"Tomb Raider Games: Play in Chronological Order Guide"

Tomb Raider boasts a storied history, with Lara Croft fearlessly 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 of all time.

With a new installment currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, promising another thrilling Lara Croft adventure, we've compiled a chronological list of every Tomb Raider game. This guide is perfect for those looking to embark on or revisit 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 released, divided into three distinct timelines. Each timeline offers unique plotlines and a fresh take on Lara Croft and her companions.

Fourteen of these games were released for home consoles, six were also available on handheld portable consoles, and six were designed for mobile devices. Standalone 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 these lists.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

If you're new to the franchise in 2025, we suggest starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This marks the beginning of the "Survivor" trilogy and sets the stage for Lara Croft's latest expeditions, 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's commissioned by businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to locate the enigmatic Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments of the Scion 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 to the Game Boy Color version of the original Tomb Raider sees Lara pursuing a mystical sword to prevent the resurrection of the long-dead Madame Paveau, who aims to use dark magic to dominate the world.

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

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this sequel, Lara hunts for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon coveted by the Chinese Emperors. She faces off against cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger's power to transform into a dragon.

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

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara's quest in the third mainline game is to locate the Infada Stone, one of four artifacts created from a meteorite millennia ago. She races against Dr. Willard, who plans to use the 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)

In The Last Revelation, Lara inadvertently frees the Egyptian god of chaos, Set, while exploring a tomb. As Set wreaks havoc on Cairo, Lara, with the help of Semerkhet, seeks to summon the god Horus to combat this world-ending threat.

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, including her butler Winston, share tales of her past adventures. From the catacombs of Rome to a Russian naval submarine and a demon-haunted island, Chronicles underscores 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 investigates in Paris and Prague to clear her name and uncover the truth. She crosses paths with 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, this game follows Lara on another quest for the Scion of Atlantis. It features redesigned puzzles and physics, shifting from item collection to physics-based challenges and environmental set pieces.

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 worldwide 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 concluding chapter of the Legend trilogy has Lara searching for Mjolnir, an ancient key to Helheim, the realm of the dead. Her journey spans various cultures and mythological underworlds, leading to another confrontation 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 grittier reboot, Lara's first expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai goes awry, leaving her stranded on a hostile island. She battles the Solarii Brotherhood cult and aims to stop the Ascension ritual and prevent a successor from being chosen 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 explores Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with the paramilitary organization Trinity. As both parties race to uncover Kitezh, the legendary immortal guardians, the Deathless Ones, may prove to be more than just a myth.

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 journeying through the Americas to locate the city of Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world. With the monstrous Yaaxii and Trinity on her trail, the race against time intensifies.

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 eager to relive the nostalgia of the original Tomb Raider 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 has confirmed that a new Tomb Raider game is in the works, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and set to be published by Amazon Games. While details remain scarce, Crystal Dynamics has hinted on Twitter that this new adventure "will continue Lara Croft's saga," suggesting a continuation of the Survivor trilogy that ended with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.

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