"Tomb Raider: A Chronological Guide to Playing the Games"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. As fans eagerly anticipate the next Tomb Raider adventure currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game. This guide is perfect for those looking to embark on or revisit Lara's adventures from the very beginning.

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

As of 2025, there are 20 Tomb Raider games, divided into three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara and her companions. Fourteen of these games were released for home consoles, six supported handheld portable consoles, and six were available on mobile devices. 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 the lists below.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For newcomers to the franchise in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This entry kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's recent series of expeditions, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

To experience the full narrative arc of the Tomb Raider series, it's crucial to understand that there are three separate timelines you can explore.

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 is hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to recover the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments of the Scion across the globe, Lara is betrayed by 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 Game Boy Color version of the original game has Lara on a quest to locate and destroy a mystical sword before the deceased Madame Paveau can return 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 game is to find the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon sought by the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who wishes to use its power 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 mission in the third installment is to locate the Infada Stone, one of four crystalline artifacts created from a meteorite. She must stop Dr. Willard from using these stones to 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. She must then summon the god 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 uncertain ending of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends recount her past adventures, including her exploits in Rome's catacombs, a Russian naval submarine, and an island plagued by demonic forces.

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 journeys through Paris and Prague to clear her name and uncover the truth. She encounters 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 follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis, featuring redesigned puzzles and a shift towards 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)

This game reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races worldwide 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 installment of the Legend trilogy, Underworld sees Lara seeking Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, the realm of the dead, while confronting the villainous Natla once again.

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 reboot, Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes disastrously wrong, stranding her on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood cult from completing the Ascension ritual and choosing a new 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's journey takes her to Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh, where she clashes with the paramilitary organization Trinity. Will the Deathless Ones, the city's immortal guardians, prove to be more than just a legend?

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, Shadow of the Tomb Raider follows Lara as she races through the Americas to find the city of Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world, all while battling the monstrous 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?

Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider game, set to be powered by Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. While details are sparse, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it might follow the storyline established in the Survivor trilogy.

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