Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, has embarked on countless adventures, delving into ancient ruins and tombs worldwide. Her journey has cemented her status as one of the most revered figures in video game history. With a new Tomb Raider game in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Lara's saga. To help both newcomers and veterans navigate her storied past, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, allowing you to start or restart your spelunking adventure 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, spread across three distinct timelines. Each timeline offers unique narratives 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 supported 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 not included in these 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 marks the beginning of the "Survivor" trilogy, which chronicles Lara Croft's latest adventures, culminating in 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 sees Lara hired by Jacquelin Natla to retrieve the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments across the globe, Lara is betrayed by Natla, leading to a climactic battle 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 follows Lara's quest to destroy a mystical sword before the resurrected Madame Paveau can use it to dominate the world with dark magic.

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 sought by cult leader Marco Bartoli for its dragon-transforming powers.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara searches for the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-crafted artefacts, to prevent Dr. Willard from accelerating planetary 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, in Egypt. She must summon Horus to stop Set's havoc on 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, 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 explores Paris and Prague to clear her name, encountering the enigmatic Kurtis Trent.

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 again seeks the Scion of Atlantis, with updated puzzles 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)

A reboot and reimagining of Lara's origins, she races to find Excalibur before her former friend Amanda Evert.

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)

Lara searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim, confronting the villainous Natla once more across 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)

In a gritty reboot, Lara's expedition to find Yamatai goes awry, stranding her on a hostile island where she battles the Solarii Brotherhood and the Sun Queen's legacy.

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 for the legendary city of Kitezh, clashing with the paramilitary group Trinity and the mythical 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 chapter of the Survivor Trilogy, Lara traverses the Americas to prevent a Mayan apocalypse, facing the Yaaxii and Trinity.

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 debuted in early 2024, followed by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered in February.

Crystal Dynamics is developing a new Tomb Raider game, confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 and 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, possibly extending the Survivor trilogy narrative from 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Beyond gaming, Netflix launched the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October, which has been renewed for a second season. Meanwhile, Amazon's planned series with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as writer and executive producer seems to have been shelved.