Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has cemented her status as one of the most iconic video game protagonists. With a new Tomb Raider game currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans can look forward to another thrilling Lara Croft adventure. To help newcomers or returning players, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, enabling you to start (or restart) your spelunking journey from the 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, there are a total of 20 Tomb Raider games. These are split 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 also supported handheld portable consoles, and six were available on mobile devices. Titles like 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 stand-alone games and therefore not included in our chronological lists.
Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?
For those new to the franchise in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This game kicks off the "Survivor" trilogy, which continues through the latest mainline game, 2018's 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 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 locate the mysterious Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments scattered worldwide, Lara is betrayed by Natla and must confront her 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 quest to destroy a mystical sword before Madame Paveau can resurrect and use its dark magic to conquer the world.
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 capable of transforming its owner into a dragon. Her adversary, cult leader Marco Bartoli, seeks the same artifact for its powers.
Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review
4. Tomb Raider III (1998)
In this third mainline entry, Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four crystalline artifacts derived from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's plan to use the stones to accelerate evolution, preventing global mutation.
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider III Review
5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
Lara inadvertently releases the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb in Egypt. Assisted by Semerkhet, she strives to summon the god Horus to stop Set's reign of terror over 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 to honor her memory. From the catacombs of Rome to a haunted island, these tales showcase Lara's 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 the murder of her mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara investigates in 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, Lara once again quests for the Scion of Atlantis. This version features redesigned puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection to more interactive 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 does.
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 game in the Legend trilogy has Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She explores various ruins and mythological underworlds, once again clashing with the villainous Natla.
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 gritty reboot, Lara's expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes wrong, stranding her on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood cult from completing the Ascension ritual and choosing 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 ventures into Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh, facing off against the paramilitary group Trinity. As both race to uncover Kitezh, Lara confronts the mythic 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 installment of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara exploring the Americas to find Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world. She must navigate threats from the Yaaxii and Trinity to succeed.
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 yearning for the nostalgia 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 has confirmed a new Tomb Raider game in development, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and to be published by Amazon Games. While details remain sparse, Crystal Dynamics has shared on Twitter that this new adventure will continue Lara Croft's saga, suggesting it may follow the Survivor trilogy that concluded with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.
Beyond gaming, Netflix debuted 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 Tomb Raider series, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer, appears to have been shelved.
