Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has a storied history of exploring ancient ruins and overcoming formidable challenges. As fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in her adventures, with a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, we've put together a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the series' rich history. Whether you're a newcomer looking to start your journey or a veteran wanting to revisit the classics, this chronological list of every Tomb Raider game will ensure you don't miss a single moment of Lara's thrilling escapades.
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, spanning across three distinct timelines. These timelines offer different narratives and interpretations of Lara Croft and her adventures. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, 6 were available on handheld devices, and 6 were designed for mobile platforms. Note that standalone 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 our lists.
Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?
If you're new to the Tomb Raider series in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy and sets the stage for Lara's most recent adventures, culminating with 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 means 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 introduces us to Lara Croft as she's hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to retrieve the mystical Scion of Atlantis. After piecing together the artifact's scattered fragments, Lara faces betrayal and battles Natla 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 tracks down a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of the evil Madame Paveau, who aims to conquer the world with dark magic.
Available on: Game Boy Color | IGN’s Curse of the Sword Review
3. Tomb Raider II (1997)
In her second adventure, Lara hunts the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon coveted by the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks to transform into a dragon.
Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review
4. Tomb Raider III (1998)
Lara's quest in the third installment is to find the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artifacts. She must prevent the nefarious Dr. Willard from using them to mutate the planet.
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. She must summon Horus to stop Set's rampage across 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, from Roman catacombs to a haunted island, cementing her reputation as a seasoned explorer.
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's murder, Lara journeys through Paris and Prague to clear her name, encountering the enigmatic 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)
This remake of the original 1996 game brings Lara back to the quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated 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)
A reboot that reimagines Lara's origins, she races to find the mythical sword 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 part of the Legend trilogy sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, while confronting 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)
In this grittier take on Lara, her expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, leaving her stranded and fighting the Solarii Brotherhood to stop a dark 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 ventures to Siberia to uncover the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity and the mythical 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 sees Lara racing against time through the Americas to prevent a Mayan apocalypse.
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 those yearning to relive the classic Tomb Raider experience, 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 has confirmed a new Tomb Raider game is in the works, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this game will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it might be a continuation of the Survivor trilogy.
Beyond gaming, Netflix debuted its animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in October, and it has already been renewed for a second season. Meanwhile, Amazon's planned series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer seems to have been shelved.
