"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Guide"

Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has a storied history of exploring ancient ruins and overcoming challenges worldwide. As fans eagerly await the next installment from Crystal Dynamics, now is the perfect time to dive into the series' past adventures. We've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider game to help both newcomers and returning players embark on their journey from the 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 20 Tomb Raider games spanning three distinct timelines, each offering unique narratives and variations on Lara Croft's character and her world. Out of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, with 6 also available on handheld devices and another 6 on 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?

If you're new to the franchise in 2025, we suggest starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, which continues through to the latest mainline entry, Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, offering a fresh take on Lara Croft's adventures.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Exploring the Tomb Raider series chronologically involves navigating through 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 follows Lara Croft as she is commissioned by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After assembling the artifact's three 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)

This Game Boy Color exclusive sequel sees Lara on a quest to destroy a mystical sword before the undead Madame Paveau can use it to unleash her dark powers.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara pursues the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon sought by cult leader Marco Bartoli for its dragon-transforming powers.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara seeks the Infada Stone to thwart Dr. Willard's plan to mutate the world using the stone's evolutionary powers.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Unintentionally releasing the god of chaos, Set, Lara works with Semerkhet to summon Horus and stop the chaos in Cairo.

Available on: PlayStation, Mac OS, PC, Dreamcast | IGN’s The Last Revelation Review

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following Lara's ambiguous fate, her friends recount her past adventures, solidifying her legacy of exploration and bravery.

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

7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

Framed for murder, Lara navigates Paris and Prague to clear her name, encountering Kurtis Trent and uncovering deep secrets.

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, Lara once again searches 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 of Lara's origins, she races to find 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 to unlock Helheim and confront 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)

Lara's gritty debut in this timeline sees her stranded on a hostile island, facing the Solarii Brotherhood and stopping 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 mythical city of Kitezh, clashing with Trinity and 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 against time to prevent a Mayan apocalypse in the Americas.

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 games, Aspyr has released remastered collections for current-gen consoles, including Tomb Raider I-III Remastered in early 2024 and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February 2025.

Crystal Dynamics is currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, it has been hinted that this new title will continue the saga from the Survivor trilogy. On social media, Crystal Dynamics has expressed that this adventure "will continue Lara Croft’s saga," suggesting a direct continuation from Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Beyond gaming, Netflix launched the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October, which has already been greenlit for a second season. However, Amazon's planned Tomb Raider series, which had Phoebe Waller-Bridge involved as writer and executive producer, appears to have been canceled.