"Tomb Raider: A Chronological Gaming Guide"

Lara Croft, the intrepid adventurer known for navigating treacherous ruins and tombs worldwide, has cemented her status as one of the most iconic video game protagonists ever. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans are eagerly anticipating Lara's next thrilling adventure. To help both new and returning fans embark on their journey through Lara's storied history, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider game released up to 2025.

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 in total. These are spread across three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these games were released for home consoles, six were available on handheld portable consoles, and six were designed for mobile devices. 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 these lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

If you're new to the franchise in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy and sets the stage for Lara Croft's latest adventures, culminating in Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider saga 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 is hired by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments scattered globally, 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 sees Lara on a mission to destroy a mystical sword before the resurrected Madame Paveau can use its dark magic 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 magical weapon with the power to transform its owner into a dragon. She faces opposition from a cult leader, Marco Bartoli, who also seeks the dagger.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In this installment, Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artifacts. She must thwart Dr. Willard's nefarious plan to accelerate evolution, which threatens to mutate the entire 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 unleashes the god of chaos, Set. Assisted by Semerkhet, she seeks to summon Horus to stop Set's rampage in Cairo.

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

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the uncertain conclusion of The Last Revelation, Lara's friends reminisce about her past exploits. The game recounts her adventures in Rome's catacombs, a Russian submarine, and a haunted island, showcasing her extensive travels and skills.

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 journeys through Paris and Prague to clear her name. 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 once more. It features redesigned puzzles and physics, shifting focus to environmental set pieces 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)

This game reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races to find 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)

The final chapter of the Legend trilogy, Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Her quest takes her through various ruins and mythological underworlds, where she confronts 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)

This gritty reboot follows Lara's first expedition to find Yamatai, which goes disastrously wrong, leaving her stranded on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood cult and prevent 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's journey takes her to Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh, where she battles the paramilitary organization Trinity and faces the Deathless Ones, the city's immortal guardians.

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 through the Americas to find Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse. She faces the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity in a bid to save the world.

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 nostalgic about the original games, Aspyr released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was released in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics has confirmed a new Tomb Raider game is in development, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, potentially extending the Survivor trilogy.

Beyond gaming, Netflix debuted its 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.