"Tomb Raider Games: Chronological Play Order Guide"

Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has ventured through countless ruins and tombs, solidifying her place among the most celebrated video game characters. With a new Tomb Raider game in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Lara's storied adventures. To help newcomers or returning players embark on their journey, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of all Tomb Raider games, ensuring you can experience the saga from its very 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, the Tomb Raider franchise boasts a total of 20 games, each contributing to three distinct timelines that offer unique plotlines and fresh takes on Lara and her companions. Out of these, 14 games have been released for home consoles, 6 have been available on handheld devices, and 6 have been adapted 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 not included in our chronological or release order lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers in 2025, we highly recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This marks the beginning of the "Survivor" trilogy, which sets the stage for Lara's latest series of expeditions, culminating in the 2018 release, 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 involves 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 follows Lara as she's commissioned by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to recover the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments from around the world, Lara faces betrayal from Natla and must confront her 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 the Game Boy Color, this sequel to the original's handheld version sees Lara pursuing a mystical sword. Her mission is to destroy it before the long-dead Madame Paveau can rise from the underworld and use it to dominate the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara's quest in this sequel is to find the Dagger of Xian, a mystical weapon once wielded by Chinese emperors. She races against the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger to transform into a dragon.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In the third installment, Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four artifacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart the nefarious Dr. Willard, who aims to use these artifacts to accelerate evolution and mutate the planet.

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

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In this game, Lara inadvertently releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. Assisted by Semerkhet, she must summon the god Horus to stop Set's destructive forces from ravaging 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 exploits, including adventures in the catacombs of Rome, a Russian naval submarine, and an island haunted by demonic forces. These chronicles celebrate Lara's extensive travels and skills, leaving fans to wonder if she's truly gone.

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

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

Framed for the murder of her mentor Werner Von Croy, Lara explores Paris and Prague to clear her name and solve the mystery. She's pursued by Kurtis Trent, the last survivor of the Lux Veritatis Society, who harbors a dark secret.

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, this game revisits Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection to physics-based environmental 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)

This reboot reimagines Lara's origins as she races worldwide to find the mythical sword 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)

In the concluding chapter of the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir, an ancient key to Helheim. Her journey takes her through various ruins and mythological underworlds, 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)

This gritty reboot follows Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai, which goes awry, leaving her stranded on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to stop the Ascension ritual and thwart the selection of a successor for the legendary Sun Queen.

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 in search of the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As both race to uncover Kitezh, Lara must determine if the city's immortal guardians, the Deathless Ones, are merely a myth.

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)

In the final installment of the Survivor Trilogy, Lara journeys through the Americas to locate the city of Paititi and prevent a Mayan apocalypse. With the monstrous Yaaxil and Trinity hot on her trail, time is running out.

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 classic Tomb Raider experience, Aspyr has released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was launched in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is currently developing a new Tomb Raider game, set to use Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. While details remain scarce, the developer has hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, possibly extending the Survivor trilogy beyond Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Beyond gaming, Netflix introduced the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October, which has already 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.