Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft exploring ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every obstacle in her path, Lara has cemented her place among the most iconic video game protagonists. As a new Tomb Raider game is currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, promising another thrilling adventure, we've compiled a comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider game. This guide is perfect for those eager to start or restart their 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 games span three distinct timelines, each presenting 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. Stand-alone 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 excluded from our 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 initiates the "Survivor" trilogy, setting the stage for Lara Croft's latest series of adventures, culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

Embarking on a chronological journey through the Tomb Raider series involves navigating three distinct 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 commissioned by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting the three scattered fragments of the Scion worldwide, Lara faces betrayal by Natla and must battle 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 Game Boy Color, this sequel to the handheld version of the original sees Lara on a quest to destroy a mystical sword before the long-dead Madame Paveau can use it to resurrect and dominate 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 pursues the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon capable of transforming its owner into a dragon. She races against the cult leader Marco Bartoli, who 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 third adventure involves the search for the Infada Stone, one of four artefacts crafted from a meteorite. She must thwart Dr. Willard's sinister plan to use the stones to accelerate human evolution, potentially mutating the planet.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN's Tomb Raider III Review

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Exploring a tomb in Egypt, Lara unwittingly releases the god of chaos, Set. Assisted by Semerkhet, she works to summon the god Horus to prevent Set from unleashing a world-ending catastrophe.

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 as a tribute. From Roman catacombs to a haunted island, these stories highlight Lara's extensive travels and skills, leaving fans to wonder about her fate.

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 searches Paris and Prague to clear her name. She encounters Kurtis Trent, the last 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, Anniversary follows Lara's quest for the Scion of Atlantis, featuring redesigned puzzles and physics-based challenges, shifting away from item collection and switch-pulling.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, Mobile, OS X, PS3 | IGN's Tomb Raider Anniversary Review

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Serving as a reboot, Legend reimagines Lara's origins as she races globally to recover 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 final chapter of the Legend trilogy, Underworld follows Lara's search for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. She confronts Natla once more as they both vie for control of this ancient weapon amidst various mythological ruins.

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 grittier take on Lara's story begins with her first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai, which goes disastrously wrong, leaving her stranded on a hostile island. She must thwart 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)

In Siberia, Lara seeks the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As they both race to uncover Kitezh, Lara must confront 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 concluding chapter of the Survivor Trilogy sees Lara navigating the Americas in search of Paititi to prevent a Mayan apocalypse. Facing the Yaaxii and Trinity, Lara's race against time is intense.

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 actively developing a new Tomb Raider game, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set 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, suggesting it might follow the Survivor trilogy's storyline from Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

Beyond gaming, Netflix premiered 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 series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer appears to have been shelved.