Tomb Raider: Chronological Gameplay Guide

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft fearlessly 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 of all time. As Crystal Dynamics gears up for a new Tomb Raider adventure, we've put together a comprehensive, chronological list of every Tomb Raider game to help newcomers and veterans alike embark on their own spelunking journey 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, the Tomb Raider franchise encompasses a total of 20 games, spread across three distinct timelines. Each timeline offers unique plotlines and a fresh take on Lara Croft and her companions. Fourteen of these titles have been released on home consoles, six have been adapted for handheld devices, and another six are available 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 not included in our lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

New to the franchise in 2025? We suggest starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This marks the beginning of the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara's latest adventures, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating three different timelines:

Original Saga TimelineLegend of Tomb Raider TimelineSurvivor Trilogy TimelineFirst Timeline - Original Saga

### 1. Tomb Raider (1996)

Lara's inaugural adventure begins as she is commissioned by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the enigmatic Scion of Atlantis. After piecing together the scattered fragments, Lara is betrayed by Natla, leading to a climactic showdown on a monster-infested 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 follows Lara as she hunts down a mystical sword, aiming to destroy it before Madame Paveau can rise from the underworld and unleash her dark magic on the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara's quest for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon capable of transforming its wielder into a dragon, pits her against the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the same prize.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In her third outing, Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four ancient artefacts derived from a meteorite. She races against the sinister Dr. Willard, who plans to use these stones 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)

Lara unwittingly unleashes the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring an Egyptian tomb. To save Cairo from destruction, she teams up with Semerkhet to summon the god Horus and thwart Set's forces.

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, from navigating the Roman catacombs to battling demonic forces on a haunted island. These tales cement Lara's reputation as a world-renowned adventurer.

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 investigates in Paris and Prague to clear her name. She crosses paths with Kurtis Trent, the last of the Lux Veritatis, 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 reimagined version of the 1996 original, Lara once again seeks the Scion of Atlantis, but this time with updated puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection to more engaging environmental puzzles.

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 claim the mythical sword Excalibur before her former friend, Amanda Evert, can get to it first.

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 sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She explores various mythological realms and confronts the villainous Natla, who is also after the artifact.

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, stranding her on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult to prevent the Ascension ritual and stop the Sun Queen's successor from rising.

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 in search of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity. As both parties race to uncover the city, Lara uncovers the truth about the Deathless Ones, the immortal guardians of Kitezh.

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 has Lara journeying through the Americas to find Paititi and prevent a Mayan apocalypse. Facing the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity, she races against time 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 those eager to revisit the classics, Aspyr has released remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered hit the shelves in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is also hard at work on a new Tomb Raider game, set to be developed with Unreal Engine 5 and published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, Crystal Dynamics has hinted via Twitter that this new title will continue Lara Croft's saga, possibly extending the narrative of the Survivor trilogy that ended with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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