"Tomb Raider: Chronological Play Guide"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied legacy, with Lara Croft fearlessly exploring ancient ruins and tombs worldwide. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. With Crystal Dynamics currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, a fresh adventure awaits on the horizon. To help fans embark on their journey from the beginning, we've compiled a comprehensive 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 that offer unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games were released for home consoles, six for handheld portable consoles, and six for 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 excluded from these lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers to the franchise in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game is the first in the "Survivor" trilogy and sets the stage for Lara Croft's latest series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider

2See it at Amazon

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

To embark on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series, note that there are three different 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 is hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to locate the Scion of Atlantis. After gathering all three fragments of the Scion across the globe, 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)

A sequel exclusive to the Game Boy Color, this game sees Lara pursuing a mystical sword with the goal of destroying it before the long-deceased Madame Paveau can resurrect and unleash her dark magic on the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this installment, Lara hunts for the Dagger of Xian, a mystical weapon sought by cult leader Marco Bartoli for its power 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 embarks on a quest to find the Infada Stone, one of four artifacts created from a meteorite. She must prevent the nefarious Dr. Willard from using these stones to accelerate human 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. With Set unleashing havoc in Cairo, Lara, assisted by Semerkhet, seeks to summon the god Horus to stop the impending catastrophe.

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, Lara's friends recount her past adventures, exploring her journeys through Roman catacombs, a Russian naval submarine, and a haunted island, cementing her reputation as a well-traveled and skilled adventurer.

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 unravel the mystery. She crosses paths with 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 1996 original, this game revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis, featuring redesigned puzzles and physics that shift the focus 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 reboot and reimagining of Lara's origins follows her global race to find 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 final game in the Legend trilogy, Underworld sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, navigating various ruins and mythological underworlds while facing off against 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 darker reimagining of Lara Croft, her first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to stop the Ascension ritual and prevent a successor from being chosen for the legendary 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, clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As both race to uncover Kitezh, the myth of the Deathless Ones may prove to be more than just legend.

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 entry in the Survivor Trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider has Lara journeying through the Americas to find the city of Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world. With the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity in pursuit, she races against time to save humanity.

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 nostalgia of the original games, 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 of the same year.

Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that a new Tomb Raider game is in development, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, the studio has hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, possibly extending the Survivor trilogy that concluded with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

Beyond gaming, Netflix debuted 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 Tomb Raider series, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer, appears to have been shelved.