"Chronological Guide to Playing Tomb Raider Games"

The Tomb Raider series boasts a storied legacy, with Lara Croft navigating treacherous ruins and ancient tombs across the globe. Her relentless determination in the face of adversity has cemented her status as one of the most iconic video game protagonists. As Crystal Dynamics develops a new installment, fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Lara's adventures. To help newcomers and seasoned players alike, we've compiled a chronological guide to all Tomb Raider games, allowing you to embark on or revisit Lara's 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, there are 20 Tomb Raider games, divided into three distinct timelines, each with its unique narrative and take on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games were released on home consoles, six on handheld portable consoles, and six 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 excluded from our lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's recent series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

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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)

The inaugural Tomb Raider game follows Lara as she's commissioned by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After assembling the artifact's three fragments, Lara faces betrayal and confronts Natla 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 sees Lara seeking a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of the nefarious Madame Paveau, who aims to use dark magic to dominate the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara's quest for the Dagger of Xian, a weapon that can transform its wielder into a dragon, pits her against cult leader Marco Bartoli.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In this installment, Lara hunts the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artifacts. She must thwart Dr. Willard's plan to accelerate human evolution using the stones.

**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 Set while exploring a tomb. To stop the chaos, she must summon Horus with the help of Semerkhet.

**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 share tales of her past adventures, showcasing her global exploits 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, crossing paths with 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 1996 original, this game sees Lara once again pursuing the Scion of Atlantis, now with enhanced puzzles and physics.

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

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Reimagining Lara's origins, this game has her racing 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)

The final chapter in the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir to unlock Helheim, confronting 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)

In this grittier reboot, Lara's expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, leaving her stranded on a hostile island and battling the Solarii Brotherhood.

**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 for the city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity and uncovering the secrets of 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 trilogy concludes with Lara navigating the Americas to prevent 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 of the original games, Aspyr has released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered hit shelves in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is actively developing a new Tomb Raider game using Unreal Engine 5, set to be published by Amazon Games. Though details are sparse, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new adventure will continue Lara Croft's saga, possibly extending the narrative of the Survivor trilogy.

Beyond gaming, Netflix launched the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October, which has been renewed for a second season. Meanwhile, Amazon's planned series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been shelved.