara unwittingly unleashes the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb. With Set wreaking havoc in Cairo, Lara, with the help of Semerkhet, seeks to summon Horus to restore order.

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

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the ambiguous conclusion of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends recount her past exploits, including adventures in Rome's catacombs, a Russian submarine, and a demon-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 her mentor Werner Von Croy's murder, Lara navigates Paris and Prague to clear her name. Meanwhile, she encounters Kurtis Trent, the last 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, this game follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis, featuring updated puzzles and physics that shift from item collection to environmental 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 Lara's origins, as she races worldwide to secure the mythical sword 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)

The concluding chapter of the Legend trilogy, Underworld has Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She confronts Natla again, who is also after the artifact.

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 sees Lara's first expedition to find Yamatai go awry, stranding her on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to halt the Ascension ritual and thwart the Sun Queen's successor.

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 group Trinity. As both parties race to uncover Kitezh, the Deathless Ones, its supposed immortal guardians, come into play.

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, Lara journeys through the Americas to locate Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse. She faces the Yaaxii and Trinity in a race against time.

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 yearning for nostalgia, Aspyr released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered hit the shelves 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 be powered by Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. Although details are scarce, the developers have hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft’s saga, suggesting it might follow the Survivor trilogy.

Beyond gaming, Netflix premiered its animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in October, which has been greenlit 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.