Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has a rich history filled with thrilling adventures as she explores ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Her journey has cemented her status among the most celebrated figures in video game history. With a new installment currently in development by Crystal Dynamics, fans eagerly await the next chapter in Lara's saga. To help newcomers and seasoned players alike, we've compiled a comprehensive list of every Tomb Raider game, arranged in chronological order, perfect for starting or revisiting her legendary adventures.
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, distributed across three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, with 6 also available on handheld portable consoles, and another 6 supported 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 chronological or release order lists.
Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?
For those new to the franchise 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 latest series of expeditions, which culminates in the 2018 release, 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 means navigating three separate 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 sees Lara Croft hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to retrieve the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting the three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara faces betrayal by Natla and confronts her 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)
Exclusive to the Game Boy Color, this sequel follows Lara as she seeks to destroy a mystical sword before the deceased Madame Paveau can use it to resurrect and dominate the world with dark magic.
Available on: Game Boy Color | IGN’s Curse of the Sword Review
3. Tomb Raider II (1997)
Lara embarks on a quest for the Dagger of Xian, a weapon that can transform its owner into a dragon. She must outpace cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger for its magical powers.
Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review
4. Tomb Raider III (1998)
In this installment, Lara seeks the Infada Stone, one of four artifacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's sinister plan to mutate the planet using these artifacts.
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider III Review
5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
Exploring an Egyptian tomb, Lara unwittingly releases the god of chaos, Set. With Cairo under threat, she teams up with Semerkhet to summon the god Horus to stop Set's destruction.
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, from Roman catacombs to 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 her mentor Werner Von Croy's murder, Lara navigates Paris and Prague to clear her name. 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, Lara once again searches for the Scion of Atlantis, with updated puzzles and physics shifting the focus 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)
A reboot of Lara's origins, she races to find the mythical sword Excalibur before her former friend Amanda Evert does.
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, Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She faces off against the villainous Natla once more in this mythological adventure.
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)
A grittier reboot, Lara's first expedition to find Yamatai goes disastrously wrong, stranding her on a hostile island where she must stop the Solarii Brotherhood's Ascension ritual.
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 and confronting the mythic 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 concluding chapter of the Survivor Trilogy, Lara races through the Americas to stop a Mayan apocalypse, facing off against the monstrous 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 Tomb Raider games, Aspyr has released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered launched in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.
Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider game, confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 and to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, the studio has hinted on Twitter that this new adventure will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it may extend the Survivor trilogy narrative that ended with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.
Outside of gaming, Netflix introduced 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, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer, appears to have been canceled.
