"Tomb Raider: A Chronological Guide to Playing the Games"

Tomb Raider boasts a rich history, with Lara Croft exploring ancient ruins and tombs worldwide. Overcoming every obstacle, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. As a new Tomb Raider game is in development at Crystal Dynamics, promising another thrilling adventure, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game to help fans start or restart their journeys from the very beginning.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play in release order

As of 2025, there are 20 Tomb Raider games, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara and her companions. Of these, 14 were released for home consoles, 6 supported handheld portable consoles, and 6 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 excluded from our lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers in 2025, we suggest beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This entry, the first in the "Survivor" trilogy, sets the stage for Lara's latest series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

If you're embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series, it's crucial to understand 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)

In the inaugural Tomb Raider game, Lara is commissioned by Jacquelin Natla to locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After gathering all three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara faces betrayal and must battle Natla and her monstrous minions on a 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 Madame Paveau can rise from the dead and enslave 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 capable of transforming its wielder into a dragon, pursued by the cult leader Marco Bartoli.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara hunts for the Infada Stone, one of four artefacts crafted from a meteorite, aiming to thwart Dr. Willard's plan to mutate the planet.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

While exploring an Egyptian tomb, Lara unwittingly releases the god of chaos, Set. Assisted by Semerkhet, she seeks to summon Horus to stop the chaos in Cairo.

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, solidifying her legacy, yet leaving her fate uncertain.

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, encountering Kurtis Trent, the last of the Lux Veritatis Society.

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 again searches for the Scion of Atlantis, with enhanced puzzles and physics shifting focus to environmental set pieces.

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 reimagining Lara's origins, she races globally 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)

In the final chapter of the Legend trilogy, Lara seeks Mjolnir, the key to 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 a grittier reboot, Lara's expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, 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 for the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity and uncovering 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 final installment of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara racing through the Americas to avert a Mayan apocalypse, battling 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?

Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider game, confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 and to be published by Amazon Games. This new adventure "will continue Lara Croft's saga," suggesting it might extend the Survivor trilogy that concluded with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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 Tomb Raider series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer appears to have been cancelled.