Tomb Raider Games: Play in Chronological Order Guide

The Tomb Raider series boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has secured her place among the most iconic video game protagonists.

With a new Tomb Raider game in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans can look forward to another thrilling adventure. To help newcomers and veterans alike, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, allowing you to start or restart your journey through Lara's adventures 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 games are spread across three distinct timelines, each offering unique plotlines and variations on Lara Croft and her companions.

Out of these, 14 games have been released for home consoles, while 6 also supported handheld portable consoles, and 6 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 excluded from our 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 follows Lara's latest expeditions and concludes with 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 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 businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to locate the Scion of Atlantis. After assembling all three fragments scattered worldwide, 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)

This Game Boy Color exclusive sequel sees Lara on a quest to find a mystical sword and destroy it before the long-dead Madame Paveau can use it to resurrect and conquer the world with dark magic.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this sequel, Lara seeks the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon capable of transforming its wielder into a dragon. She must race against the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who also seeks the dagger for its transformative powers.

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 find the Infada Stone, one of four ancient crystalline artifacts. She must thwart the nefarious Dr. Willard, who plans to use these stones to accelerate human 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. With Cairo under threat, Lara teams up with Semerkhet to summon the god Horus and stop Set's world-ending chaos.

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. From Roman catacombs to a haunted island, these tales highlight 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 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 original 1996 game, Anniversary follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles and physics, shifting focus 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 title reboots and reimagines Lara's origins as she races 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)

The third game in the Legend trilogy sees Lara searching for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She explores various mythological underworlds and once again confronts 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 grittier reboot, Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood cult from completing the Ascension ritual and choosing a successor to the 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, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity. As both parties race to uncover Kitezh, the mythic Deathless Ones might prove to be more than just legends.

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 has Lara journeying through the Americas to find the city of Paititi and prevent a Mayan apocalypse. Facing the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity, Lara 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 fans nostalgic for 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 is also developing a new Tomb Raider game using Unreal Engine 5, set to be published by Amazon Games. While details are scarce, the game is expected to continue Lara Croft's saga, potentially extending the Survivor trilogy narrative from Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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.