How to Play the Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has a storied history of exploring ancient ruins and tombs worldwide. Her ability to overcome formidable obstacles has cemented her status among the most celebrated video game characters. With a new installment in the works at Crystal Dynamics, fans eagerly await Lara's next adventure. To help enthusiasts dive into her legacy, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of all Tomb Raider games, perfect for starting or revisiting Lara's epic journey from the very beginning.

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

How Many Tomb Raider Games Are There?

As of 2025, the Tomb Raider series boasts a total of 20 released games. These titles span three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. 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 chronological and release order lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers to the franchise in 2025, starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot is highly recommended. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara's latest series of adventures, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating 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 as she's hired by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments scattered globally, Lara faces betrayal and must confront 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 sees Lara on a mission to destroy a mystical sword before the resurrected Madame Paveau can use it to 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 for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon that can transform its owner 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's quest for the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artifacts, leads her 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)

Exploring an Egyptian tomb, Lara unwittingly releases the god of chaos, Set. She must summon Horus to stop Set's havoc 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, showcasing her skills and travels across Rome, a Russian submarine, and a haunted island.

**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 the mysterious Kurtis Trent.

**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 seeks the Scion of Atlantis, with revamped puzzles and physics-based 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)

A reboot of Lara's origins, she races 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)

Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, confronting the villainous 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 battles the Solarii Brotherhood and prevents 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 explores Siberia for the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity and uncovering the truth about 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 chapter of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara racing through the Americas to prevent a Mayan apocalypse, facing 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?

For fans of the original games, Aspyr 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 is developing a new Tomb Raider game, confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 and to be published by Amazon Games. This new title is expected to continue Lara Croft's saga, possibly extending the Survivor trilogy. On the entertainment front, Netflix's animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, debuted in October and 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 canceled.