Tomb Raider Games: A Chronological Play Guide

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft's adventures spanning ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans eagerly await the next chapter in Lara's journey. To help fans start or revisit their adventures, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game.

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How to play in chronological orderHow to play in release orderHow Many Tomb Raider Games Are There?

As of 2025, the Tomb Raider series encompasses a total of 20 games, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique storylines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games are available on home consoles, with six also supporting handheld devices, and six released for mobile platforms. 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 beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This entry kickstarts the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara's recent adventures, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating three separate timelines:

Original Saga TimelineLegend of Tomb Raider TimelineSurvivor Trilogy TimelineFirst Timeline - Original Saga

### 1. Tomb Raider (1996)

The inaugural Tomb Raider game follows Lara as she's commissioned by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After gathering all three fragments worldwide, Lara confronts Natla's betrayal 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 Game Boy Color, this sequel sees Lara on a quest to destroy a mystical sword before the long-deceased Madame Paveau can use it to revive 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 hunts the Dagger of Xian, a weapon capable of transforming its wielder into a dragon. She competes against the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the same power.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara's mission is to secure the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artefacts. She must thwart Dr. Willard's plan to use these artefacts to accelerate global evolution.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In Egypt, Lara unwittingly frees the god of chaos, Set. With Cairo under threat, she teams up with Semerkhet to summon Horus and 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 exploits, from Roman catacombs to a haunted island, celebrating her legacy.

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 once again seeks the Scion of Atlantis, with revamped puzzles and physics focusing more on environmental interactions.

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 reimagines Lara's origins as she races to find 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 of the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, confronting Natla once more across various mythological landscapes.

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)

Lara's gritty debut in the Survivor trilogy sees her stranded on an island during her search for Yamatai, battling the Solarii Brotherhood and stopping the 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's Siberian adventure leads her to the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity and facing 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 concluding chapter of the Survivor trilogy, Lara races through the Americas to prevent a Mayan apocalypse, confronting Trinity and the monstrous Yaaxii.

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, set to utilize Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. Although details are scarce, the developer has hinted on Twitter that it will extend Lara Croft's saga, possibly continuing 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 as writer and executive producer appears to have been shelved.