Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide

Tomb Raider has a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has cemented her status as one of the most iconic video game protagonists. As a new Tomb Raider game is currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, promising another thrilling adventure with Lara, we've put together a comprehensive list of every Tomb Raider game in chronological order. This will help newcomers and returning fans alike to start or restart their journey through the series 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 a total of 20 Tomb Raider games that have been released. These games span three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her supporting cast. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, 6 for handheld portable consoles, and 6 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 not included in the following 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 kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's latest series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

For those embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series, it's essential to understand 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 is hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments of the Scion from around the world, 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)

This Game Boy Color exclusive sequel sees Lara on a mission to destroy a mystical sword before Madame Paveau, a long-dead villain, can resurrect and use its dark magic to dominate the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this adventure, Lara hunts for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon once wielded by Chinese Emperors. Her quest pits her against cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger to transform into a dragon.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

The third mainline game in the original saga has Lara searching for the Infada Stone, one of four crystalline artifacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard, who plans to use the stones to accelerate evolution and mutate the planet.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In The Last Revelation, Lara inadvertently releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. With Set causing havoc in Cairo, Lara, aided by Semerkhet, seeks to summon the god Horus to stop this global threat.

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, including her butler Winston, recount her past adventures. These tales span the catacombs of Rome, a Russian naval submarine, and a haunted island, showcasing Lara's 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 the murder of her former mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara investigates in Paris and Prague to clear her name and solve 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 original 1996 Tomb Raider, this game revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis. It features redesigned puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection to more interactive, 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 and reimagines Lara's origins as she races to find the mythical sword Excalibur before her former friend, Amanda Evert, can claim it.

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 installment in the Legend trilogy, Underworld follows Lara's search for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Her journey takes her through various mythological underworlds, where she once again confronts 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)

This gritty reboot sees Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai go disastrously wrong, stranding her on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult and must stop the Ascension ritual to prevent the rise of the 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)

In Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara explores Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with Trinity, a paramilitary organization. The race to uncover Kitezh leads to encounters with the Deathless Ones, the city's immortal guardians.

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, Shadow of the Tomb Raider sees Lara journeying through the Americas to find the city of Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world. She faces the monstrous Yaaxil and Trinity, racing against time to save the planet.

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 a nostalgic experience, 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 has confirmed a new Tomb Raider game is in development, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, Crystal Dynamics hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it might be a follow-up to the Survivor trilogy that ended with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

Outside of gaming, Netflix launched its animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in October, which has 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.